Recommended family games

[RN01]

Although I have never played it my kids love Apples to Apples. So I got it for them for Christmas. I guess I'll be playing it soon enough. We also like Catch Phrase.

 

[DVCJones]

Catch Phrase!!!!! This game is so much fun when playing with a group. It can be hard to find though.

 

[Minniemouse07]

We used to play the card game SPOONS at holiday get togethers.

Depending on the number of players, you may need multiple decks of cards.

The dealer deals four cards to each player and the remaining cards are placed in front of him or her. Spoons are spaced evening down the center of the table within reach of every player. You should have one less spoon than the number of players.

The dealer draws the first card from the deck, compares it to their hand and then passes a card to the player to their right. They can either replace the card they drew w/ one in their hand, or just pass that card directly to the next player. Each player continues this process around the table until they are holding four of a kind.

Once a player has four of a kind, they then take a spoon from the center of the table. Once a spoon is removed from the center, everyone else needs to grab a spoon before the last one is taken. Think musical chairs but w/ spoons instead. The person left w/o a spoon at the end of the hand receives an "S" (then subsequently a "P," "O," etc.) and play resumes w/ another hand. Once a person receives SPOONS then they are out of the game.

The removal of the spoon can be subtle and sly (and the person drops the spoon in their lap and keeps passing cards along! ) or an all out dive! I should warn you that we routinely moved LARGE heavy tables across the room and dumped people out of chairs while playing this game!

I really like this because everyone is active through the whole game and there is lots of fun banter while playing.

I highly recommend it!

ETA... I found a Wikipedia entry for the game. Their explanation may be a bit clearer!

 

[disneyJMD]

My vote is for Apples to Apples! I like it because it is very casual--I am not an intense game player, but I really enjoyed this game as you can still hang out and have a conversation with those around you as you play..just very laid back if you want it to be. It is a great game for a lot of players...

 

[design_mom]

Our family likes Balderdash, although it's not great for young kids.

In Balderdash, the "caller" reads a word and everyone has to make up a definition for it. The "caller" then reads everyone's made-up definition plus the real one (they're real words). You get a point if you pick the real definition *or* if someone votes for yours. It can get pretty hilarious.

 

[luckey-lasvegas]

We also like playing a card game called Cowboy ( *#@! rolls down hill, or scr-ew you neighbor). Every one starts with 4 coins in front of them (we use quarters),The dealer deals one card face down to each person. If you get a King (that's the Cowboy) you flip it over and do not have to trade it. The person to the left of the dealer starts by looking at his card and decides if he wants to trade it with the person on his left. If he decides to trade he has to keep the card that he traded it for. The next person then decides to trade or keep that card. (The goal of the game is to not have the lowest card of the hand.) The trading continues until it's the dealers turn who can trade with the deck. After the dealer decide to keep or trade his card everyone flips their card over and the lowest card has to put in one of their coins. Once all your coins are gone so are you . You keep playing until there is one person left who gets to keep the pot (if you want), or you divy out the quarters and play again. It's fun to watch those 2's make there way all the way around the table. Or better yet when someone trades you a 3 and you give them a 2 instead

 

[Iott Family]

How about a dice game called Farkle. A dominoes game called chicken feet. You can google those. We play these games when we go camping/family trips. Lots of fun and they travel well. We also have Disney SORRY! board game and thats a great family game. Also parchessi. Checkers is great for younger kids. Yahtzi, UNO, Are you smarter than a 5th grader?, trivial pursuit junior, and monopoly disney and star wars additions are also played with great fun in this house of wackos!!!

We also have boggle and the company that makes apple to apples also has some awesome card games. Target carries them. Im sorry I cant be more specific but the name escapes me!!!

 

[marcyinPA]

We were really into Phase 10 this summer (card game)....very fun!

We like Apples to Apples a lot. When we play with younger kids, we team them up with somebody. It works for us!

 

[stsomewhere]

Both sides of our family LOVE to play games. My IL's play a game called 31 with just a regular deck of cards. In order to play you have to have a dollar in quarters. The dealer passes out three cards to each player. The object is to not have the lowest total of same suite cards. The person with the lowest total when a person knocks pays the kitty. You go clockwise around the table drawing and discarding you have to have at least 17 points to knock and once a person knocks everyone except that person gets one more turn at drawing and discarding. When you are out of quarters you are done the person that outlasts everyone gets the kitty. That family also loves to play Farkle that game has dice and money I believe.

.

We play this, too. But, we play for nickels.

 

[GrammyJudy]

CLUE is our favorite

 

[stsomewhere]

Don't know if its still made.... Guesstures.
Alot of fun.

 

[drcbpearce]

Catch Phrase!!!!! This game is so much fun when playing with a group. It can be hard to find though.

We love Catchphrase too! I love it b/c you can play w/a large group. There's also a Catchphrase Music, you can sing, hum, say the words to the songs. It's a blast to hear the people try to sing! But, don't get scared, you don't have to sing, it's just one option. There are multiple categories of music and we have a great time playing it!