Christmas Vacation Twinkling Lights Game

 

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation twinkling lights game

If you've ever watched National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, then you know it's all about the lights. So it's going to be no surprise to most when I tell you that this National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation game is a twinkling lights game.

From the box: Clark Griswold is determined to hang 25,000 twinkle lights for Christmas, but tangled wires and a pesky squirrel are out to spoil the holiday spirit! Lay tiles to create Christmas bulb combos and score, but spotting the pattern you need among the twisted light-strings is no easy trick.

Admittedly, there's not a lot in the box (14 pattern cards and 25 light tiles). But then again, the game was not that expensive. This is what's included:

Object:

Be the first player to match all 3 of your pattern cards.

Set up:

Shuffle the light tiles and place them in a face-down pile on the table. Turn over the top two tiles and place them side-by-side in the middle of the table. Shuffle the 10 red pattern cards and deal two to each player, face down. Red pattern cards show three lights at the top, green pattern cards show four lights. Shuffle the four green pattern cards and deal one to each player. Put the rest of the pattern cards back in the box.

Play:

Players take turns. On your turn, draw the top light tile from the stack and place it adjacent to any other tile that is already face-up on the table. Look at the pattern cards in your hands and try to place your tile in a position that will help you get the colored light pattern that is at the top of one of your cards (see the cards in the image above). Some of the tile cards have a plus sign in a corner and some of them picture broken wires. If there is a plus sign, you may place that tile on top of a tile that is already in play or adjacent to any tile already in play. If there is a broken wire, then placing that tile will break the sequence of that string of lights. If you draw a broken wire tile, you may either play it or pass it to another player and draw/play another tile. Being forced to play a broken wire on your turn may reduce your chances of winning, as you are not allowed to draw a tile and possibly make a sequence you need. If you pass it, that player must play it on their next turn. After playing your tile for your turn, you are then allowed to play any/all of your pattern cards that you can. Look at the color sequence at the top of a card and find that same sequence on the tiles that have already been played. First player to play all of their pattern cards wins the game.

This game does not require much logic/strategy/planning. I think the most it has going for it is that it's a Christmas game.

For a list of Christmas games that I have blogged about, click here.

Try this:

• Buy a string of battery operated Christmas lights at the dollar store for each person who will be playing. Before the game starts, pass out the lights, batteries (sold at dollar store), and bring some tape or string to the table. Let each person decorate their chair, body, or spot at the table with the lights. Get your twinkle on!
  
• Bake a "Christmas lights" treat before starting the game and enjoy eating after the game or while playing. Go to Pinterest and search for "Christmas lights" treat and you will come up with lots of simple ideas, most involving M&Ms for the lights. 

In the box: 14 pattern cards, 35 tile cards