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Family Games for Family Fun
If you're looking for family fun, playing a game is a fine start. Our
selections offer games of memory, matching, strategy, scavenging -- and
old fashioned giggling.
Family Night!
Ages: 3 & Up
Author: Susan Magsamen
Sterling Publishing/ FamilyStories, $17.95 (Hard Cover)
Here are games for every developmental stage, along with stories from families who know how to plan family nights, get a game going, and lure reluctant players. Family activity: personalize a table runner for family night and get started with a "survival kit" (playing cards, dice, and multi-use game pieces). Book Description
Richard Scarry's Busytown Eye Found It! Game
Ages: 3 & Up
I Can Do That! Games presented by: The Wonder Forge, LLC,
$16.99
The premise of the game is simple - players need to work together to make it to Picnic Island before Pig Will and Pig Won't eat all the food. Players take turns spinning to advance spaces on the board, solve a Goldbug Mystery or give up picnic dishes to the hungry pigs. The player who spins a Goldbug turns over a card to reveal an object that all players must locate on the game board. The board is filled with Busytown scenes that include one or more pictures of the object. When the timer starts, each player searches for as many of the objects as possible and uses their magnifying glass token to mark them. When time runs out, everyone adds up the number of magnifying glasses on the board and advances that number of bonus spaces. Although the game is designed for kids 3 and up, adults shouldn't assume that searching for objects is an easy task. Lots of small hammers, balloons, trashcans and other tiny objects are "hidden" within the scenes and finding them provides an entertaining challenge for all ages.
Thomas Great Race Game
Ages: 3 & Up
Briarpatch,
$24.99
In the Thomas Great Race game, the game "board" is composed of two plastic pieces that fit together to form a hill. Train pieces slide into the tracks and start at the bottom of one side of the hill with the objective of reaching the top of the hill to roll down the opposite side to the finish line. Each of the train pieces represents a different member of the Thomas crew. For young children learning to count, this is both educational and entertaining. But the unique train track setup of this game is the added appeal that makes this fun for kids and adults alike. This charming game is a terrific choice for a family game night with young children.
Cat in the Hat - I Can Do That!
Ages: 4 - 8 yrs.
I Can Do That! Games presented by: The Wonder Forge, LLC,
$19.99
The high-energy game that combines balancing, jumping, sliding, giggling and more to celebrate your child's "I Can Do That!" attitude! The Cat in the Hat - I Can Do That! Game brings to life the beloved Dr. Seuss book giving kids a new and incredibly fun way to experience this classic Dr. Seuss story. 33 Activity Cards and 9 game pieces right out of the Cat in the Hat story by Dr. Seuss, including the Cake, Ball, Book, Fish, Gown, Fan, Rake, Toy Man, and Boat.Product Description
Cranium Hullabaloo
Ages: 4 & Up
Cranium Inc. ,
$24.95
Kids listen closely and think fast as they bounce, twist, spin, high-five, and dance to the music, sounds, and friendly voice of Hullabaloo. Cranium Hullabaloo rewards quick thinking, cooperation, and creative problem-solving, so whether after school, at a birthday party, or even on a rainy day, Cranium Hullabaloo gives kids something to cheer about.
Hasbro Family Game Night
Ages: 4 & Up
Electronic Arts,
$39.99
Included in this fun and family-friendly collection of classic Hasbro board games are Yahtzee, Connect Four, Battleship, Boggle and Sorry! Not a bad line-up if it translates. And it does-for the most part. Mr. Potato Head as game host is cute enough, especially since he doesn't have much to say and mostly just celebrates (an occasional "hoo-hoo" trains-whistle sound) when you do well and looks sad when you don't. Kids and adults who love these board games will probably enjoy these videogame versions and so will just competitive players..
MySims Racing
Ages: 4 & Up
Electronic Arts,
$39.99
If you've played any kart-racer game in the past couple of years, you've probably already played one as good or better than this. There's the super-charged acceleration, the crystal-like power-ups, the weapons that baffle or spin-around other drivers, the colorful and imaginatively landscaped race tracks. Maybe not the happy, weirdo MySims characters who steer these racers, but it's all pretty much the same. But maybe the fact that this game runs on low-octane is good for younger race-car gamers. It's not quite so frustrating (we never drove off the track edge once!) and even novice drivers can manage most of the turns and juke many of the obstacles.If there's an educational element in this racer, it's that players get to customize their drivers and cars-all fun, none of it requiring any mind-stretching exercises or SAT-prep material. Beyond that, it's all about maneuvering silly race tracks. Just fun for everyone.
The Original Ultimate Spinner
Ages: 4 & Up
Robbins Toy,
$49.95
If your kids are like ours, and change moods and interests in a matter of seconds, The Original Ultimate Spinner is just what the doctor ordered. By simply swapping one of the five colorful and inviting cardboard game face spinner discs for another, they can change games just as quickly. The 12 games and activities ranges from Al-Fe-Bet to Pin Spin Bowling and includes games for the mind as well as the body. Contents include: Pine Wood Base Platter and Spinner, 5 Game/Activity Discs, Instruction Disc Speedway Racetrack, 4 Pine Wood Race Cars, 12 Addition, 12 Subtraction and 12 Multiplication Math Cards, 60 Spin-do Game Cards, 2 Clock Hands, and 2 Scoring Pads and pencils. The 100% USA handcrafted white pine toy components are Maine-grown and certified under the Sustainable Forestry Initiative.
BOOM BLOX Bash Party
Ages: 5 & Up
Electronic Arts,
$39.99
If you loved the original title, Boom Blox, a 2008 Parents' Choice Gold Award winner that evolved from the creative collaboration of Steven Spielberg and Electronic Arts, you're going to be crazy in love with this sequel. And, yes, Spielberg was in on this, too. Players scrutinize each Jenga-type puzzle, tower, and structure looking for critical or vulnerable targets--the weak link that'll topple it totally--then aim and swing the Wii remote with a whip-like motion. That hurls bowling balls, blocks, slingshoted objects, bombs, cannonballs or paintballs to knock apart the blocks. There's even a new "virus ball" that can vaporize blocks with a viral chain reaction.
FlapDoodle
Ages: 6 - 12 yrs.
Wiggity Bang Games,
$19.95
Flapdoodle is a game of silliness. Players move toward the Flapdoodle Factory on the game board by drawing cards, performing the actions or feats designated on the cards, and advancing the number of spaces the cards indicate. "Mr. Sourface" cards send players backwards a few spaces or even all the way back to the start if the player cannot meet the challenge. Regular cards get the players to name colors, make toes talk to one another, turn fingers into worm dancers, or even wear socks on their hands.
Cranium Triple Triumph
Lovers of abstract strategy games proved avid fans of this game. The challenge is to build a structure by matching and stacking 62 pyramids alongside of, or on top of, each other. Each side and each base of each pyramid is colored either purple or green. When placing pieces, adjacent sides must match in color.
Ages: 6 & Up
Cranium Inc. ,
$19.99
Lovers of abstract strategy games proved avid fans of this game. The challenge is to build a structure by matching and stacking 62 pyramids alongside of, or on top of, each other. Each side and each base of each pyramid is colored either purple or green. When placing pieces, adjacent sides must match in color.
FUNDOMINO
Ages: 6 & Up
Blue Orange Games,
$19.99
The object is to be first to get rid of all your curved dominoes by connecting them to either end of the serpentine layout. The dominoes must match by color and must also fit directionally. Some have numerals; others are "action" tiles requiring a player either to draw a domino before taking his turn, to take a second turn, or a "wild" card which can be played next to any color.
The Amazing Family Game Board Book
Ages: 6 & Up
Author: Eric Berlin
Illustrator: Paul Kepple
innovativeKids, $24.99
Open the "book" to reveal spiral-bound playing surfaces for 35 classic board games, plus two storage boxes for the rules, a deck of cards, and all the necessary playing pieces. For games ordinarily played with pencil and paper, and for scoring, a write-on/wipe-off marker is provided for use on the erasable pages.
Buzzword Junior
Ages: 7 & Up
Patch Products, Inc.,
$19.99
A version of Buzzword that makes play accessible to a younger set, Buzzword Junior tests players on their word skills by giving teams 45 seconds to solve a set of clues where all of the answers must include the buzzword. This game is great for sharpening your vocabulary. Although the words you have to guess aren't very difficult, with less than a minute to make your guesses, you have to be able to call up those words quickly. It's an appealing game for the family; the clue words are simple enough that players of all ages can guess most of them using the buzzword as guidance.
Ruckus - The Game of Takes and Double-Takes
Ages: 7 & Up
Funstreet, Inc.,
$9.99
Accumulating sets is the aim of the game... it's holding onto them that's the trick! Each player is dealt seven cards, from which sets are quickly formed and placed face up on the table. Taking an opponent’s set is easy. Just place a matching card from your hand on top and slide the captured set in front of you. But beware: it’s not what you take, it’s what you keep that counts.
Cornerstone
Ages: 8 & Up
Good Company Games, LLC,
$39.95
This challenging and attractive wooden game requires spatial awareness and careful observation. Each player has the same assortment of pieces made of alternating cubes of light and dark wood. In a turn, a player must add a piece to the construction, while maintaining the alternating pattern in 3 dimensions. Think of it as 3-D Blokus, with a touch of Jenga thrown in for good measure.
Cranium Family Edition
Ages: 8 & Up
Cranium Inc. ,
$19.99
With new, improved activities that engage crania of all ages and sizes, this game teams parents with kids to perform up to 16 different types of creative or mind-stretching, family-fun activities including puzzle-solving, sculpting, word games, stunts, acting, tune humming, and more. The goal is to be the first team to reach the finish line of the twisty, turning path by answering questions and successfully completing activities under timed constraints. With a lower price than the original Cranium, the game fits the bill for affordable family game night fun.
Make 'n Break Extreme
A new dimension in building. Race against the clock using differently shaped building blocks to create totally unique structures. Each card shows a new combination to build - some easy and some tricky. Extreme cards bring a level of challenge and excitement. You'll need quick, steady hands for this fun family game. Product Description
Ages: 8 & Up
Ravensburger,
$29.99
A new dimension in building. Race against the clock using differently shaped building blocks to create totally unique structures. Each card shows a new combination to build - some easy and some tricky. Extreme cards bring a level of challenge and excitement. You'll need quick, steady hands for this fun family game. Product Description
One Up
Ages: 8 & Up
Family Games Inc.,
$34.98
This is a commendable variation on four-in-a-row challenges. The playing pieces are ball bearings, each surrounded by a colored ring so players can identify their own four bearings as they slide them from square to square on the game board en route to the desired alignment. Two special features heighten the interest of this game. After each player has completed one move, a "counter" is moved up a notch to number 2, which means that each player now completes 2 moves (either moving one bearing two spaces, or 2 bearings 1 space each). The counter moves up an additional notch after each turn, until 10. The second feature is that players are not restricted to moving their own bearings; they can move another player's bearing if it will help their own strategy.
RUKSHUK - The Game of Rock Balancing
Ages: 8 & Up
Zabazoo Corporation,
$24.99
f block-balancing games are too bland, advance to this game of arranging irregularly-shaped rocks to replicate the pattern on one of the picture cards. It is best played by a group (up to 5); onlookers can amuse themselves by offering strategies from the sidelines.
Squint Junior
Ages: 8 & Up
Out of the Box Publishing,
$16.99
Players build pictures with transparent cards, two inches square, each containing a shape that is a variation of a line, angle, circle, or curve. By combining several such cards, either side by side or overlapping at various angles, players create pictures as simple as a house, or as complex as waterskiing. A not-to-be-overlooked feature of Squint Junior is that it is one of the few games that can accommodate more than four players - up to eight, in fact.
Ticket to Ride
Ages: 8 & Up
Days of Wonder,
$39.95
In this cross-country train adventure, players travel by rail on a beautifully laid-out game board map that shows train routes connecting major cities in the United States and Southern Canada. Players draw cards, attempting to collect enough of the same color "tracks" to "claim" any route of a matching color. Placing one's miniature colored train playing pieces on the tracks establishes one's ownership of the route. Points are scored in three ways: by claiming individual routes, completing a path of routes between twog more distant cities that match a "destination card," and completing the longest continuous path of routes.
YAMSLAM, Roll To Win!
Ages: 8 & Up
Blue Orange Games,
$19.99
Roll the dice, collect chips, and win if you have the right scoring combinations. The packaging is sleek, shaped like a playing field in which the dice can be tossed without flying all over. The chips that are earned for specific dice combinations are neatly stored in niches that show both the name of the combination and the number of points earned. Pictures of the scoring combinations are in the instruction book, as well as in miniature pictures around the outside of the metal game box.
Ruin
In Ruin, the object of the game is to be the first player to move your two pawns around the game board and up the stairs into Ah Kinchil's Treasure chamber. Players use a 20-sided die to advance their pieces, and have the chance to change the path around the game board with path cards, thus aiding their journey or creating a dead end path for their competition. Some of the game cards have secret stairways that players can use to advance quickly, but watch out! With players using new path cards, the board is never the same for long! Ruin is a great strategy game that appeals to kids and adults of all ages, from 7-77.
Ages: 10 & Up
Buffalo Games, Inc.,
$29.99
In Ruin, the object of the game is to be the first player to move your two pawns around the game board and up the stairs into Ah Kinchil's Treasure chamber. Players use a 20-sided die to advance their pieces, and have the chance to change the path around the game board with path cards, thus aiding their journey or creating a dead end path for their competition. Some of the game cards have secret stairways that players can use to advance quickly, but watch out! With players using new path cards, the board is never the same for long! Ruin is a great strategy game that appeals to kids and adults of all ages, from 7-77.
Perfect Sense
Ages: 12 & Up
Patch Products, Inc.,
$29.99
This game tests a player's ability to solve riddles based on the five senses: sight, smell, hearing, taste and touch, and be the first to reach the finish line. The game begins by the player rolling an hexagonal die, on which five sides have a symbol that represents one of the senses, and the sixth side a question mark. The player is asked to solve a riddle based on the "sense" the die displays. The sooner you identify the object, the more points you gain and faster you advance towards the finish line. Players are challenged to listen carefully and think outside the box. Fun for the whole family.
