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Best family board games of all time – hours of fun can be had with these board games that have been popular for a long time.
But since we LOVE to create gift guides (we find one section guides SO boring) we also broke down some choices for adult board games, kid board games, strategy games and party games!
That’s a lot of board game fun to be had!
Let’s dig right in shall we?
Best Family Board Games Of All Time
1. Trivial Pursuit
It should come as no big surprise that Trivial Pursuit made our list of best family board games of all time – the game has been around since 1979 – just shy of 40 years of family playing fun.
The family addition comes with questions for the kids and adults, so everyone will enjoy this game at their own level.
Recommended age: 8+
2. The Game Of Life
The Game of Life definitely makes the cut for one of the best family board games of all time – it strives to teach kids about the ups and downs of this thing we all go through – Life.
The new version of Life has been updated to take into account trends and life as it is today. See the classic Game of Life here.
Recommended age: 8+
3. Scattergories
Afraid to be different? Not the case with this fun family game – the more creative you are with your answers the higher you’ll score!
The family can break into teams or dare to go individually for even more fun!
Recommended age: 13+
4. Clue
This classic murder mystery detective game can get quite intense, but the family will love figuring out who did the crime!
Recommended age: 8+
See other Clue additions here.
5. Operation
Playing Operation takes some skill and coordination to play! It’ll get the whole family laughing if someone should miss the mark while operating!
Recommended age: 6+
6. Scrabble
Scrabble easily makes the list of best family board games of all times – creating and testing your vocabulary knowledge never gets old.
The bigger the word the more potential there is to score big!
Recommended age: 8+
7. Yahtzee
Yahtzee is a classic game that all ages can play and makes our list of best family board games of all time – it dates back to 1956!
It gets loud so the family is sure to have lots of fun playing!
Recommended age: 8+
8. Monopoly
Monopoly has been one of the best family board games of all time since it was created as early as 1902 (source).
It has evolved with the times – but remains a real estate game at heart.
Recommended age: 8+
9. Qwirkle Board Game
Similar to Scrabble, but with shapes and colors. Not only is this game about matching and choosing – it becomes a strategy game quickly.
Recommended age: 6+
10. Rummikub
This classic game easily makes the list of best family board games of all time, around since 1940’s – it’s a game combining luck and strategy all into one.
Recommended age: 8+
11. Cranium
Cranium is one of the best family board games of all time because of all the skills used while playing the game – it’s like having multiple games rolled into one.
Recommended age: 13+ (younger players can play if they are assisted.)
Check Out: Retro Board Games Here.
Feel like we missed some of the best family board games of all time? Check out more here.
Best Board Games For Kids
Even though we gave you a great list of the best family board games of all time – we wanted to include some of the best board games for kids.
1. Candy Land
Candy Land has been around for as long as we can remember (OK for a lot longer – it came out in 1948!) and with every new generation, it remains popular.
Geared towards girls.
Recommended age: 3+
2. Connect 4
Connect 4 is great to play at home or you can take it on the road. The kids will love this game as much as previous generations did.
Recommended age: 6+
3. Battleship Game
Classic Battleship – I sunk your ship!
Kids will have hours of fun competing against each other and using their logical and critical thinking skills.
Recommended age: 7+
4. Mouse Trap
Your kids better hurry and snag each other’s mouse if they want to win this game!
Mouse Trap is one of the best board games for kids because it’s thrilling and fast-paced – the game will keep the kids interested.
Recommended age: 6+
5. The Topple Game
If you’re looking for a game that will have kids using their math and building skills – then Topple is one of the best board games for it.
This game is great to play with young kids.
Recommended age: 6+
6. Ker Plunk Game
KerPlunk is one of the best board games for kids because it’s been entertaining them for generations.
A game about concentration – KerPlunk is lots of fun.
Recommended age: 5+
7. Scrabble Junior
Just like regular Scrabble – the junior addition has kids playing their words – only kid-sized words.
Recommended age: 5+
8. Charades For Kids
Who doesn’t love a good game of Charades?
Charades for kids is a great way to include the young ones as the has picture cards so every family member can play.
Recommended age:4+
Best Board Games For Adults
Why should the kids have all the fun? Here are some of the best board games for adults.
1. Utter Nonsense
Get ready to sharpen your acting skills with this ridiculous and absolutely fun game!
Combine phrases and accents and act them out – the game gets, um, interesting is all we will say!
2. Cranium Dark Game
Cranium – the adult version. Kind of like Charades, but you act out your card in the style of the action card you get. This game is great to play in a team format.
Good for a lot of laughs!
3. Telestrations
Get your drawing skills out in order to play this fun adult version of Telestrations! Perfect for your next get together.
4. Women Vs Men Alias Board Game
A fun game of women vs. men! The premise is to describe a word to your team that is usually identified with the opposite sex – we think you can see how the fun evolves from there!
5. Dirty Diction
Another team based adult board game – the premise is to have your team guess what your card is using different methods to communicate – charades, drawing…and the list goes on.
Trust us – the game has the word Dirty in it for a reason – definitely an adult game.
6. Codenames
A fun word came wrapped up in a spy game package – get ready to take some risks so your team will win the game!
This board game is best played with 4+ people.
7. Ticket To Ride
This game will bring out your strategy skills as you try to visit as many cities in the US as possible.
The object is to collect cards to build your train route and some of them are long so make sure to pack your patience too!
You’ll like Ticket To Ride if you enjoy Catan.
Enjoy strategy board games? Check out the section below!
Best Strategy Board Games
Like a good challenge? Love to play something that needs a strategy? Here are the best strategy board games.
1. Catan (Settlers Of Catan)
Settlers of Catan has been re-branded to Catan – so don’t think they’re two different games.
Catan is a game of building, trading and good strategy.
2. Pandemic Board Game
The name says it all for this strategy board game – you must work together to solve the pandemic but keep in mind the character traits of your player – it’s a race against time with lots of strategies involved.
3. Risk
The classic game of Risk never gets old! Gather your troops but make sure to use good strategy!
Risk has been a family favorite for years but definitely makes the cut as one of the best strategy board games.
4. Original Stratego
Stragego is a game of good old battlefield strategy – the object is to capture your opponent’s flag!
5. Latice
A classic family strategy board game – Latice is great to play with kids or adults.
Match the tiles by color or shape and win the game if you play all your tiles first!
6. Chess
Chess is probably one of the biggest strategy games there is! This particular board makes a great beginners chess set – but that doesn’t mean more avid Chess players won’t enjoy it.
Chess is absolutely one of the best strategy board games of all time.
Best Party Board Games
When the kids are with their grandparents for the night and you can have a party what is more entertaining than a good game?
Here are some of the best party games for adults:
1. The Voting Game
A definite adult party game – where you discover a lot about your friends and friendships. The idea is to vote for the friend who is best described by the card.
2. Cards Against Humanity
We’re sure you’ve heard of Cards Against Humanity – one of the best party games for adults – the more players the merrier.
The idea is to answer the player’s black card with your best white card. Wait to see the answers! Good for a night full of laughs.
3. Drunk Stoned Or Stupid
Similar to Cards Against Humanity – just way more insulting and funny – players actually decide who the card is describing best out of your group.
If you decide to play this game make sure you have a group of really easy-going people!
4. WTF Did You Say?
Another variation of what looks to be a typical adult party game. Draw a card and match it up to make a funny and filthy combo.
5. Drawing Without Dignity
A different kind of version of your typical adult party game – it’s exactly what the name implies – players will have to DRAW some rather, um, interesting things.
Sure to be a night filled with laughter!
6. Out of Commission Drinking Party Game
What party board game list would be complete without at least one drinking game recommendation?
And this adult drinking game is a lot more fun then just your regular take a sip of your drink or chug the rest down games.
While there are those kinds of actions, there are also truth or dare, embarrassing questions and much more.
A drinking game that has SO much more to it.
7. 5 Second Rule – Just Spit It Out!
This game is a lot of fun for your next party! Players have 5 seconds to name three things about the given category!
So much fun to see what answers come spilling out!
And, there you have it!
Not only did we show you the best family board games for a fun family night but a there are game ideas for everyone in the family!
These ideas make perfect Christmas or birthday gifts for all the different kinds of people in your family! 🙂
Make your next family fun or party night one to remember!
What did you think about our best board games gift guide?
Comment and share your thoughts and ideas below!
Originally posted 2017-04-14 10:32:02.
Thank you for including Drawing Without Dignity. Unfortunately, the Amazon link you provided takes you to an old listing where other retailers have marked up the price considerably. If you go into Amazon and search for Drawing Without Dignity, it takes you to the newer listing with the correct price of 24.99. Thank you!
Thanks for letting us know! We’ve updated our post! 😀