Help with recommendations for family game nights

[aggie94]

DH & I decided that this year for Christmas, we are buying all of his siblings' families some type of board/card game, sort of a "family game night" theme. It's just too hard to shop for 4 adult siblings, their spouses, and their (combined) 13 children. :eek:

Anyway, I was doing some shopping online last night and trying to make game selections. I am hoping to buy everything at one retailer and ship everything to DH's parents' house, where I can wrap them once we get there.

I think I settled on Monopoly Here and Now for one brother's family - he is a big Monopoly fan and will like the contemporary updated version. Another brother's family is probably getting Stare, although I've never played it (and would appreciate any reviews, positive or negative) - it just looked interesting.

I'm having trouble with the other two families. His sister has two kids: a 10-year-old girl and a 7-year-old boy. His other brother and his wife have a combined 6 kids between the two of them, 4 of which live with them full-time and range in ages from 6 to 21. :confused:

Does anyone have any great board/card game suggestions to share? Any recs are greatly appreciated.

[tbb113]

Eva - check out www.boardgamesgeek.com for lots of reviews and suggestions.

I also am selling games and I can give you suggestions from the company I sell if you are interested (you can click on the Simply Fun link below to see my webpage)

[BucknellAlum]

First of all, I think you are doing a great thing - giving them the gift of family time! It will help them create nice family memories.

Our family (8 and 11 YO) likes playing Cadoo - it is by the same company as Cranium. You do various activities like trying to sculpt the secret word in clay, or try to find 2 objects that start with "P" in 1 minute, etc.

I am sure others will have other good ideas too!

[little_bopeep]

For the younger kids, any of the Uno games are fun. The older kids would like Trivial Pursuit, if you get a version that they can relate to. Have you ruled out DVD games like Scene It? We love them! Our fav right now is Harry Potter Scene It....it goes thru all 4 movies.

[tbb113]

Some suggestions that readily available and that my sons enjoy playing

Blokus - great for all ages
Five Crowns - twist on Rummy
Racko
Master Mind
Fluxx

Ingenious - brand new game, I haven't played it but have heard good things about it

Strategy games (some of these I've played...others I just know of)

Settlers of Catan (I sell a quick verison of this one made for us by the same game designer)
Ticket to Ride
Station Master
Thurns and Taxis
Carsconne

[Jalapeno]

I have the Disney trivia game and it has cards for both the adults and the children so everyone can play. The adult cards go way back....I've had to call my mom on a few of them. If they are a Disney family (I know some families are not into Disney) that would be an option.

Good luck, I think it's a great idea for gifts...I might just steal it next year. :D

[luvItalian]

I have ages 8, 12 and 14 and they spent the summer playing Apples to Apples. Not the junior version. The best part was we could play as a family or they could play with friends. The box does not seem like much but check it out. We also love Cadoo.

I agree this is a great gift idea. Throw in some boxes of candy and popcorn and it is a sure homerun.

[aggie94]

I agree this is a great gift idea. Throw in some boxes of candy and popcorn and it is a sure homerun.

A couple of years ago, they all got ceramic popcorn bowls (one large one with the family name painted on it plus individual small bowls with each family member's name on it), bags of microwave popcorn, and a family-appropriate DVD. They were a huge hit.

Thanks for all the great game suggestions - I will start checking out some reviews online tonight.

[LaraW]

I don't know if they still make it or not, but Jenga was a game we used to enjoy. I think I was in HS or early college when we got it, and it was a lot of fun, and could work for the family that has a big age difference between the kids.

[cangoss]

I second the recommendation for Apples to Apples - my SIL has it and we all have enjoyed playing it.

DH and I love the card game Zigity - by Cranium. It comes in a small tin and is a great game to take when traveling. You can find it at Target, on the end-cap where they have card games.

[Becky13347]

Our 8 yo daughter loves to play Scrabble (get a board where the tiles can't slide around) and our younger kids (ages 4 and almost 6) like to play Junior scrabble which just requires them to be able to identify letters. Cadoo is also a big hit in our family as another person suggested.

[Jalapeno]

I don't know if they still make it or not, but Jenga was a game we used to enjoy. I think I was in HS or early college when we got it, and it was a lot of fun, and could work for the family that has a big age difference between the kids.

They do still make it only now the little plastic thing you use to re-stack the pieces is REALLY flimsey and it's really hard to re-stack. I wish I had my old version that was made of a much harder plastic. That game was a ton of fun.

[HejazSunKat]

Does anyone have any great board/card game suggestions to share? Any recs are greatly appreciated.

YES! Game nights are a tradition in our family and this is probably our favorite:

http://www.amazon.com/Winning-Moves-1006-Words-Less/dp/B00000ISZ2/sr=8-1/qid=1165889773/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/104-1086394-8071924?ie=UTF8&s=toys-and-games

We play it with adults and kids alike (though the younger ones may get a little friendly advice). :)

[Melman]

Another vote for Apples to Apples. I love that game! I just wish I had a chance to play it more often.

Thanks for the other game recommendations. I need to find another game to add to a present for an 8-year-old nephew. I'm thrilled to know at least a few of these nephews actually enjoy playing games!! My son and I spent LOTS of time playing games together.

That reminds me, we always enjoyed The Amazing Labyrinth. I know they still sell it. It is a LOT of fun and requires a lot of strategy.

[Curiosity Hears]

Michigan Rummy
Aggravation
Rummy cube
Uno
Mancala for the younger kids but only 2 can play at a time.

[badunnin]

Milles Bornes! (http://www.amazon.com/Winning-Moves-1034-Collectors-Edition/dp/B00004SDAP/sr=8-1/qid=1165891381/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-2811661-2691233?ie=UTF8&s=toys-and-games)

[Curiosity Hears]

Milles Bornes! (http://www.amazon.com/Winning-Moves-1034-Collectors-Edition/dp/B00004SDAP/sr=8-1/qid=1165891381/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-2811661-2691233?ie=UTF8&s=toys-and-games)


OMG!!! I totally forgot about that game. I loved this game as a kid. This is a definite buy for us. :) :)


Edited to add: Just ordered Milles Bornes from Amazon. Thanks Badunnin!!! It will be fun to teach the family this game.

[MusicMom]

My 13 DD loves to play games. Our latest favorites are Rummikub and Skipbo (a card game). Both involve strategy but can be played by all ages.

[Jalapeno]

Milles Bornes! (http://www.amazon.com/Winning-Moves-1034-Collectors-Edition/dp/B00004SDAP/sr=8-1/qid=1165891381/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-2811661-2691233?ie=UTF8&s=toys-and-games)

Oh man that was a game we always played when we went camping. I've GOT to get that one again!!!

[cindy47031]

We like Pictionary (which is extra fun if you use an easel w/ a white board or flip chart to draw on) and a card game called Phase 10. Also Taboo is one of my favorites.

[Meganator]

The favorites among DH/DS/I are Uno (all ages), Risk (starting at about age 11 or so), Monopoly (even younger kids can play a simplified version), and Pictionary (younger kids get to pass on words they don't know).

When my family gets together at our parents' house, we play Scrabble, Trivial Pursuit, or Encore (a fun game where you choose a card with a word, and each team has to sing at least 7 words of a song including that word - you go back and forth until someone can't think of another song).

[cminmd]

We have Uno Attack- it is the classic uno game with a machine that holds all the card. Instead or pick two where you have to pick up two cards it has a hit two. Then you go to the machine and hit a button twice. Each time you hit the button it may spit out none or up to TEN cards at a time. Some cards tell you to Hit Fire which means you have to hit the button until you get cards. This is the only card game that really levels the playing field between adults and kids.

[Southern Belle]

My friends and I are all addicted to Mexican Train Dominoes, using double-12 playing pieces. Here's an example from Amazon, but they're available at all of the discount stores by various manufacturers. The Mexican Train is just one of many games using double-12 dominoes.

http://www.amazon.com/Mexican-Train-Dominoes-in-Tin/dp/B000068P9P/ref=pd_sbs_t_1/102-7619920-1799364

[saserre]

More votes for Apples to Apples! It's easy to pick up and learn, and soooo fun! It really is the ultimate party game. We've brought it to groups of friends, Jaycees, church, and family, and it's always equally as fun. Everyone always request we bring it to gatherings - I'm proud to be the Keeper Of The Apples To Apples. The ultimate winner for best match up was for the word Easy, someone put down Flipper! That dolphin really gets around!

Also gotten hooked on Killer Bunnies and the Quest for the Magic Carrot. It's this cute card game with pictures of bunnies that get "attacked" by things like whisks, lawn mowers, or anti-matter raisins. They only sell at speciality game stores, or you can check out online at www.killerbunnies.com.