Popular Games for the Whole Family

Looking for a new family game for game night? Maybe you’re trying to find a fun game to give as a Christmas gift this year. I have you covered! This post is full of great game ideas for families young and old!

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Our Family’s Favorite Board Games

Settlers of Catan – Ages 10+

We’ve been playing Settlers of Catan for years. It is a strategy board game that we all really get into. In this game players assume the roles of settlers on the island of “Catan”. Players trade resources like wood, brick, wheat, and stone to build settlements and cities. Players earn points as they try to out-settle everyone else. Click to shop

There is a Settlers of Catan Junior to help younger players learn how to play. Click to shop

Ticket to Ride – Ages 10+

Another strategy game Ticket to Ride is a railway-themed board game where players collect train cards to claim routes across a map. Players try to complete destination tickets and create the longest continuous route. While this is a strategy game there is some luck involved which always makes the game a bit more fun. Click to shop

There is a Ticket to Ride version that is great for younger players. Click to shop

Risk – Ages 10+

Risk is a classic board game that has been around since 1957. Players engage in strategic battles to conquer territories and continents. Through dice-based battles and alliances, players strive to eliminate opponents while managing their armies and territories in a quest for world domination. Click to shop

Lord of the Rings version is perfect for a Lord of the Rings fan. Click to shop

There is a Risk Junior version for younger children. Click to shop

Taco vs. Burrito – Ages 6+

Taco vs. Burrito is a fun strategic card game. Players try to build the most delicious dish using ingredient cards while sabotaging their opponents. You can use ingredient cards like guacamole and hot sauce, and action cards such as “Steal” or “Bomb,” while playing. The goal is to create the ultimate creation and win the game. This is a fast-paced, silly game that combines elements of strategy and luck. *This item was gifted to us to review, and we loved it! Click to shop

Chameleon – Ages 14+

Everyone knows the top secret word except for the Chameleon who has to pretend and convince everyone that they know the word. This is a quick game to learn and play! Click to Shop

Incoherent Family Edition – Ages 12+

This is a super fun card game and now it’s available in a family edition. The original edition is great but has some risque phrases or harder phrases that might not be a good fit for younger children.

Each person takes a turn picking a card and holding it up so everyone else can sound out what they see. The player who figures out what the actual phrase is wins the round. This is hilarious. I highly recommend it! Click to Shop

Exploding Kittens – Ages 7+

Exploding Kittens is a fun card game featuring a deck of cards filled with cute but explosive kittens. Players take turns drawing cards, trying to avoid the “exploding kitten” card by using skip, shuffle, and other cards. My teens love this one. I think it’s perfect for tweens and teens. Click to Shop

Spot it – Ages 7 to adult

We loved this game because I could easily throw it into a bag and bring it with us. It’s a super easy matching game. Your goal is to match a little graphic that is on your card to the card that is placed in the middle. Click to Shop

More fun games we love!

Qwirkle – Ages 6+

Farkle – Ages 8+

Quixx – Ages 8+

Qbitz – 1-player game – Ages 8+

Monopoly – Try a different edition – Ages 8+

My son still loves playing Monopoly…. and he’s 15! I love that there are themed Monopolys for almost any cartoon or show so you can personalize the gift by picking a theme that’s perfect for the recipient. Below are some examples. Click to shop

Buildzi Stack ing Game – Ages 6+

This game has a similar structure as The Uzzle but with building blocks. Each player has to match the drawn tower card and build the tower the fastest. Click to shop

Hues and Clues – Ages 8+

I’ve heard that this game is super fun. The game is pretty easy to play. You draw a card, pick one of the colors on the card, and describe that color in just one word. Everyone tries to guess the exact color. The person with the closest guess wins the round! Click to Shop

The Uzzle – Ages 4+

This is a fast-paced pattern-matching game. Each player has to match their blocks to their drawn card. The first person to match their blocks to the card and yell “Uzzle” wins! This game looks like a lot of fun! Click to shop

Artsy Fartsy – Ages 10+

Like Pictionary but definitely for kids! This game has all kinds of silly prompts that will keep your kids laughing! Click to shop

Game Ideas for Younger Children

While younger children may not be able to handle strategic games there are plenty of great options for them too. Games for this age group include silly games that are simply fun to more educational games that will help them learn while playing.

Sneaky Snacky Squirrel – Ages 3+

This was a favorite when the kids were little! Super cute game where each player has to collect acorns to fill up your own little stump. You spin the wheel and find out if you can pick an acorn, steal an acorn from someone or lose your acorns. It’s cute! Click to shop

Bluey Scavenger Hunt Game – Ages 3+

Players join Bluey, Bingo, and their friends as they embark on a whimsical scavenger hunt adventure. With colorful illustrations and engaging challenges, the game encourages teamwork, problem-solving, and imaginative play for young children and fans of the beloved Bluey characters. Click to shop