Do you and your family enjoy playing board games during family game nights?
Are you looking for the best board games for the whole clan?
It's easy to get overwhelmed by busy schedules and responsibilities, but there's no reason to sacrifice quality time with your family.
Family game nights are a simple, fun, engaging way to enjoy quality time with the people you love the most.
Discover the 13 best board games you might want to test-drive for your next family game night. These classic board games will bring the whole family fun, joy, and excitement.
But before we proceed, if you don't have the time to read the entire review, here's a quick look at our top choices for the best board games for families. (Based on loose board game' categories'):
- Best Spy Family Board Game: Codenames
- Best Russian Roulette Card Game: Exploding Kittens
- Best Memory Game: Hasbro Clue
- Best Song and Lyrics Game: Spontuneous
- Best Block Game: Qwirkle
- Best Educational Game: Trivial Pursuit Family Edition
- Best Civilization-Building Game: Catan
- Best Critical Thinking Game: Sequence
- Best Financial Skills Game: Monopoly
- Best Labyrinth Game: Ravensburger Labyrinth
- Best Survival Game: Mouse Trap
- Best Matching Game: Spot It!
- Best Strategy Game: Blokus Strategy
13 Best Board Games to Enjoy on Family Game Night
1. Best Spy Family Board Game: Codenames
Codenames is a word game with a simple goal: be the first to collect all your agents and win. But don't be deceived—although the rules are simple, the game can still be challenging. You are only given one-word clues on each turn to pinpoint and identify who the agents are.
In this game, two rival spymasters know the identities of the 25 agents. These spymasters take turns giving clues pointing to several words on the table. The teams then guess the words and try to figure out who their agents are.
The spymasters are the only ones who know who the agents are, and the other players know them only by their codenames. The players have to be careful to avoid the assassin and the words that belong to the opposing team. Any wrong move could lead to misfortune.
Designed by Vlaada Chvatil and published by Czech Games Edition, Codenames won the 2016 Spiel des Jahres award for the best board game of the year. It has many themed sequels, including Harry Potter, Marvel, and Codenames Duet.
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2. Best Russian Roulette Card Game: Exploding Kittens Card Game
Exploding Kittens is like a kitty-themed version of Russian roulette. The goal is to avoid drawing an exploding kitten. If you don't explode once all the cards are exhausted, you win; if you draw an exploding kitten while playing, you lose.
According to CNN, playing this game is like playing UNO, but with goats, magical enchiladas, and kittens that can kill you. There is one way to protect yourself from an exploding kitten, and that's with a defuse card. The defuse cards calm the exploding kittens with laser pointers, belly rubs, and other relaxing things.
The party pack version of Exploding Kittens is the same as the original, except it can accommodate up to 10 players. This means double the strategy and double the fun!
With over 9 million copies sold and various “Game of the Year” awards, this board game will surely excite your family game night!
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3. Best Memory Game: Hasbro Clue Game
Hasbro's Clue Game is a classic mystery board game with a long history, yet it remains one of the best made. It is a game of logic and deductive reasoning; whoever has the best memory can win.
In this game, your primary goal is to solve the murder of Mr. Boddy, the owner of Tudor Mansion. Discover the hints and evidence to identify three things: 1. who did the crime, 2. what weapon was used, and 3. where it was committed.
Whoever is the first to find all the answers is the winner.
The key to winning this game is deduction and elimination. You must have sharp eyes and a keen mind to pinpoint the culprit and gather the other information. There are six suspects, and you only have until the end of the game (or until when someone gets ahead of you) to investigate.
We recommend this game for those fond of solving mysteries, particularly murder-related ones. It's fun, stimulating, and exhilarating—a perfect choice for families looking for a thrill on game night.
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4. Best Song and Lyrics Game: Spontuneous
Spontuneous is a game for families who love songs and lyrics. It brings out the musical genius in everyone and shows who in the family has a knack for memorizing lyrics. Anyone who knows a few songs by heart can surely nail this game.
This easy yet entertaining game takes an average of 30 minutes to play. Before the singing begins, each player writes “trigger words” on their “hit list.”
You announce one word from your list whenever it's your turn and start the timer. The first person to sing at least five words from any song with the trigger word gets points and advances on the board game.
The other players then have a chance to sing songs that contain the trigger word. When the timer stops, everyone who can remember a song advances on the game board.
And do not worry—talent in singing is not required. All you need to know is a few basic songs and tunes—even nursery rhymes are allowed!
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5. Best Block Game: Qwirkle
Qwirkle is a board game that combines elements of dominoes and Scrabble. It is composed of 108 wooden blocks that come in six different shapes and colors. You use these blocks to build complex combinations and designs.
In this game, each player must build lines by filing their tiles based on color or shape. You get points for each combination you create.
You score higher when you place a tile that touches multiple pieces with the same attributes. If you create a line with all six colors or shapes in a row, you score a “Qwirkle.”
Each round typically lasts about 45 minutes. The rules are easy to follow, and even younger players can understand them. The manufacturer describes the game as suitable for ages six and above.
If your family is looking for a game proven to provide a fun night, we recommend this board game. It won the 2011 Spiel des Jahres Award for Best Board Game of the Year, and many customers have expressed their satisfaction with it.
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6. Best Educational Game: Trivial Pursuit Family Edition Game
Trivial Pursuit comes in different versions, but we recommend the family edition if your search is for a family game night.
In addition to being fun and entertaining, this board game is educational and informative. With 1,200 questions (600 for kids and 600 for adults), you will end the game with much new knowledge.
To win this game, you must correctly answer the questions from each category and collect all the cheese pieces. But it doesn't end there. You must work your way back to the center of the board game and knock out the final question. Other players choose the category of this final question.
This board game can be played individually or in teams—team play for huge families and individual play for small families. It is perfect for children ages six and up; parents can take this opportunity to teach their children general knowledge.
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7. Best Civilization-Building Game: Catan
Catan is one of the most popular civilization-building board games ever. In this game, the player's goal is to build a community and compete for properties and resources.
The game is designed for three to four players, with around 60 minutes of gameplay. For larger families, team play is recommended, although there is a five- to six-player expansion pack for larger groups.
There is also a version available for kids called Catan Junior. It's a great game for family bonding nights because it works the same way as the original Catan version, but only modified for kids. Playing this game provides an excellent opportunity to teach your children how to strategize and plan.
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8. Best Critical Thinking Game: Sequence
Sequence is yet again another classic family favorite for game night. In addition to the fact that it is fun and entertaining, it is also a great mind stimulator. It was designed to develop skills such as strategic planning and critical thinking.
In this game, you aim to create a “sequence” by placing chips on the board. You do this while also playing a card from your hand. Each player tries to score by creating five-card sequences before his opponents do.
Note, however, that you have to choose your space and place your chips wisely because the cards are only illustrated twice on the board game.
Also, remember that there are wild jacks. Jacks that have two eyes are wild and can be used to place a chip anywhere on the board. Jacks that have only one eye can be used to remove an opponent's chip. However, if a sequence has been completed, you can no longer remove a chip from it.
We recommend the original version of Sequence for a fun family game night if you have older kids (ages 12 and up). But if your kids are still very young, you might want to play Sequence for Kids instead. In this kiddie version, the same rules apply, except that the first person to create a four-row sequence wins.
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9. Best Financial Skills Game: Monopoly Classic Game
The classic game of Monopoly brings fun and excitement to family game night. In this game, you start from scratch (with a few dollars to spend) and buy, sell, and trade properties like houses, hotels, and parks. You also look for ways to bankrupt your opponents and take all their money.
As you can tell from the name “Monopoly,” your goal is to own everything eventually. Ultimately, one winner takes over all of the properties on the board.
This fast-dealing, property-trading game comes with a board, tokens, title deed cards, chance cards, community chest cards, houses, hotels, money packs, and dice. It's suitable for two to eight players, with around 60 minutes of gameplay.
This is a good board game choice to develop your financial and problem-solving skills!
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10. Best Labyrinth Game: Ravensburger Labyrinth
Ravensburger has been strengthening family bonds and connecting generations since 1883. It is a family-owned company that provides the best quality and age-appropriate games, puzzles, and crafts for individuals, children, and families.
Labyrinth is one of Ravensburger's most popular board games. The goal is to find the shortest route through the maze. While at it, you also have to grab all the treasures and targets. You win once you find your way out.
This game is reported to have a high replay value, and it only takes around 20 to 30 minutes to finish. People also commend it for its ability to develop skills like planning and creating strategies. It also helps children learn the concepts of cause and effect, recognition, and taking turns.
If you want to encourage your children to engage in playful development, choose Labyrinth for your next family game night. It's suitable for young children ages seven and up and can accommodate up to four players. For larger groups, creating teams is recommended.
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11. Best Survival Game: Mouse Trap Board Game
Mouse Trap is another brainchild of Hasbro. Like the other games produced during its time, this two- to four-player game is an excellent choice for families with very young children. It was specifically designed to cater to them.
The goal of the game is to be the last mouse standing. In addition to surviving, you must build mousetraps to trap your opponents and collect cheese wedges. The other players are doing the same, so you must be careful not to fall into their traps. Otherwise, you lose.
According to consumers, this game is excellent for helping children develop their counting and recognition abilities. It also helps develop children's strategic and critical thinking skills.
If you are a parent looking for a game that helps your kids learn to think critically, then we recommend trying Mouse Trap for your next game night.
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12. Best Matching Game: Spot It!
Spot It! is not your typical board and card game—it requires excellent recognition and visual perception skills, outstanding reflexes and keen observation skills.
The game's rules are simple: You need to spot identical symbols on cards and, once you do, shout the symbol's name. The first person to shout the name out loud wins a point for that round. Whoever collects the most cards (points) at the end of the game is the winner.
What's unique about this game is that many symbols on the cards are of the same color and shape but different in size. You don't get a point if you accidentally shout the symbol's name but the sizes are different.
Likewise, if you say a different name that is not included as one of the symbols, you don't get a point, and you lose the chance to win that round.
This card game leads to a fun and exciting game night. It provides interactive gameplay among members of the family that both adults and children will enjoy.
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13. Best Strategy Game: Blokus Strategy Game
Blokus is the perfect family board game for those who want to develop their strategic thinking skills.
It keeps the mind sharp and conscious and maintains the fun and excitement throughout the game. And although it may be exhausting, the amusement and thrill it brings make up for the effort.
It takes less than a minute to master the mechanics of the game. Players only need to take turns when placing their pieces on the board. Each piece should touch one another, but only at the corners. You must protect your territory by putting as many pieces on the board as possible while blocking your rivals.
Once there are no more pieces to place on the board, the game ends and the player with the lowest remaining number of pieces wins. If you were able to place all your pieces on the board strategically, then you are a Blokus master.
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Final Thoughts on Best Board Games for Families
Family game nights are always fun and exciting. They're something to look forward to after a long day of work.
We hope one of the board games listed above will be perfect for your family game night. Choose to be happy together with your family by allowing yourself to relax, unwind, and enjoy an evening full of fun and excitement.
If you're looking for more board games, be sure to check out these blog posts:
- 11 Best Board Games for Tweens
- 9 Best Horror & Scary Board Games
- 9 Best Cooperative Board Games for Families
- 27 Best Cooperative Board Games to Enjoy Together
- 17 Best Mystery Board Games for a Fun Game Night
- 9 Best Board Games for College Students (Fun Party Games)
