In the spring of 1846, George Donner and James Reed set out to lead a group of American pioneers to California, via  the Hastings Cutoff. Through a series of mishaps, what was supposed to be a six-month trip stretched through to winter. When the group ended up snowbound in the Sierra Nevada, some resorted to cannibalism to survive. You can relive those glory days with the Donner Dinner Party! 

A fast-paced game of deceptions and deductions, this game is touted as “A Rowdy Game of Frontier Cannibalism”. Players take on the roles of pioneers or cannibals, with the goal of surviving the winter. Pioneers can use equipment cards to survive (sometimes), as cannibals attempt to thwart any attempts at hunting (because we all know what they want!). As long as there are more pioneers than cannibals after seven weeks, the pioneers win the game.

For 4-10 players, this is definitely a party game, but game play takes only an hour or less. It comes with a game board, 62 identity cards (for pioneers, cannibals or maybe something else entirely) and the various cards needed for play (including supplies and hunting). At $20, Donner Dinner Party is priced right to give it a try, though you might want to reconsider playing this around dinner time.