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Family board games offer a wonderful opportunity for quality time, bonding, and fun for everyone involved. Playing board games as a family is a fantastic way to disconnect from screens, engage in face-to-face interaction, and create lasting memories! Whether it’s the excitement of strategic battles, the challenge of solving mysteries, or the laughter sparked by clever wordplay, board games provide a shared experience that brings families closer together. From seniors to young children, board games are a great way to entertain players of all ages which makes them an ideal choice for family game nights or rainy afternoons. We are excited to share our top ten favourite family board games.
Monopoly is a classic family board game that combines strategy, luck, and negotiation. It’s a great game for teaching kids about money management, decision-making, and negotiation skills. The game can get competitive and exciting as players buy properties, collect rent, and try to bankrupt their opponents. This is one of my son’s favourite games, but it’s also a long game. When playing Monopoly, we usually expect to be playing for at least 2 hours!
Note: Monopoly Junior Super Mario Edition Board Game for Ages 5 and Up, for 2 – 4 Players. (Buy on Amazon)
Candyland is a beloved children’s board game that takes players on a delightful adventure through a land of candy. Designed for young children, the game features a vibrant and colourful board filled with sugary treats and whimsical characters. Players draw coloured cards to move their gingerbread game pieces along the candy-themed path towards the Candy Castle. With its simple rules and engaging visuals, Candyland provides young players with a fun and interactive introduction to board games, fostering their imagination, colour recognition, and turn-taking skills. This was the first game board my kids learnt to play and they loved it. Expect a few tears if the kids have to go backwards though!
Ticket to Ride is a strategic train-themed game where players compete to build railroad routes across a map. It’s an excellent choice for families because it’s easy to learn and offers a good balance of luck and strategy. The game encourages critical thinking, spatial planning, and decision-making as players aim to connect their destinations and score points. This is one of our favourite family game!
Note: Fantasy Flight Games Ticket to Ride: Europe: First Journey for Ages 6 and Up, for 2-4 Players (Buy on Amazon)
Scrabble is a word game that challenges players to create words using letter tiles and score points based on the letters’ values. It’s a fun game that helps with building vocabulary, spelling skills, and strategic thinking. Players of all ages can enjoy the thrill of finding high-scoring words and outwitting their opponents. We love playing scrabble, but be careful of cheaters! Last time we played, our daughter flipped one of the tiles over, making it into a blank tile so that she could use the tile to represent any letter. We only caught on after a few turns when we realized there were only two blank tiles in a game.
Note: Scrabble Jr Game for Ages 5 and Up, for 2 – 4 Players. (Buy on Amazon)
Uno is a fast-paced card game that can be enjoyed by players of all ages. It’s easy to learn and promotes strategic thinking, pattern recognition, and social interaction. Uno is a fun game for families because it encourages friendly competition and quick thinking. It’s also a great game to bring on vacation due to how compact it is!
Blockus is a strategic and visually captivating board game that challenges players to outwit their opponents through clever placement of colorful geometric shapes. The objective of the game is to strategically position your own pieces on the board while blocking your opponents from doing the same. Each player takes turns placing their uniquely shaped tiles, trying to maximize their territory and prevent others from expanding theirs. Blockus promotes critical thinking, spatial reasoning, and planning skills as players strategize to make the most efficient use of their pieces and block their opponents’ moves. With simple rules and endless possibilities, Blockus provides an engaging and mentally stimulating experience for players of all ages. While Blockus is an enjoyable game, it’s important to note that it can sometimes lead to emotional reactions among younger players. My little one gets frustrated when she gets blocked, so be prepared for these potential reactions. I love playing Blockus, but it can be difficult for little one’s to get blocked.
Spot It! is a fast-paced and engaging card game that challenges players’ visual perception and speed. The game consists of circular cards, each adorned with various symbols. What makes Spot It! unique is that any two cards in the deck always have exactly one matching symbol. The objective is to be the quickest to spot the matching symbol between your card and the one on the central pile. It’s a fantastic game that sharpens observation skills, reflexes, and concentration while offering thrilling and competitive gameplay. My kids were obsessed with this game as it’s a simple game to play!
Charades for Kids is a classic and interactive party game that encourages creativity, imagination, and communication skills in young players. In this game, one player silently acts out a word or phrase using gestures, facial expressions, and body movements, while the other players try to guess what they are portraying. With child-friendly themes and words, Charades for Kids offers age-appropriate challenges and ensures that everyone can participate and have fun. It promotes teamwork, as players work together to decipher the clues, and it helps children develop their non-verbal communication abilities. Charades for Kids is a wonderful game to engage children in active play, spark their imagination, and create memorable moments of laughter and excitement. This is one of my daughter’s favourite games and it really promotes creativity!
Zombie Kids is a thrilling and imaginative board game specially designed to provide a kid-friendly take on the popular zombie genre. In this game, players work together as a team of brave adventurers trapped in a town overrun by zombies. Their mission is to find the four parts of an antidote and escape before the zombies capture them. The game features colorful illustrations, easy-to-understand rules, and exciting gameplay that keeps children engaged and on their toes. It encourages teamwork, strategic planning, and decision-making, all while providing a safe and age-appropriate introduction to cooperative gaming. Zombie Kids is a game that brought us joy by offering a refreshing break from highly competitive options. Its unique feature of opening envelopes after each victory added a thrilling element to our gaming sessions. The envelopes contained surprises like new abilities for our characters or even for the zombie itself. This constant evolution of the game kept us engaged, making it both exciting and challenging. It’s a fantastic find for those seeking a captivating co-operative gaming experience.
Note: Zombie Teenz Evolution for Ages 8 and up, for 2 to 4 Players (Buy on Amazon)
Catan is a popular game that involves building settlements, trading resources, and expanding territories. It’s a game that promotes strategic thinking, negotiation skills, and resource management. Catan is known for its high replay value, as the board layout changes with each game, keeping it fresh and exciting for the whole family.
The 5 Second Rule is a fast-paced and hilarious party game that challenges players to think quickly under pressure. In this game, players must name three things within five seconds that fit a given category. The catch is that time is limited, and the pressure to come up with answers quickly can lead to hilarious and unexpected responses. The game keeps everyone on their toes as they race against the timer, trying to think of answers while battling the ticking clock. The 5 Second Rule is easy to learn and can be enjoyed by players of different ages, making it a great choice for family gatherings or game nights with friends. It encourages quick thinking, improves mental agility, and guarantees plenty of laughter and friendly competition. With its simple concept and high-energy gameplay, the 5 Second Rule is a surefire way to liven up any social gathering and create memorable moments of excitement and laughter.
Jenga is a classic and suspenseful stacking game that tests players’ dexterity, precision, and nerve. The game consists of a tower built from wooden blocks, with each layer consisting of three blocks placed perpendicularly to the previous layer. Players take turns removing one block at a time from the tower and placing it on top without causing the tower to collapse. As the game progresses and the tower becomes more unstable, tension mounts, and every move requires careful consideration. Jenga is a game that appeals to players of all ages and skill levels, as it offers a perfect balance of skill and luck. It encourages focus, steady hands, and strategic decision-making, while also providing a thrilling experience as players hold their breath, hoping their move doesn’t lead to the tower’s downfall. Jenga has always been one of our favourite family game, especially for the little ones. Surprisingly, they can remove blocks with their tiny hands quite steadily! This is a classic and must-have game for us.
Unstable Unicorns is a whimsical and strategic card game that captivates players with its charming artwork and unpredictable gameplay. In this game, players aim to build a unicorn army and be the first to collect seven unicorns. However, the path to victory is filled with twists and turns as players strategically use action cards to hinder their opponents, protect their own unicorns, and unleash magical abilities. Unstable Unicorns combines elements of strategy, luck, and player interaction, creating a dynamic and engaging experience. The game’s quirky sense of humor and imaginative unicorns add an extra layer of enjoyment, making it a hit among players of all ages. With its easy-to-understand rules and endless strategic possibilities, Unstable Unicorns is a fantastic choice for those seeking a unique and light-hearted card game that guarantees laughter and excitement.
Note: Unstable Unicorns: Kids Edition for Kids ages 6 and Up, for 2-6 Players. (Buy on Amazon)
King of Tokyo is a fast-paced dice-rolling game where players take on the role of giant monsters competing to become the King of Tokyo. It’s an exciting game that combines strategy, luck, and player interaction. Families will enjoy the monster theme and the thrilling battles for control of Tokyo.
Clue is a classic mystery-solving game where players must deduce who committed a murder, where, and with which weapon. It’s a fun game that promotes deductive reasoning, logical thinking, and problem-solving skills. Clue can engage the whole family as they gather clues, eliminate suspects, and try to solve the mystery. This is actually my youngest child’s favourite game! She loves solving mysteries, so this is the perfect game for her!
Note: Clue Junior Board Game for Kids Ages 5 and Up, for 2-6 Players. (Buy on Amazon)
For more family fun board games, check out our Family Game Board page.
Don’t forget to check out our kids directory! We have a list of wonderful family photographers, local kids shop, Pediatric Dental Centre, Family Activities, etc. http://www.vancitykids.com/directory/
