Family Game Night is a tradition that brings people together. While everyone knows about classics like Uno, Monopoly, and Clue, you might not realize that there is a thriving board game industry beyond the aisles at superstores. If you step out of your comfort zone, you might just find a new favorite. Here are 5 great new board games for Family Game Night.
You will build roads, settlements, and cities in an attempt to dominate the island of Catan and earn victory points. This is our go-to game for board game night and was an instant success in our house. If you have younger elementary school kids, you might try Catan Junior first. We have found that Catan is a perfect introduction to gaming for strategic-thinking fourth graders.
Dixit is a beautifully illustrated game that reminds of Apples to Apples, but with pictures. A storyteller reads a sentence from their card and the remaining players play the picture card from their hand that they feel matches the sentence. Everyone takes turns guessing which card was the storyteller’s. This game relies on enough luck and imagination that your first grader might just beat you!
Pandemic is ideal for Family Game Night because it is a cooperative game, so you won’t risk being mad at grandma for the rest of the week. Ideal for third graders and above, your family will work together to fight off disease that threatens to take over the world. If you have teenagers (age 13+), try Pandemic: Legacy for a truly unique board game experience. The game lasts 12 months and you only play through the game once (which will hurt a little when you look at the price tag, but it’s cheaper than a monthly trip to the movies and your teenagers will genuinely think you’re the coolest).
When Bananagrams was released in 2006, it became an instant classic. Like Scrabble without the board, each player builds their own crossword puzzle. There are several versions that keep things interesting. It is ideal for kids 8 and older. If you have younger kiddos, check out Pairs in Pears (age 6+) which is more about letter recognition and simple sight words.
I had to include this game that is perfect for the preschool set. It’s a simple stacking game that tests who can build the tallest pyramid. While it’s intended for kids, adults will also love this clever and beautifully designed game of skill and luck.
Bonus iPhone Games for Older Kids – once a kid reaches a certain age, their heads are constantly buried in their phones, so you might as well bring phones into Family Game Night! Fibbage is a clever game that combines deception and trivia that will have everyone cracking up. Heads Up! is a guessing game that is perfect for standing in line, waiting at a restaurant, or Friday night at home.
Some of these games can be found in the aisles of Target & Toys R’ Us, but you might have to look a little harder for a few titles. You will find a vast range of more unique board games at . Here are some of the best spots for unique board games in the DFW area:
- Madness Games & Comics in Plano
- Doc’s Comics and Games in Frisco
- Brickhouse Games in Garland
- Common Ground Games in Dallas
Did I miss your favorite Family Game Night board game? Share it in the comments below!
Those are some great choices for family board games! We play a lot in our family, so much that I started a podcast where my kids and I recommend games for other families. It’s called “First Player Token” and every episode is short, like 10 minutes! https://derekbruff.org/blogs/firstplayertoken/