Family Board Games

Family board games are the perfect way to spend a night in with the whole family and enjoy fun, quality time together.

What are family board games are how are they different from other board games?

Family board games are designed to be played by all ages. They can be short or long in length and playable by two or more people so the entire family can join in the fun.

They are different from other board games in that they are typically simple in nature to accommodate younger minds, though there are family board games designed to play with older kids, too. They usually include game boards, pieces, cards, or a combination of all of the above, plus other items.

Usually, family board games have an educational element to them, whether it's helping kids expand their vocabulary, learn new words, colours, phrases, counting (e.g. with money), parts of the body, develop their trivia knowledge about history, or simply gain an understanding of strategy. Some are competition-based, others purely strategy, and some are just straight fun to elicit tons of laughs.

What are the best family board games?

Family board games include favourite classics like Clue, Scrabble, Settlers of Catan, Monopoly, The Game of Life, Trivial Pursuit, Yahtzee, Codenames, Chutes and Ladders, Operation, Trouble, Checkers, and Cranium, to name a few. There are also interesting new concepts for those looking for something different, like Professor Noggin's History of the United States and Lost Explorers.

The top family board games include differing degrees of difficult to accommodate everyone from young kids to teens and tweens. Party games are best for big groups while one-on-one games like Checkers and Chess are great for friendly competition tournaments. Games like Taboo: Kids vs. Parents are great for a fun family night at home, allowing everyone to get a little bit silly.

Many fun family board games come in themed versions to appeal to fans of television shows, characters, movies, and sports, like Star Wars, NHL, Peppa Pig, Harry Potter, Toy Story, and Paw Patrol. Entertainment-loving fans might gravitate to movie trivia games or ones like Celebrity Name Game.

When are the best times to play family board games?

It's always fun to dedicate one night a week or month as "family game night" where everyone in the family gathers to play a new (or the same) board game together. Set up snacks and treats, drinks, even a special music playlist for the night, and try something new each time.

Family board games are also great for rainy, snowy, or cold days in when inclement weather makes it more appealing to stay warm and dry at home. Conversely, family board games with fewer small pieces, like card games or jumbling tower games, for example, could be fun to bring along for a day at the beach, or to a party.

Special occasions are always a great time to play party board games or set up family tournaments. The winners receive a prize, like a special treat or the chance to pick the next best family board games to add to the rotation.