Family game night is a nice break from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Between work, school, homework, after school activities, dinner and everything in between, playing board games is a great way to relax and connect with your family. Board games bring families together, especially when it's a game that the whole family enjoys playing.
It's a good idea to have several board games on hand for all the different opinions your kids will probably have. After all, they might be into a dice game one day and a good ol' fashioned game of charades the next. You can't go wrong with classic board games like Sorry! or Yahtzee, but it's also fun to mix things up with new games you and your kids may have never played before, like the family edition of What Do You Meme? or Story Time Chess.
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It can be hard finding a board game that kids and grown-ups are into, so we did the legwork for you and rounded up our favorites that are both kid and parent approved.
What to Consider When Purchasing Family Board Games
Type: As you know, there are a wide variety of family board games to choose from, from guessing games to charades to fun challenges to dice games. If you and your kids enjoy a challenge, games that require a bit more thought might offer the most fun, but if you want to turn your brains off (so to speak) and just be entertained, there are certainly plenty of games for that.
Age Range: Most board games list the minimum age on the box, and that's usually based on the stage of development and the game pieces involved. A 3-year-old probably won't be able to follow along with a game that's designed for ages 7 and up, and a 12-year-old might not find a game that's good for kids ages 3-plus terribly exciting.
Players: The amount of players each game allows is a big factor in the games that'll work for your family. If there are four people in your family who participate in playing board games, a game for only two players will likely cause problems. So, it's probably best to stick with games that allow for as many players as people in your family. If you're family is large, you might have to have a couple of games going at the same time so everyone can play.
To spice up your family game night, scroll on to see our top picks for the best board games for the whole family.
1. Beat That!
Beat That! by Gutter Games is a fun party game full of wacky challenges. There are 160 challenges total, including solo challenges, battle royales, buddy ups and duels. The game is won by betting on your own ability to complete a series of ridiculously fun dexterity-based challenges that test your skills, like bouncing a ball into a cup, rhyming words or using chopsticks to stack dice.
At a Glance:
- Players: 2 - 8
- Ages: 9+
- Playing Time: 40 - 60 min.
- Extras: Expansion pack, combo pack
2. Taco vs Burrito
Created by a 7-year-old named Alex, Taco vs Burrito is a super fun game for both kids and grown-ups. The goal of the game is to build the most valuable meal while having a pretend food fight with your family. The game takes about 10 minutes to play, which is good to know if you're timing game night with bedtime. Kids ages 3 and up can play with help adding up points. Buying Taco vs Burrito will add tons of laughs to your game night, and you'll also be supporting a young entrepreneur.
At a Glance:
- Players: 2 - 4
- Ages: 3+
- Playing Time: 10 - 15 min.
- Extras: Created by a 7-year-old
3. Do You Really Know Your Family?
A fun way to get to know your kids a little better (and vice versa) is by playing Do You Really Know Your Family? Trivia game cards will test who knows each family member best as you answer silly questions about each other while sparking conversation. There are fun challenges and lots of laughing to be had. It's a great game for kids ages 8 and up, and your teens might even get a kick out of it.
At a Glance:
- Players: 3 - 8
- Ages: 8+
- Playing Time: 30 - 90 min.
- Extras: N/A
4. Sorry!
Introduce your kids to a classic favorite. Sorry! is a staple in every game closet—or at least it should be. You'll be happy to know that this updated version comes in a smaller box than the one you might remember from your childhood, which makes it easier to store. Sorry! is meant to be played by kids ages 6 and up, but it's challenging enough to be entertaining for teens and parents too.
At a Glance:
- Players: 2 - 4
- Ages: 6+
- Playing Time: 30 min.
- Extras: N/A
5. What Do You Meme? Family Edition
What Do You Meme? is a hilarious party game you may have played with friends. The original version is definitely not for kids, but the makers of the game developed a family edition for kids ages 8 and up. To play, you match the funniest caption to a photo to make a meme. It's sure to be a favorite with the tween/teen crowd.
At a Glance:
- Players: 3+
- Ages: 8+
- Playing Time: N/A
- Extras: N/A
6. Exploding Kittens
The super popular game Exploding Kittens is a big hit with kids. The game is a mix between UNO and Russian Roulette with a bunch of cats, goats and magical enchiladas.
At a Glance:
- Players: 2 - 5
- Ages: 7+
- Playing Time: 15 min.
- Extras: Expansion set available for purchase
7. Pressman Charades for Kids
Playing board games doesn't mean you have to be stuck sitting down the whole time. Pressman's Charades for Kids gets kids (and adults) up and moving as they act out words like hula hoop, itching and kicking. Three levels of play make it easy for little ones and challenging enough for big kids.
At a Glance:
- Players: 3+
- Ages: 4+
- Playing Time: N/A
- Extras: N/A
8. Story Time Chess
Story Time Chess is a board game that teaches kids how to play chess by using silly stories, illustrations and custom chess pieces. It's a story-based approach that teaches the rules of chess along with the reasons for their movements, which makes chess a bit more exciting than it otherwise might be.
At a Glance:
- Players: 2
- Ages: 3+
- Playing Time: N/A
- Extras: Expansion pack for purchase
9. Yahtzee
If you've played Yahtzee, you know how much fun it can be. The game comes with five dice, score cards and a shaker that doubles as storage for the dice. It's a great way to get your kids working on their math skills while simultaneously having a fun time. It doesn't hurt that the five dice can also be used for all those other games that are somehow missing their own dice.
At a Glance:
- Players: 2+
- Ages: 8+
- Playing Time: 30 min.
- Extras: N/A
10. Beat the Parents
Beat the Parents is a family showdown game where kids compete against their parents. Each team must wager something before the game begins. So, whoever loses will have to do something like wash the dishes, put away the laundry, etc.—making the stakes super high.
At a Glance:
- Players: 2 - 6
- Ages: 6+
- Playing Time: 30 min.
- Extras: N/A
11. Hedbanz
Hedbanz is a fast-paced family guessing game where you ask the question "Who am I?" Ask yes or no questions and try to guess who you are before the time runs out.
At a Glance:
- Players: 2 - 6
- Ages: 7+
- Playing Time: N/A
- Extras: Expansion packs available for purchase
12. Spontuneous
Spontuneous is a song game that's perfect for anyone who's really good at hearing a word and spontaneously breaking into song. Each player writes down trigger words on their list. When it's your turn, you read one of the words, and the first player to sing at least five words from any song containing the trigger word advances on the board.
At a Glance:
- Players: 4 - 10
- Ages: 8+
- Playing Time: 30 min.
- Extras: N/A