Since it looks like a lot of us will be spending more time at home for awhile, we thought we’d repost this guide to family friendly board games. Stay healthy, everyone! 

 

If you are trying to cut back on screen time or break the device addiction, a family game night could be just what you need! Sometimes finding a great game that appeals to the whole family is tricky, so we have taken the guesswork out by providing some awesome suggestions. I come from a family of enthusiastic gamers and we regularly play the classics like Monopoly, Yatzee, and Sorry; but some of the newer board games have become favorites in my house as well! Let’s get right to the fun!

For younger players:

Sneaky Snacky Squirrel– My friend Melody gifted us this game a few years ago describing it as the “only kids’ game that doesn’t make me want to rip my hair out”. It turns out she is right and this is a great starter game for the 2-4 year old set, while being tolerable to adults and “big kids”. It’s a great price right now at only $12.99. Click here for more unique games by Educational Insights; all have great reviews!

Matching Games–Memory isn’t a new game but it’s a great classic that can challenge any age (There’s nothing quite as humbling as being legitimately beaten by a 3 year old; with my mommy-brain it’s happened to me!). There are tons of fun variations for disinterested preschoolers like Frozen, Curious George or Superheroes.

Spot-it- This is a simple, easy-to-carry card game that can appeal to kids age 3 and up (please note: the recommended ages may be different, but I assure you that most 3 year olds can do this). I’ve successfully occupied 8 kids from age 3-7 with this game (which is more than I could say about that time I tried to get them to play charades). Spot-it is a great game for restaurants and waiting rooms also, and there are many themes to choose from, including Holiday Spot-it, Hip Spot-it, and Sports Spot-it!

UNO-this is a game that probably needs no introduction, but I do want to mention that right now this classic card game, UNO is an add-on item at only $4.16!

Two Player Games

Mastermind: Here’s a unique game that adults and kids age 8 and up will enjoy (it’s also brain-boosting using STEM skills and deductive reasoning). One player builds a code and the other player tries to crack it. It’s surprisingly challenging and really fun!

Guess Who?: This is another classic game that works well for kids and adults. It’s great to improve concentration and observation skills!

Battleship: An oldie, but a goodie! Believe it or not, my children have never played this one but I know that they would love it. Did you know there was a Star Wars version?

Group Games:

Monopoly Deal: My family is obsessed with this game because it’s relatively quick, and great for kids (age 8 and up) and adults. With Monopoly Deal, you get all the fun of Monopoly without all the drawn-out frustration (no offense, Classic Monopoly fans). This is one that my husband, ten year old daughters and I play practically every weekend. (Right now it’s only $5 with Amazon prime, which is a fantastic deal!)

Blokus: This is a game for 2-4 players but it’s best played by a group of four. This is another great strategy game that uses math and spatial reasoning skills. It’s very simple to play but a challenge to win! Blokus Trigon is even more challenging!

 

Single Player:

Rush Hour: This is a fun, creative-thinking puzzle game that has 40 different pattern cards to challenge you again and again. Expansion packets are available for additional puzzle layouts!

Perplexus: This is an addictive, challenging puzzle/maze game reminiscent of the wooden labyrinth we had when I was a child. It encourages concentration, patience and practice for ages 8 and up. We enjoy the Original as well as the EPIC version.

Honorable Mention

I want to quickly mention a few games that my family would recommend although I personally don’t have the patience for them (Sorry, I’d rather be blogging). If you are willing to put in a little set-up time and can focus for more than 30 seconds interpreting the instructions, my more dedicated gaming friends and family would suggest these: King of Tokyo, Settlers of Catan, Exploding Kittens, Robot Wars, and Code Names. I can vouch that these are all really fun strategy games! My advice is to get a few different kinds of games to engage the kids, add some popcorn or cookies, and turn off the cell-phones. If you play your cards right, (get it?!) you will have a fun evening that everyone can enjoy!

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