Family
The Best Family Games for Kids and Adults
I love a family game night. Now that my girls are a little older, we love to pull out our favorite games after their little brother goes to bed. I can’t wait until he can join, but he’s only three, so we’re not quite there yet. We’ve been on a Go Fish kick for years, and I’m so happy we left the Candyland and Chutes and Ladders era. With a no-camp summer ahead of us, game nights are happening a lot more around here. I figured it was time to share what we’re actually playing and what we’re adding to our collection.
The Best Family Games for Game Night
This might be an unpopular take, but I did not love the little kid game era. There are only so many times you can play Hi Ho Cherry-O before you start questioning your life choices. The shift to games that we all enjoy has been a game changer. Now when we sit down to play I’m actually excited instead of just being a good sport about it. If you have younger kids you know exactly what I mean.
Whether you’re looking for a fun card game for young kids or a classic game the whole family can play together, there is truly something for everyone on this list. Some of our personal favorites are the simplest games. The ones that require a little help for younger players but are still a great way to get everyone around the table for a family night. For older kids there’s real strategy involved, and for the competitive family members who need to have the highest score, there’s plenty of that too. This is my list of family games that are fun for kids of all ages — a great party game one night, a quiet Tuesday game board moment the next. Here are the best games that the whole family will love.
Card Games
We are a card game family. Card games. They are easy to pack and require little to no setup. They’re also a great way to bring everyone together, and are perfect for large groups and a wide range of ages. Even young children can join in with a little help. Spot it is the most simple game to learn in just a few minutes.
These are our personal favorites — the ones we reach for most for a good laugh and a great family night.
Spot It: The perfect game for little kids and adults and is probably the first game I played with my kids that I really enjoyed. It’s a fast, portable, no setup, easy game that works for basically every age. We bring this everywhere — restaurants, waiting rooms, and airplanes. It’s one of those great games that earns its place in the bag every single time.
Rat a Tat Cat: This is one of those fun family games everyone will love. The goal is to have the lowest point card total and the strategy is simple enough for a six year old but genuinely engaging for adults. It’s so much fun — I can’t recommend this one enough.
Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza: If you don’t have this game get it immediately. It’s a really fun game that takes about two minutes to learn and somehow gets funnier every single time. My girls are ruthless at this. My hands have the bruises to prove it.
Go Fish: We have played approximately ten thousand rounds of Go Fish over the last few years and somehow it never gets old. It’s a family favorite for us whether we’re at home or on vacation. All you need is a deck of cards. It’s great for a lot of people and is a good one for younger children, too.
Uno: Uno is the most classic card game there is and somehow it never gets old. I loved it as a kid, and love playing with my family now. Match colors and numbers, play your action cards strategically, and try to be the first one to get rid of your hand.
Board Games
There is something about clearing the table and pulling out a board game that makes an ordinary night a special one. We have a solid selection of board games at home, and I added some new games to our collection for summer. These are the ones worth owning — classics that never get old and a few newer finds that have become instant favorites. There is a great selection of games here for every type of player. Whether you want the simplest game for a quick round or a personal favorite guessing game the whole family loves, this list has something for everyone.
Shut the Box: This is a great family game that everyone will love. Roll the dice, flip the tiles, shut the box. Sounds simple but gets competitive fast. It’s one of those games that’s been around forever because it’s genuinely fun for every age — and it’s secretly great for practicing addition.
Life: One of those games that has been around forever and somehow never gets old. You spin the wheel, make your way through college, careers, marriage, and kids, and hope you retire with the most money. It takes a little longer than most games on this list but it’s worth it — my girls love making decisions about their little car people and arguing about who gets the best job. A great one for a rainy day when you have time to actually sit down and play.
Battleship: The ultimate two player strategy game and the perfect game for my eight year old who loves to win and takes everything very seriously. You set up your ships on the grid, take turns calling out coordinates, and try to sink your opponent’s fleet before they sink yours. It sounds simple but there is real strategy involved and the moment you finally get a hit is genuinely satisfying. One of those classics that holds up completely.
Blokus: We just added Blokus to our collection and I wish we had found it sooner. Each player has a set of colored tiles and you take turns placing them on the board. Your pieces can only touch corner to corner, never side to side.
Arcade & Action Games
These are the games that get loud. If you have kids who need to move, compete, and generally be chaotic about it, this is your section. They also happen to make really great Father’s Day gifts for the dad who is just as competitive as his kids.
Hypershot: This is an electronic tabletop hockey game where players shoot pucks at moving and stationary lights to win rounds. The first to win four is the champion. There are 5 game modes so it never gets repetitive. Plus, music and sound effects that make it feel like a real event. It’s under $20 and folds up for easy storage, too.
Arcade Basketball Game: This is such a great game. I saw this at a friend’s house and bought it on the spot. Two players go head to head shooting spring-loaded basketballs into moving hoops while the LED scoreboard keeps score automatically. It’s fast, it’s loud, and it requires absolutely zero setup which is my personal requirement for an easy game night. Great for ages 4 and up and genuinely fun for adults too.
Jenga: Jenga is a forever game for a reason. Pull a block, stack it on top, try not to be the one who sends the whole thing crashing down. Our three year old thinks it’s hilarious when the tower falls. He is usually the one who makes it fall.
Bop It: Bop It has been around forever and there’s a reason — it’s genuinely fun, gets faster and more chaotic as you go, and works for basically every age. Great for the car, great for a rainy day, great for when you need everyone off their screens immediately.
Hungry Hungry Hippos: This game is great for younger kids. If you’re like me and can’t play Candyland for 30 minutes, it’s perfect for you. All three of my kids have fun with this one.
Perfection: I feel like this is probably responsible for some of my anxiety, but it’s one of those games that’s fun for everyone. It sounds simple, but it’s not. Great for ages 5 and up and a little (ok, very) stressful, but fun.
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