Here are some of our favorites, if you're looking for fresh ideas that everyone will like. Depending on the day. And the mood. And the moon cycle, or whatever. Give them a try and let us know what else you’d add to the list.
Games We Like to Play
Keeley McNamara and Jen Swetzoff
This is like the game you grew up with, but now each card has five generation-specific questions so everyone in the family is on an equal playing field. Perfect for family vacations or holidays when it can be tricky to find an activity everyone can do together.
Make your way through an ever-changing maze to find the treasure in this table game. We love it because it’s simple enough that younger kids can play without help, but the board also changes every time you play, so older kids don’t get bored.
This French card game is our go-to for killing time at the table when we go out to eat. Small packing, no tiny pieces, and it’s quick. Players compete in a cross-country race to drive 1000 km, while opponents play hazard cards to stop you.
This Japanese game translates to “Dice Town” in English. The goal? Be the first to build all four city landmarks—a train station, a shopping mall, an amusement park, and a radio tower. While part of the game is luck of the roll, another big part is strategy. It’s been fun watching the kids (and us adults) learn to adjust their thinking and approach each time we play.
Super fun for puzzler, problem-solving types, almost like Wordle but with shapes. There’s also a new, more challenging version with gems when you're ready to level up.
This is a game for people who love words and talking. The goal? Get the other people on your team to guess the word on your card, without using five other words on the card that would most obviously help describe it. An example prompt: “This is a country and something you’d put on bread for lunch.” The answer? Turkey!
You can’t go wrong with this murder mystery game that’s nostalgic for adults and stands the test of time for kids. To win, you have to figure out who killed the game’s victim, in what room, and with what weapon. It sounds gruesome when you say it like that, but it’s really fun, fast-paced, and strategic.
We like to collect cards from different places and a quick game is often a mood-changer or a good pre-bedtime win. Lately, we’ve been playing Gin Rummy, Spit, and Pusoy (pronounced at the end like Oy in Oy-Vey).
