Everything You Need for a Rainy Day in Neopia

     Luckily, if you’re prepared enough, the fun doesn’t have to stop just because the clouds decide to pour waterfalls around your home that day. As long as you have the right stuff, you and your Neopets can have an absolute blast inside your Neohome — so much so that you might be tempted not to leave, even when the sun decides to shine again.

     Here are five things every Neohome needs for a rainy day:

     1. Board Games

     If you stop by the Toy Shop at the Neopian Bazaar, you’ll find tons of board games to enjoy, many of them so addictive you'll want to play more than one round. The Aisha Board Game, for instance, is a perfect example of a game where simplicity and strategy meet to create the ultimate addictive experience. You and your playmates will have to come up with the perfect combination of potions, but while that may sound easy enough, the more the game goes on, the tougher decisions you'll have to make.

     There's also the Nimmos Pond Board Game, which is a classic for a reason. Everyone loves Nimmos Pond, and the way the game translates to tabletop gaming is near flawless. Speaking of classic games turned into board games, the Gormball Board Game is another fantastic one, capturing the excitement of the game in a cardboard box!

     And while this is going to be a harder find as it isn't sold in the Toy Shop and was only available during Altador Cup VI, if you can get your hands on an affordable copy, don't miss out on Altador Cup - The Board Game. While the Altador Cup may only come around once a year and wasn't even present this year, the AC board game allows you to live out the exhilaration of the event in your very own living room, making it a must-have for any Yooyuball fan.

     2. Puzzles

     Unfortunately, board games tend to require two or more players for them to work, which is a bummer for anyone living alone. Luckily, the Toy Shop still has just the thing for you: puzzles!

     Jigsaw puzzles are always a fun solo activity, and we especially recommend the Happy Kau, Electric Pteri, and Draik jigsaw puzzles for a relaxing time while listening to the sound of raindrops outside. If jigsaw puzzles are too serene for you, though, you can always try a slide puzzle instead. The Toy Shop has a fantastic selection to choose from, ranging from the Fungree to the Mutant Ona Slide Puzzle.

     And if you really want a puzzle for challenging your brain and forcing you to think outside of the box, you absolutely have to buy the Lost Desert Puzzle Box, where you move a ball through the puzzle to guide it to the end spot. This puzzle box has frustrated so many; some Neopians have even thrown it at the wall and broken it in a fit of rage, but we know you, reading this article, have the smarts to complete it.

     Don't just limit yourself to the Toy Shop either. The Magical Bookshop at Neopia Central has the Sinsis Puzzle Book, Cliffhanger Puzzles, and Zafara Crossword Puzzles, and any of these three puzzle books is guaranteed to keep you so occupied, you might not even notice it when the rain does stop.

     3. Books

     Nothing better during a rainy day than being curled up inside with a good book, that's what we say. The current year has brought Neopia a lot of fantastic books to make readers laugh or cry, excite them, and even frighten them at times. For lovers of scary stories, we can't recommend two books enough: Midnight Mysteries & Other Tales and Lanie and Lillies Bedtime Stories. These two titles are must-reads for horror fans, young and old.

     For anyone else wanting a more wholesome collection of short stories, Money Tree Fables is the book for you. You'll find yourself smiling and even tearing up at times, reading fable after fable where generosity and kindness win the day. Friend Breakups will also make you cry, though for a different reason — any Neopian that's been through the pain of a best friend breakup will find themselves relating strongly to this gem of a read.

     Finally, for those who lean more towards classics, Faerie Tales remains a favorite among bookworms for a reason, and that's that it's an incredibly written book with tales that stand the test of time. But really, head to any of the many bookstores in Neopia and you're sure to find the perfect read specifically for you, patiently waiting on your bookshelf until the dark clouds come and it's ready to comfort you during the bad weather.

     4. Art Supplies

     As the saying goes, every child is an artist, so why not stop by Neopian School Supplies and stock up on art supplies so every rainy day can be an opportunity to get in touch with your inner child? First and foremost, get yourself a berry-scented Berry Sketch Book or a can't-look-away Shimmery Notebook, where you can draw whatever comes to mind. You can draw your favorite Neopian lands or wheels, or even experiment with abstract art — your notebook, your rules.

     For colouring, we recommend a Deluxe Set of Colouring Pencils, as the Deluxe Set will give you the most options for adding colour to your art and truly making it come to life. For artists hoping to make more out-there art, the Rainbow Chalk set is a good choice too, as long as you don't mind the messiness of chalk dust while making your art!

     Of course, you'll need a place to store all your supplies, and luckily for you, the Neopian School Supplies has a fantastic selection of pencil cases. Our favorites are the Nimmo Pencil Case, Turtum Zipped Pencil Case, and the Snuffly Pencil Case. Even just looking at them gives us joy and makes us excited to create our very own masterpieces. There really is something so magical about letting your creativity fly while it's pouring outside, like you're not letting a terrible situation stop you from creating something beautiful.

     5. Greeting Cards

     Some people say greeting cards are old-fashioned, but we say those people are wrong. It's an inexpensive way of showing the people in your life that you care about them, and everyone who receives them is delighted to know they haven't been forgotten. So head on over to the Neopian Gift Shop and buy yourself some cards, so when the weather outside is frightful, you can stay in and sign some heartwarming letters, ready for the Neomail the next day.

     A set of postcards is always perfect for any occasion, even if it's just signing a card to let another person know you're in their thoughts. The Meridell Postcards have 10 postcards boasting beautiful artwork of the kingdom, but the Krawk Island Postcards are gorgeous as well. Either one is sure to put a smile on any receiver's face.

     For your closest friends, the Best Friend Card is always a sweet card to receive if you want to let your best friend know how special they are to you. There's also the Deceptive Greeting Card for friends who love to prank each other, because when your friend opens it, they'll get a face full of warm pie! (Be sure to ask them to record themselves opening it, too!)

     So you see, rainy days don't have to mean boring days. As long as you're prepared for them, a day full of raindrops and thunder could also mean a day full of joy and laughter. With these five things, you'll never have another unremarkable rainy day again.