Top 12 Family Games for All Ages and Abilities

Don't let the fact that your family has children of different ages and skill levels stop you from having a successful family game night! Try one of these top family games for all ages. Amazingly, these games work for children, but aren't boring for adults. (Although, let's be honest, everyone's definition of "boring" is not the same!)

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Why These Games?

The games have been selected according to the following criteria:

• Easy to learn
• Readily adaptable to different skill levels and abilities
• Rules are easily modified if necessary
• Game play can continue if one player quits
• They do not require reading
• Only light strategy skills, if any, are necessary

Each game description below notes important skill requirements such as visual perception or counting. For example, if a player has trouble with number recognition, then a game will either need to be modified or that player given extra help.

If your family needs to modify game rules consider the following:

• Can you eliminate scoring?
• Can you eliminate a speed or strategy factor?
• Can you reduce the game play time?
• Can you make the game more cooperative?
• Can you play as partners or teams?

MORE: Tips for helping kids learn good sportsmanship

In addition, I've noted what I think is the minimum age for each game. This may be different from the manufacturer's recommendation because I am taking into account the fact that you can modify rules to accommodate skill levels.

Board Games

LABYRINTH

Find it: Amazon

Players make their way through an ever-shifting maze in pursuit of treasure. Each player begins with a set number of treasure cards and the player who collects all their treasure first, wins. The board consists of moving panels and on their turn, a player shifts the panels in an effort to further their own progress or hinder that of others.

Considerations: light strategy, visual perception, 2-4 players

Minimum age: 5

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MORE: Our favorite tile-based games

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PARCHEESI

Find it: Amazon

I loved Parcheesi when I was a kid! This classic family game for all ages originated in India and is a chase-type game. Players aim to be the first to move all their tokens from the starting position to home base. There is light strategy involved but because it uses dice, the majority of the game is based on luck. It is easy to modify the rules by removing the ability to blockade, "bump" opponents, or simplifying how to leave the starting position.

Considerations: counting to 20, light strategy, 2-4 players

Minimum age: 6

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SEQUENCE

Find it: Amazon

Sequence is an all-around winner and appeals to different age groups. The concept of getting 5-in-a-row is easy for children to grasp and yet still a fun challenge for adults. You can easily modify the rules by eliminating the special ability of one-eyed Jacks or decreasing the number of completed sequences required to win. There is also a kids version that uses pictures instead of playing cards.

Considerations: light strategy, number recognition, 2 - 12 players

Minimum age: 5 (3 for kids version)

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CAULDRON QUEST

Find it: Amazon

Some families love cooperative games, others hate them. We love them (perhaps because I am not very competitive and my kids love to tell me what to do, ha ha ha). I have often recommended Hoot Owl Hoot and Forbidden Island, but Cauldron Quest is another good choice. Cooperative games are also useful when you want to strengthen your children's strategy and problem solving skills, but they have difficulty with typical, competitive strategy games.

Considerations: 2-4 players, strategy, cooperative, number recognition (uses dice)

Minimum age: 4

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Card Games

HI LO FLIP

Find it: Amazon

This is the most colorful card game you will ever see! It's like holding a Pantone deck in your hand. Players try to shed their hand by playing cards in either a high or a low sequence, depending on the flip of the Hi-Lo coin. It is extremely easy to learn, and it's likely that no modifications would be necessary, provided players have the necessary number recognition skills.

Considerations: number recognition, understanding of greater/lesser than, 2-6 players

Minimum age: 5

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SPOT IT

Find it: Amazon

This very popular game of visual perception is great to have on hand when you are on the go. There are several Spot It variations so you can choose one based on your family's interest. Players race to be the first person to spot which object is on both cards. It sounds simple, but it's not as easy as it looks! Some families may need to modify the speed requirement. Spot It comes with instructions for several versions of game play. If you only have children under 6, you may prefer the Spot It Jr. version.

Considerations: visual perception, quick thinking, short play time, 2 or more players

Minimum age: 3

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SKIP-BO

Find it: Amazon

Skip-bo is a classic card game that is a good choice for everyone's game closet. We have played it more times that I can count. This is sequencing card game in which players work to be the first player to empty their card stockpiles. You can easily shorten the game by reducing the number of cards in stockpile. This is one of the few games where I think it's best to stick to the manufacturer's recommended age, not because it's hard, but because it's harder to play successfully if your attention wanders.

Considerations: number recognition, strategy, 2-6 players

Minimum age: 7

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GO NUTS FOR DONUTS

Find it: Amazon

Go Nuts for Donuts is a bidding card game. At the start of the game, an array of donut cards with varying point values and rewards are displayed. Players bid on which donuts they want in an effort to collect as many advantageous cards as possible. The player with the most points (not necessarily the player with the most donuts) at the end of the game wins. If any player cannot read, the other players can read the cards out loud, if necessary.

Considerations: decision-making, number recognition, very basic math (but not an absolute requirement), will make you hungry, 2-6 players

Minimum age: 5

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RIVERS, ROADS, AND RAILS

Find it: Amazon

Players match cards together and create pathways of an ever changing network of rivers, roads and rails. This is an excellent choice for families who also like puzzles. Rivers, Roads and Rails can be played competitively in which players aim to be the first to use of their cards, or cooperatively in which families work together to use as many cards as possible. Bonus: kids LOVE to play with this game by themselves.

Considerations: cooperative or competitive, visual perception, requires a large playing area, 1-8 players

Minimum age: 5; 3 as a cooperative or team game

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Dice Games

Dice games can be excellent family games for all ages because many of them rely solely on luck. If you already have a handful of dice, check out the instructions for all of our favorite dice games.

STRIKE (aka) IMPACT: BATTLE OF THE ELEMENTS

Find it: Amazon

Note: Impact has been discontinued and rebranded as "Harry Potter Strike." We have the Impact version, which I featured as a game of the month here. Impact Strike is a game that takes zero time to learn, is quick to play, but engaging enough that playing it over and over at the request of your child does not send your brain into a boredom spiral. Taking turns, players toss their dice in the "cauldron," attempting to roll matching dice according to the controlling factor of the round, which is either earth, lighting, water, wind or fire (in the Impact version). The instructions include several versions of game play, including modifications. Impact Strike is also a game that younger kids can play with older siblings sans parents.

Considerations: Very light strategy, short game play time, small playing space, 2-5 players

Minimum age: 4

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LCR

Find it: Amazon

LCR, or "Left, Right, Center" is a one hundred per cent luck game, which can be a nice thing if you just don't want to spend family game night doing too much thinking. (You know, because of parenting after a long day, ha ha ha.) Each player starts with an equal number of chips. Rolling the specialty dice will determine if you pass chips to the left, right, or place them in the center pot. The last player left with chips is the winner. There is also an LCR Wild version which does require some strategy.

Considerations: Requires at least 3 players, zero strategy

Minimum age: 4

Miscellaneous

PENGOLOO

Find it: Amazon

Pengoloo is a memory matching game using adorable wooden penguins. Unlike the other games on this list, Pengoloo is designed for families with preschoolers. However, I think it is a good game to include because it's actually not that boring for adults who like memory-type games. In fact, kids often out-perform adults, which makes them feel successful. Each penguin sits atop and hides a colored egg. Similar to classic Memory, players try to recall which color is under each penguin in order to find two eggs of the same. The first player to find the requisite number of matching pairs wins.

Considerations: memory, color recognition, 2-4 players

Minimum age: 3

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