The Best Games For Families To Play Together

From two-player board games to games for the younger kids, there's something in this list for every family.

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These games for families to play together make great gifts.

If your family is anything like mine, you love to get together and hash out your differences over a friendly game. Allegiances are made, voices are raised, and true colors are revealed. Hopefully all in good fun. 

But, take a spin through Target’s game section or Walmart’s lineup of board games, and the choice is overwhelming. Which games are appropriate for younger kiddos? What games are ideal for taking up a full afternoon cooped -up indoors? What are the best two-player board games?

If you’re looking for some game inspiration to keep your kiddos and your family entertained this holiday season and beyond, we’ve pulled together some of our favorites. Below are the best games to take to your family holiday parties that will be remembered for years to come. Take a look:

Games That Can Be Played In A Short Amount Of Time:

These games are all quick plays with easy-to-follow directions, and you can decide at the end of a 15- to 20-minute round to keep going or to call it a night. Most of these can be played with kids who are old enough to read.

Board Games That Can Be Played In A Short Amount Of Time
Exploding Kittens(01 of03)
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Exploding Kittens is a quick card game where the aim is to avoid drawing an “exploding kitten” card from the deck. There are a few fun expansion packs, like “Streaking Kittens” and “Imploding Kittens” that help bring another level to the game. Get it on Amazon. (credit:Amazon)
Werewolf(02 of03)
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Werewolf sets a spooky night scene where you try to get as many people as you can in one room and let the blaming begin. Everyone draws a secret role from the deck, and the villagers try to “out” the werewolf before she or he kills them all in the night. Get it on Amazon. (credit:Amazon)
On A Scale Of One To T-Rex(03 of03)
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On A Scale Of 1 To T-Rex is a brand new game from the creators of “Exploding Kittens” and is billed as “the game for people who are bad at charades.” It’s hilarious and chaotic, but easy to understand and play. Get it on Amazon. (credit:Amazon)

Strategy Board Games That Take Longer To Play:

What about the crowd that likes to settle in around the table for games of strategy for 45 minutes to an hour? Settlers of Catan is a popular favorite, but maybe you want to switch it up. Below are a few recos that help pass the time.

Strategy Board Games That Take Longer To Play
Pandemic(01 of03)
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Pandemic is a cooperative game, good for groups of 2 to 4. The goal is to save the world from being overrun by disease by working together to find a cure. Get it on Amazon. (credit:Amazon)
Ticket To Ride: Europe(02 of03)
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Ticket to Ride: Europe involves players trying to build train routes across Europe in 1901. For our younger gamers, Ticket to Ride: First Journey is for ages 6 and up. Get it on Amazon. (credit:Amazon)
Chrononauts(03 of03)
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Chrononauts is a game about time travel that’s ideal for 11 years old and up. Clear the table, lay out history’s timeline, and get to screwing it all up. Get it on Amazon. (credit:Amazon)

Board Games You Can Play With Kids:

It’s hard to find games that are entertaining for adults without being too over-the-head for kids. These two games fit the bill and are sure to entertain parents and kiddos alike.

Board Games You Can Play With Kids
Parcheesi(01 of02)
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Parcheesi is great for those who love classic board games. Parents and grandparents will be on cloud nine when you pull out this classic version, and kids ages 8 and up will enjoy playing along. Get it on Amazon. (credit:Amazon)
5 Second Rule(02 of02)
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5 Second Rule won the game of the year award in 2018. It’s made for ages 10 and up and is a fast-paced game designed to make you tongue-tied. There’s also a version for the younger kids. Get it on Amazon. (credit:Amazon)

Board Games For Younger Kids:

These games are great for the 4 to 6 year olds who want to be part of the game hysteria but aren’t ready for reading games and aren’t quite ready to throw down with the big dogs yet.

Board Games For Younger Kids
Yeti In The Spaghetti(01 of03)
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Yeti In The Spaghetti is super simple, quick and fun for the younger kids. Get it on Amazon. (credit:Amazon)
Trouble(02 of03)
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Trouble is essentially Parcheesi for the younger audience. It’s a good introduction for kids about the way that games work: turns, moves, winning and (most importantly) losing. Get it on Amazon. (credit:Amazon)
Bananagrams For Kids(03 of03)
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Bananagrams For Kids is a great way to practice spelling in a fun way for the littles who are just learning to read. (And after they go to bed, whip out the adult Bananagrams for the rest of the guests!) Get it on Amazon. (credit:Amazon)

Two-Player Board Games:

If you’re planning a smaller holiday get-together, or just a few of your family members are into games, check out these options.

Two Player Board Games
Codenames Duet(01 of04)
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Codenames Duet is the two-player version of the highly-rated board game “Codenames.” In this two-person version you and your team member work to identify your “agents” using keywords. Get it on Amazon. (credit:Amazon)
Hive(02 of04)
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Hive is a strategy game in which you build the board as you go and fight to see who can overtake the Queen Bee first. Get it on Amazon. (credit:Amazon)
Carcassonne(03 of04)
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Carcassone is a world-building, land-acquiring game of knights, mocks, farmers and thieves that can be enjoyed with just two people. Get it on Amazon. (credit:Amazon)
Stratego(04 of04)
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Stratego is like a grown-up edition of Guess Who, wherein you can’t see your opponent’s pieces and you’re trying to blindly outwit each other. Get it on Amazon. (credit:Amazon)

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