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Family board game

(81 Posts)
Luckygirl3 Tue 11-Nov-25 12:54:53

Can anyone recommend a board game that I might buy for my family to play this Christmas? Thank you

CanadianGran Tue 11-Nov-25 21:28:16

We have the issue with one grandchild with a very short attention span, and not willing to take time to understand rules. So anything too complicated to learn is abandoned quickly.

We tend to stick to UNO, snakes and ladders, and Trouble, but would love more suggestions for quickly learnt games.

Lathyrus3 Tue 11-Nov-25 21:30:11

Pit or Racing Demon - if you like be raucous and shout your heads off😬

Casdon Tue 11-Nov-25 21:31:07

Our favourite is Sequence, you play in teams, and it combines strategy and luck, a 10 year old would be able to play. I’m also a fan of Pictionary.

NotSpaghetti Tue 11-Nov-25 21:57:54

What about Catan?

Greyduster Tue 11-Nov-25 22:06:34

‘Ingenious’ is one we all enjoy, plus Ludo - and, not board games but - UNO, Pit, Bananagrams and Build a Beetle. I hate Monopoly and absolutely hate Cluedo but I’m in a minority of one!

brook2704 Tue 11-Nov-25 22:08:53

We often play Ticket to Ride, Labyrinth or Herd Mentality - ages 10 to 12. For a different card game we like SkyJo

keepingquiet Tue 11-Nov-25 22:10:06

Another heads up here for Ticket to Ride, only played the Europe version but it kept me on my toes and wanting to play again soon, and I usually struggle with board games.

Luckygirl3 Tue 11-Nov-25 22:25:39

So many wonderful ideas - thank you! I am making a list ....

Chocolatelovinggran Wed 12-Nov-25 07:30:26

Not actually a board game, but we love "Dumb Questions".

Jaxjacky Wed 12-Nov-25 08:09:24

‘Do you really know your family’ isn’t a very competitive game as such, but boy does it case hilarity! Only about £12, suitable for all ages.

GrandmasueUK Wed 12-Nov-25 08:44:31

We live Outsmarted too. There are lots of sets of questions as add-ons and can be tailored for adults and children. We play either together or against family on video call, over WhatsApp. We sometimes have the English vs the Portuguese family, or three sets of 2, with the youngsters against the adults. There are little figurines for the playing pieces, my youngest grandson wanted the one with "hair like grannie's". It was Albert Einstein with a mop of wild grey hair grin.
We also enjoy Junior charades when we are together.

LizzieDrip Wed 12-Nov-25 09:01:23

It depends how crazy you want to go!

We played the Taskmaster board game last Christmas. It was absolutely hilarious🤣 Best fun I’ve had in ages - we were all crying with laughter (adults plus two teenagers).

We all like the Taskmaster TV programme, which helped I think.

TheWeirdoAgain60 Wed 12-Nov-25 09:09:40

If you love cats, try Catopoly; it's like Monopoly but hilarious. Instead of houses and hotels, you have fish bones and litter trays!

There's also the dog version, too!

stanlaw Wed 12-Nov-25 13:54:45

Definitely Labyrinth--probably need to be 7or 8 or over but you can play tactically or simply.

1summer Wed 12-Nov-25 13:55:36

A really good but old board game is Bonanza. It’s a card based board game. I think you can get it on EBay.
A fun game which we played a few years ago and now a family favourite is What’s in the Bag but not a board game.

annifrance Wed 12-Nov-25 14:06:36

Cluedo, monopoly, Uno, Trivial Pursuits, Taxi, Scrabble, Risk are all family favourites.

Much loved and hilarious is Cards Against Humanity. But you need to be broad minded, and the box days for over 17s.

LizzieDrip Wed 12-Nov-25 14:10:44

Exploding Kittens!

Mad, hilarious, surreal - teenagers love it😹😻🙀😸😼

Mirren Wed 12-Nov-25 14:14:34

Not a board game but a fun card game is Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza.
Great fun ...you need fast reflexes !

Mirren Wed 12-Nov-25 14:15:28

All my grandkids love Dixit too .

Newgran59 Wed 12-Nov-25 14:17:05

Anyone looking for reviews of family games, old or new, could try the Zatu website. Apologies if not allowed to suggest, but they do regularly publish reviews by genuine gamers.

Bazza Wed 12-Nov-25 14:24:37

We all love Who’s in the Bag, not a board game but great fun and very easy to play with no complicated instructions.

Allira Wed 12-Nov-25 14:26:16

Bazza

We all love Who’s in the Bag, not a board game but great fun and very easy to play with no complicated instructions.

I might be hopeless at that!

1summer Wed 12-Nov-25 14:31:30

1summer

A really good but old board game is Bonanza. It’s a card based board game. I think you can get it on EBay.
A fun game which we played a few years ago and now a family favourite is What’s in the Bag but not a board game.

Just remembered it’s What’s in the Sock!,

NotSpaghetti Wed 12-Nov-25 14:32:24

I like Risk too (and Diplomacy) but some in the family don't.
You have to be happy to sit out a long time with Risk if you lose

MattDanNana Wed 12-Nov-25 14:43:08

Mexican dominoes is great! Introduced to us by Canadian family, now a firm favourite. Also known as Mexican trains.