When it comes to spending quality time with family, board games are a classic and enjoyable way to do so. We play enough board games in my home that I consider myself enough of an expert to know when we’ve found a game that is fun for both our kids and can keep the adults entertained. With that in mind, I am sharing some of the best family board games to play, ranging from classic favorites to newer options. This post has been updated for 2023.
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My husband and I both like board games but we are also the first to admit that some are just painful to suffer through. Some board games are either too basic to hold our attention or have convoluted rules, others are just a slight tweak on a classic game in order to throw in some licensed characters.
Family Fun: Top Board Games for All Ages and Occasions
Family board games are a great way to spend quality time together and strengthen family bonds. They are fun and engaging, and can be enjoyed by people of all ages. Board games come in a variety of themes and styles, from classic games like Monopoly and Scrabble to newer games like Settlers of Catan and Ticket to Ride.
- Ticket to Ride ($47.99)
Ticket to Ride is probably my personal favorite board game. It’s a bit of a time commitment as it takes 30-60 minutes to play through the game. It involves an element of strategy and planning that keeps me going.
Plus, it’s entirely possible that you’ll have no idea who the winner is until the very end of the game. That element alone keeps everyone on their toes.
Ticket to Ride now comes in multiple versions. Ticket to Ride New York ($20) is a shorter version of the game if you have younger kids or shorter attention spans.
- Qwirkle ($25)
This was the first game that we played that gave me a glimpse of life after Chutes and Ladders and it will always hold a special place in my heart. It says it’s for ages 6 and up and I think that’s about accurate, but we’ve played with just a group of adults and had a great time.
- Labyrinth ($34)
We actually have the Ocean version of Labyrinth, but there are several options, including Harry Potter Labyrinth and Frozen Labyrinth Junior branded games. You have to shift the tiles around the board to make paths to the objects you’re trying to collect. Since you recreate the board every single time you play, this game feels new every time we play.
- Catan ($47)
If you’re a regular board game person, surely Catan is on your radar. It has won a million awards and has several available expansion packs. The recommended starting age is age 10 and this is another long game clocking in at about an hour to finish each game, so keep both of those things in mind when deciding if this would work for your family.
Dice and Card Games for Families
Some popular dice games include Yahtzee and Farkle, while popular card games include Uno and Go Fish. These games not only bring families together, but they also help build important skills such as critical thinking, strategy, and math.
- Farkle ($8.99)
Farkle, along with Yahtzee, is an easy to play dice game that we all love. As an added bonus, it’s easy to take with you on the road and can be played without any special equipment. All you really need are six dice and you’re good to go.
- Quixx ($12.99)
Another dice game, that requires a tiny bit of strategy is Quixx. The fun part of this game is that everyone has a chance to play on every turn, even if they’re not the ones rolling the dice. It keeps everyone engaged and moves the game along quickly. This is a great game to travel with as everything you need comes in one small box.
- Monopoly Deal ($7.99)
Before you run screaming away, this isn’t the Monopoly of your childhood that will go on for days. (Our family actually likes Monopoly, but I know it’s not for everyone.) This card game can be played in as little as 15 minutes!
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