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If you’ve been a fan of ours for some time, you know we love Family Game Night. We’ve long been telling you about some of our favorite games in our family game night series, but this year we thought we’d share with you some news of new games and new board games for families we’ve been introduced to that we think would make kids squeal with excitement if they got them as gifts. We’ve broken it down by ages, all in an effort to make it easier for gift givers to find the perfect game to gift this year.
Games for Family Game Night For All Ages
THE MAZINS
Help the Mazin family find attractions around town to win trophies on their exciting city trip to do marvelous things! A quick roll of the die determines where they’ll go next! This game helps kids develop focus, hand/eye coordination, and speed. Multiple play levels allow for adjustment to different age groups, making The MAZINS perfect for the whole family!
Story Dealer
Through ongoing play, suggestions, and feedback from its students, the Bennett Innovations team created storytelling cards to help reinforce Bennett Day’s mission to create a collaborative, inquiry-based environment.
STEM/STEAM Set
Designed to inspire open-ended tales in themes of: science, technology, engineering, art, and math. Clever card suits with colorful gears spell out the five Ws (who? what? where? when? and why?). These choices foster inquiry-based learning, creative writing programs, curiosity, and critical thinking skills. Charming watercolor robots, labs, habitats, clock faces, space themes, and seasonal details are sure to inspire.
DIY Maker Set
This is similar to the STEM/STEAM set, yet the illustrations are omitted to allow children to create their own cards in the suits of the five Ws. This DIY Maker set was inspired by many creative children in the Bennett Innovations beta-testing group who remarked that they too would like to make a deck of Story Dealercards.
Games for Family Game Night For Ages 3 & Older
The Game Plan Game
The Game Plan Game should be a part of every family’s game night collection, especially if they have young children. We’ve partnered with this game, created by moms, to test it out with our own boys. Here’s what makes this game so unique. Those teachable moments, those conversations you need to have with your kids… this game lets you do it in a fun engaging way.
“When is it OK to help a grown-up?”
“Name at least 2 things you MUST always do after you go to the bathroom.”
There are questions like that, and more, that allow you to have some great conversations while seeing who can get to the finish line of the game first. Even though my boys are older, there were questions my youngest answered incorrectly, which gave us moments to pause and have discussions. We might think we’ve had all of the conversations we need to with our kids, but it never hurts to have them again.
Rubik’s Revolution
This is the newest game my kids can’t put down. Designed for ages 5 and older, it’s still a game your teens and tweens will enjoy. Super Impulse is proud to reintroduce Rubik’s Revolution; winner of the 2008 Toy of the Year Award!
Rubik’s Revolution offers six fast-paced, electronic games including LIGHT SPEED, in one device! Features include sounds, lights, and various skill levels that will keep you playing for hours! Rubik’s Revolution is both a one-player and multiplayer game, best for ages 5 to 105! Test your skills and beat your score — or your friends’ score.
Our Family’s Race Across the U.S.A.
Our Family’s Race Across the U.S.A. board game is a personalized board game that introduces a brand-new way to engage the family! To win, you must race across America and be the first to cross the finish line. Personalize up to 6 game pieces with photos of your family member’s faces. Their first names will also be displayed in the game board artwork. The family’s last name will be featured in the game title and displayed on the game board and on the outside box. Create lasting family memories with this unique keepsake!
NumBugz
NumBugz is a new travel games platform that’s all about choice. There are currently 8 different games to play with the Bugz, so there is something for everyone ages 4+. The games range in complexity from Colonyz (the game inside the bag) think scrabble with numbers, to strategy games, memory games, quick fun games, and more. And it doesn’t end there — PLYT games will continue to create new FREE games for their customers to play with the Bugz so there’s always a reason to have some family face-to-face fun.
Qwirkle
Mix, match, score, and win! Qwirkle is a must-have for your next family game night. MindWare’s best seller is a simple game of matching colors and shapes that requires tactical maneuvers, quick thinking, and a well-planned strategy.
Players of this addictive game score points by building rows and columns of brightly-colored tiles that are either all the same color or all the same shape, without creating duplicates. Look for opportunities to score big by placing a tile that touches multiple pieces with matching attributes; create a line of all six in a row, and you score a “Qwirkle”. The player with the most points when the tiles run out wins!
Qwirkle combines the gameplay of Dominoes and Scrabble and is the perfect combination of skill and chance! This easy-to-learn, yet challenging, game for children and adults will have all three generations on the edge of their seats! Grab your family and friends and see for yourself why everyone is hooked on Qwirkle! For 2 to 4 players.
• Teaches colors, shapes, math, and the importance of strategizing.
• Strengthens language and problem-solving skills.
• Challenging enough for even the most competitive teens and adults.
• 108 durable wooden tiles and canvas drawstring bag for easy clean up and storage.
Games for Family Game Night For Ages 7 & Older
The Incredibles Save the Day Game from Wonder Forge
Trouble is erupting across Metroville, but The Incredibles can save the day! Each player has a unique power, so strategize who will take on each challenge, and work together to stop the crimes before it’s too late! As the alarm goes off across the city, tiles are flipped over on the game board, revealing new problems and even changing the game board paths. If you can defeat the villains and save the citizens before time runs out, you’ll be the hero of the city! For ages 6 and up and 1- 4 players.
Learn more about the Incredibles Save the Day game by watching this video.
Disney Parks Theme Park Edition Monopoly Game
Combine the world’s most popular theme parks with the world’s most popular board game and you’ll have the world’s most fun! This edition features exciting new properties, your favorite attractions, Disney character tokens, and a pop-up Disney castle. For ages 8 and up, and 2 to 6 players.
Use this link to buy the Disney Parks Monopoly game from ShopDisney. There is also a Lion King Monopoly game you can buy for your family.
Quiddler from Set Enterprises
Quiddler, the winner of over 20 Best Game Awards, is for ages 8 and up and can be played with 1-8 players! The goal is to arrange all the cards in your hand into one or more words. The number of cards dealt increases each round — starting with three cards and ending with 10 cards. High score wins, so use your high point letters and Quiddler’s unique double letter cards — but don’t get caught with them in your hand! Aim for the bonuses — each round there are two bonuses: one for the most words and one for the longest word.
Quiddler sharpens spelling skills and increases vocabulary and critical thinking skills. The dictionary becomes your friend in this game! You will use it when challenging a word of another player and more importantly when it is not your turn, you will use it to look up words.
Toy Story Obstacles & Adventures Game
For 2-5 players, ages 8 and up, players work together as their favorite characters from Disney and Pixar’s Toy Story films to enlist the help of Friends, conquer Hazards, and complete Adventures before the bad guys can alter the end of the story in this cooperative deck-building game.
Ya Blew It! The Rowdy Game of Riches and Risks from Wonder Forge
For ages 8 and up and 2 to 6 players — Dig deep in the card deck to mine for gems but be careful, other prospectors may try to steal your claim! It’s explosive push-your-luck fun with every suspenseful roll of the dynamite dice!
Learn more about the Ya Blew It! The Rowdy Game of Riches and Risks by watching this video.
Big Money from Wonder Forge
Everyone gets crazy rich, but who will end up the richest? With each roll you’ll have a chance to rake in the dough but be careful, the tables could turn at any moment and you need to gather the most before the bank runs out. Roll the dice and buy amazing investments for your empire — a candy factory, a pro soccer team, or a movie studio. You decide what risks to take as you collect companies and become a Zillionaire! For ages 8 and up and 2 to 5 players.
Learn more about the Big Money game by watching this video.
Pirates of the Caribbean Battleship Game
Set sail on a swashbuckling adventure with this Pirates of the Caribbean Edition of the classic game of strategic combat, Battleship. Command your armada of five pirate ships as you search out the enemy, fire at coordinates, and score hits with custom-shaped powder kegs. Use special A Pirate’s Life cards to fire multiple hits. A two-player game for ages 7 and older.
Cat Crimes: “Who’s to Blame Logic Game” from ThinkFun
For ages 8 to adult, Cat Crimes is a single-player puzzle with a loveable cast of characters! Each of the 40 challenges presents a crime and a series of clues to help solve it. It stashes easily in backpacks or the car for road trips.
12 Days from Calliope Games
In 12 Days, players bid for each of the 12 days of Christmas with the cards from the Gift deck. Players score points for each Holiday card they’ve collected and whoever has the most points at the end of the game wins!
CUBU from Funnybone Toys
CUBU is where visual illusion leads to confusion as you try to follow number and color sequences. Watch out for the action cards that could disrupt your turn! Get to 100 points before the rest and you’ve won the CUBU challenge! Play Speed CUBU and really test your visual perception. It’s a great game for a family game night during the holidays.
Blitz Champz
Blitz Champz is a fun and competitive football-themed card game for ages 7-Adult. Blitz Champz takes two minutes to learn, can be played by 2-6 people, and reinforces critical thinking and math skills. Suitable for boys and girls, Blitz Champz was created by female tackle football gold medalist Adrienne Smith.
Pet Me
Pet Me is a social math board game for division, which goes well on your list. It has been selected as the winner of the Summer 2017 Academics’ Choice Brain Toy Award. It is a game of love for pets. With cute puppies, adorable kittens, and playful parrots, this game revolves around loving and caring for animals and pets. This game brings out the joy of taking care of pets and sharing the love while practicing division without remainders. The gameplay is backed by a beautiful story of a Pet Wonderland and all the animals and birds waiting to be taken care of. This game is for kids 8 years and above.
WordSpiel
WordSpiel® is a simple yet dynamic card game that everyone enjoys. Use your words wisely and be the first to go out. Word size doesn’t matter, but ending with a tricky letter can really challenge your opponents. Each word spins off the last, so the game will never be the same twice!
The goal is to get rid of all 10 of your cards by making words. On each turn, simply start your word with the last card played. Just like the name, WordSpiel, Spiel uses the S from WordS. Use the timer or take your time, just be sure to put your best word forward.
Othello
Othello is a two-player strategy game that will definitely keep your challenger on edge. Trap and capture your opponent’s pieces by placing your disks on the board. Each time you “sandwich” your opponent’s piece you win a point. This game is perfect for older kids (8+) that love strategy and a challenge!
Hedbanz
Do you have kids who prefer a quick, high-energy game? Hedbanz is sure to entertain the entire family as players wear a picture card in their headband and ask questions to figure out what they are. It’s a fun “What am I” game that brings the family to tears (after laughing uncontrollably)!
Games for Family Game Night For Tweens & Teens, Ages 10 & Older
Election Night!
Need a way to get your kids practicing math and social study skills without them knowing?
Add the Election Night game to your Family Game Night collection. Semper Smart Games sent us this game to review. I have to admit I wasn’t sure if we would enjoy this game at first. The directions seemed like they would be hard to figure out. But once we got playing it wasn’t hard at all. It’s listed as being for ages 8 and up, but based on our experience with the math and understanding some of the complexities of the game, I would recommend it for ages 10 and older.
Election Night! — winner of the 2019 Parent’s Choice Gold Award — is a board game for all ages that breaks down the complex process of electing a president in a clear and exciting way. You’ll compete for the presidency, vying for the states with the most representation or locking down smaller states across the board. The timing of this game couldn’t be more perfect with the upcoming election just months away.
I took on one of my teens in the race to the White House and sadly, I lost. Maybe you’ll have better luck with your kids.
Sleepover Party Game
Break out the sleeping bags and leave the lights on and play Sleepover Party Game. Spin the spinner and attempt to complete one of more than 200 ACT IT, WORK IT, or PARTY Challenges. Being silly and having fun is the name of the game, so be prepared to sing, laugh, perform, and make a general fool of yourself! Don’t fall asleep early, or you’ll miss out on earning the most cards and staying up all night!
Family Feud
The classic Family Feud show has made its way into Family Game Night with home-version varieties. They are sure to provide hours of family entertainment. Games include one classic game console with a grid cover, one scoreboard with sections for Face-Off and Fast Money Rounds, Totals and Strike Indicator, one wipe-off marker, and one instruction/question pad with more than 500 Family Feud Survey Questions. 3 or more players.
Escape Room The Game
For those adventurers, you can bring the thrill and mystery of an escape room to your home with Escape Room The Game. The goal is to solve puzzles and find hidden clues to escape before time runs out. You don’t have to leave the cozy fireside this Holiday season to experience a real-life escape room! For ages 16 and older.
Brain Games the Game – National Geographic
Based on the Emmy-nominated National Geographic Channel TV series Brain Games, Brain Games the Game will take you through a series of challenges that will put both your mind and body to the test! Go head-to-head with other players to test your logic, vision, language skills, and physical coordination.
Arts and Bricks
Wednesday 20th of October 2021
Thanks for this great list of family-friendly games; there are many games I've never heard of, and one, Othello, that you spurred my memory about. We were gifted the newer game Slapzi during Covid and have loved it!