A new generation of board games goes beyond the traditional roll-and-move games of our youth. Everyone needs the classics like Clue, Life, and Parcheesi, but I encourage you to add some of these modern board games that have newer mechanisms to your family game collection.
The problem with traditional roll-and-move games is that rather than you playing the game, the game plays you. If you explore games that are not based on the latest children’s characters, you can find ones that have solid rule mechanics as their core.
Use your knowledge of your children to determine the appropriate age range for them. With a little help, your kids might enjoy more advanced games than you would expect. You always have the option of simplifying the rules for a while and adding more advanced rules later.
So give some of these new games a try at your next family game night!
Essential Family Games
Mexican Train (Tile Laying) What better way to enhance dominoes but with the addition of colorful plastic trains! My children played this game for hours at a time.
King of Tokyo (Dice Combat) Let the giant Kaiju monsters battle it out in this Yahtzee-style dice game. Now to find some plastic minis to replace those cardboard standees…
Castle Panic (Cooperative Game) Let’s all work together to save the castle from attack! Carl the Cleric had many heroic adventures defending the castle with his neighborhood friends.
Khet: The Laser Game (Abstract Strategy) Lasers and mirrors! What more could you want?! See if you can plan out where your laser beam will shoot. Carl the Cleric and his grandmother Baba the Barbarian had many great times playing this game.
Apples to Apples (Judging Game) Which card is the best match? This classic card game in which players pick a card from their hand matching the given category is always a blast. For younger children, Apples to Apples Jr is a great option. For a more free-form version, try the game Say Anything!
The Touch (Dexterity Game) But the lamp felt just like the elephant! We all enjoyed watching players hunting for a particular plastic figure by feeling around in the hidden chamber. You can homebrew your own version of this out-of-print game using a blindfold and miniature toys.
Zooloretto (Set Collection) Build your own zoo collecting animal tiles from different species. But be aware that each type needs its own enclosure, so don’t try to get too many types. The arrival of adorable baby animals is always fun, if you don’t run out of room and have to put them in your barn.
Cardline Animals (Educational Card Game) Which is longer: a polar bear or a great white shark? Players try to place their cards in the correct order in the list based on a particular attribute. All of the Timeline/Cardline series of games are well-illustrated and educational.
duck! duck! Go! (Programmed Movement Game) Can we just play with the rubber duckies instead? Players plan a series of movements for their ducky on the bathtub playing board, but things often go wrong. For younger children, get the Junior expansion deck.
Camel Up (Betting Game) Camel Meeples racing around the track! Vote for the one you think will be the winner. Just be aware that these goofy camels are in such a hurry they may stack up on top of each other.
Click here to see all of the games I recommend for your board game collection.
Bitzy the Bard
“Life is an adventure story and you are the star. Choose to play a hero!”
