Family game night is a great way to spend some quality family time together while also making it educational. These fun family board games will not only keep your family entertained, your kids will learn something in the process. This list of fun board games is based on my family’s experience and runs the range from old board games that I played when I was little, to brand new board games that have only recently come out. Be sure to share in the comments what you think are the best family board games!
15 Fun Family Board Games
Monopoly
No fun board games list is complete without Monopoly! While this classic board game probably isn’t a good fit for preschoolers, it’s perfect for elementary school-aged children (ages 8+). In addition to teaching the basic money skills needed for making change, Monopoly also begins the teaching process of grown-up financial issues like saving, budgeting, and planning.
Kids learn that if they don’t plan how to spend and save well, they’ll be out of the game quickly. And the randomness of selecting the “Go directly to jail!” card teaches them how to adapt to unexpected change and disappointment.
Tsuro- The Game Of The Path
This fun board game has a nice short play time so you can play a couple of rounds giving a few different people a chance to win. Tsuro is all about strategy and creating a pathway that doesn’t run off the board. It is recommended for ages 8+.
Blurt- The Uproarias Word Race Game
Blurt is a board game of rapid word recall. Players take turns reading clues aloud, competing to blurt out the correct answer. It is pretty simple and yet a game that gets the brain working and you laughing.
Poobah
This is a fun conversation starter game that will really get people talking and sharing stories and feelings. Poobah is great for those tween years when you have to work to get your kids to talk openly with you. M
Bingo
Is there any better game for teaching your kids letters and numbers? You can also find versions that are shapes, colors, and everyday items for a broader learning experience. You can even create your own version by cutting out pictures from magazines or printing ones you find online.
No matter which version your family likes to play, your little ones are building listening and memory skills in addition to letters and numbers. All of these skills will serve them well when it’s time to learn to read and do math.
Richard Scarry’s Busytown
You’ll need some floor space to play this 6-foot-long board game made popular by the Busytown books by Richard Scarry.
The basic premise of the game is for all the players (ages 3+) to get onboard the ferry to Picnic Island and eat their lunch before the pigs gobble up the food. Players have to work together as a team in order to achieve their goal, teaching your kids great teamwork skills. It also helps your child practice their powers of observation by recognizing objects and matching them to the board. And Busytown even helps with associating categories with people and actions. For example, kids will learn that shovels and hammers are found at the construction site.
Madam President
This is a brand new game that teaches about the democratic process and can help empower girls to want to become president! The Madam President Game is focused on teaching children, specifically girls, ages 8+ about leadership, community, working together, and the political process.
Uno
Yes, that card game you’ve known, and probably, played for years. There are several versions available to accommodate all age groups including Thomas the Tank Engine, Disney Princesses, Words, Numbers, and Colors, and of course, the original version.
Staying focused is key to playing this game so your kids will learn the importance of paying attention when they have to remember the colors or characters of the cards to play. Uno also helps to sharpen your child’s pattern recognition skills, which helps to understand the relationship between numbers and objects. Older kids will learn reasoning, strategy, and logic skills when figure out which cards to throw down and which to save.
Rory’s Story Cubes
Ok, not really a board game, but a fun and educational game that your family will love. In this game, there is no winning or losing, just having fun. It’s recommended for kids over 8, but younger kids can certainly play too; it’s good for building their imagination.
There are nine six-sided cubes and each side has a sketch. Things like a hot air balloon, book, turtle, and lightening bolt. The player rolls the cubes then makes up a story using the nine images that land on the cubes. The person telling the story can interpret the images anyway they’d like and there is no right or wrong way to use the images. Your kids will love expanding their imaginations by creating their own stories.
Clue
Another favorite fun board game with out family is Clue. I remember playing it for the first time when I was in 4th grade at a birthday party. I came home requesting one for myself and my kids love it as much as I did and do!
Double Ditto
This quick thinking game makes a great party game. Double Ditto is easy to learn to play, has a simple objective, and is fun for both old and young. The short average play time is about 20-30 minutes depending on the number of players and that time frame works well holding everyone’s interest while still allowing them to get really into the game.
Labyrinth
This one comes from my husband’s childhood and it is a big hit at our house. It takes a lot of strategy and can be as frustrating as it is fun when you are trying to get to your object by manipulating the board tiles. Labyrinth is a real classic board game.
Hasbro Acquire
This is another board game from my husband’s childhood. In fact, we have a vintage edition! Acquire is all about creating hotel chains, and then buying selling and merging at the right times. We play this board game with three generations and it is always fun!
Wits And Wagers
This is a great party game that is fun for all ages and doesn’t require trivia knowledge, though that can come in handy. Players all put their best guess, reveal, and then wager on the correct answer. Wits and Wagers has a quick play time and is a family favorite to play with the grandparents here as well.
The Farming Game
This one was a favorite of mine when I was young and my daughter loves it too. We play The Farming Game without the operating expense cards because they are a little too realistic and it helps shorten game time and I prefer to play games that aren’t much longer than an hour.
These fun family board games are sure to liven up your next game night! What do you think are the best family board games? Share your favorites in the comments below!
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