20+ Games For Family Game Night
Choose one of these 20+ board games for your next family game night. With game ideas that work for kids of all ages you are sure to find a game the whole family can enjoy. Any of these games also make great gifts for birthdays or the holidays like Christmas!
Updated for 2020
Sometimes planning fun family activities can be challenging especially if you are trying to not spend a lot of money. One of our favorite family activities is Family Game Night. We’ve accumulated a lot of games over the years and it allows us to have a rather dynamic game night.
Often we play just one game and sometimes we play as many different games as we can manage in the time we have available. It is one of my favorite ways to spend time as a family.
Many of the older games on this list we started playing with our kids when they were much younger than the recommended age. We’ve learned that our kids are capable of playing many of these kinds of games with some help and guidance the first few times but then play very well on their own later.
Snack Ideas for Family Game Night
We like to make it special by making a fun treat like Mint Brownies, Dark Chocolate Popcorn, or Cinnamon Apple Iced Oatmeal Cookies.
Sometimes we go for a healthier choice treat like popcorn along with a smoothie like my kids favorite mint chocolate smoothie or my favorite pink dragon fruit smoothie. It really doesn’t have to cost a lot or require tons of time planning to have a fun time together.
Games for Family Game Night
Board and Card Games For Family Game Night
Many of the older games on this list we started playing with our kids when they were much younger than the recommended age. We’ve learned that our kids are capable of playing many of these kinds of games with some help and guidance the first few times but then play very well on their own later.
Games for Younger Kids
Although younger kids need simpler board games it doesn’t mean you only play Candyland and Chutes and Ladders. Co-operative games are great for younger children so they can learn to understand strategy and cause and effect. Here are some of our favorite board games to play with younger children.
A fun cooperative game that’s a cross between a look and find book and traditional board game. As a group you are working to get to an island to have a picnic with Pig Will and Pig Won’t who might eat all the food before you can get there!
This has been a fun game to play with multiple ages where you are racing to catch the right fox before they escape. My younger ones like to move around and collect all the clues while the older ones work to eliminate suspects.
Another fun cooperative game where you are trying to collect keys and unlock locks before you the ogre gets to the treasure.
This game has come highly recommended by a number of friends and readers and is from the same company who makes Race To The Treasure.
Try to fill your log with acorns but beware, the others playing can steal them! Little ones seem to get such a kick from stealing acorns so this game elicits lots of laugh.
Similar to the classic Uno, Duo has you match 2 characteristics instead of just 1. My kids were 3 and 5 year old when we first started playing this game and could mostly play it without assistance.
Little ones can play this game on their own once they learn the rules. My kids love finding the matches.
This kid version of the popular Settlers of Catan game is set up to play with just 2 or with 3 or 4 players. I love the versatility so I can easily play with my youngest during the week or we can play as a family on the weekends. You also don't have to do much set up to play which is always a downside to playing the original version as a family.
My kids love Ticket to Ride but we could tell they would get frustrated sometimes with it. This kid version is a much better version for playing as a family especially if you have a wide range of ages.
We love the original version of Carcassone but it can be a little slow for younger kids. This version is simple and quick but with still a bit of strategy to it.
Board games for older kids
If your kids are older, you might enjoy some of these games. These are great group games and can be adapted to play with younger children as well. We also play a lot of games as a couple for our date nights at home so I’ve included a couple of those.
You try to put together the best sushi hand. Simple and fast paced its a fun game that is easy to take along with you wherever you go.
My family is crazy for Harry Potter so it's not a surprise we immediately fell in love with this game. Same rules as Spot It Junior but with Harry Potter characters. Fun on the go for all ages!
Escape from a volcanic eruption while avoiding sharks, whales, and other dangers! We have the original version from the 70s and love to play to it- even with my 5 and 3 year old. This also could be played with just 2 for a fun game night.
The classic game of Mafia with a spaghetti western twist. You can pick your own character who each have their own extra powers and try to take out your opponents to be the last one standing.
Race the other players to get rid of your cards like the classic game of speed. This game gets crazy especially when you have 6 people playing as everyone is playing on the same cards at the same time. Have a big group? You can play Wackee Six in pairs for extra craziness.
This is a unique game where one player is trying to avoid the police while all the other players work together to hunt him down. It is way harder than it sounds! They also have a junior version which we are interested in checking out.
We love to play this as a couple. You work to build train routes on your destination tickets but may be foiled by other player’s lines being built first. They have lots of country specific expansions which are fun to play, many of which are perfect for 2 players.
Match colors and shapes to score as many points as possible. Get all 6 shapes or all 6 colors in a row and you get a qwirkle. A great group game that’s still good for younger kids (with a little help). Although this game can be played with 2 people we have found it’s more fun to play with at least 3 players.
If you are Sherlock fans like us, then you might like to try your hand at sleuthing out the answer to the mystery as you travel back and forth across London hunting down clues. This is another fun game with 2 players.
Race to spot the three cards that share a similar trait, or three completely different ones. This is a great game that will make you think hard. Good for a crowd or just a pair and easy to take on the go.
For lovers of the classic card game Rummy this is the perfect game. Rearrange the tiles to create new sets and runs and be the first to use all your tiles. Another good game for a couple but just as fun with 4 people.
This is another really good game for your spacial awareness. Try to use as many crazy shaped pieces as you can before you get blocked as everyone plays towards the middle. This game is surprisingly difficult with just 2 people so it’s another great option for date night.
Build castles, roads, and farms while battling your opponents for control. There are some fun expansion packs and other versions of this games available. This is one of our favorite 2 player games.
You make bets on which camel will cross the finish line first. But the odds are always changing as different camels come out on top. Simple play and lots of last minute lead changes lead to lots of fun.
Do you have a favorite game your family loves that isn’t on this list? Let us know below!
How is it that I’ve never even heard of these?! Thanks!
I LOVE Survive!! Definitely a childhood favorite. I’m so glad it made your list!