The holiday season is a time for families to come together, relax, and create lasting memories. One of the best ways to bond with your loved ones during this special time is by playing games together. Whether you’re gathered around a cozy fireplace or sitting at the dining table, numerous family-friendly games can provide hours of fun and laughter for all ages. In this article, we’ll explore a curated list of the best family-friendly games to play during the holidays.
Best Family-Friendly Games To Play On Holidays
Codenames:
- Number of Players: 2-8 players
- Average Duration: 15-30 minutes
- Recommended Age: 10+
Codenames is a word game that encourages critical thinking and creativity. It’s a perfect choice for a group with a diverse age range. In the game, players give one-word clues to help their team guess the words on the board. The challenge lies in finding the right balance between being clear and avoiding the opponent’s words. It’s a fantastic way to stimulate your mind and enjoy some friendly competition.
Ticket to Ride:
- Number of Players: 2-5 players
- Average Duration: 30-60 minutes
- Recommended Age: 8+
If you’re looking for a game that combines strategy and simplicity, Ticket to Ride is an excellent choice. In this board game, players collect train cards to build railway routes across a map. It’s easy to learn but provides ample strategic depth, making it suitable for players of all ages. Plus, the beautiful game board depicting various destinations can spark your wanderlust.
Apples to Apples:
- Number of Players: 4-10 players
- Average Duration: 30-60 minutes
- Recommended Age: 12+
Apples to Apples is a hilarious party game that invites players to match words and phrases with the most fitting and amusing responses. It’s an excellent choice for family gatherings, as it encourages creativity and laughter. This game is all about finding the quirkiest combinations and having a good time.
Pandemic:
- Number of Players: 2-4 players
- Average Duration: 45 minutes
- Recommended Age: 8+
Pandemic is a cooperative board game that will test your family’s teamwork and problem-solving skills. In the game, players work together as a team of disease-fighting specialists trying to save the world from four deadly viruses. It’s an engaging and challenging game that promotes collaboration and strategy.
Uno:
A classic card game that’s a hit with families, Uno is easy to learn and offers endless fun. Players take turns matching colors and numbers to discard their cards. Special cards, like Skips and Reverses, add excitement to the game. Uno is a great choice for a quick and enjoyable gaming session.
Charades:
- Number of Players: 4 or more players
- Average Duration: Varies
- Recommended Age: 8+
Charades is a timeless party game that requires no special equipment, making it ideal for impromptu family fun. Players act out words or phrases without speaking, and their team must guess what they’re trying to convey. It’s a game that can be as silly or serious as your family wants it to be.
Jenga:
- Number of Players: 1 or more players
- Average Duration: 15-30 minutes
- Recommended Age: 6+
Jenga is a classic game of skill and balance. Players take turns removing wooden blocks from a tower and placing them on top without causing it to collapse. It’s a fantastic game for testing your hand-eye coordination and nerve, and it’s perfect for creating moments of suspense and excitement.
Catan:
- Number of Players: 3-4 players (or up to 6 with expansions)
- Average Duration: 60-90 minutes
- Recommended Age: 10+
Settlers of Catan, or simply Catan, is a strategy board game that has become a household favorite. Players collect resources, trade, and build settlements on a vibrant island. The game encourages negotiation, planning, and critical thinking, making it a great choice for families seeking a more complex and immersive gaming experience.
Twister:
- Number of Players: 2 or more players
- Average Duration: Varies
- Recommended Age: 6+
If you’re looking for a game that gets everyone up and moving, Twister is the answer. Players place their hands and feet on colored circles on a large mat as instructed by a spinner. The goal is to maintain your balance without falling over. It’s a fantastic way to get the family laughing and twisting together.
Scrabble:
- Number of Players: 2-4 players
- Average Duration: 45-90 minutes
- Recommended Age: 10+
Scrabble is a word game that challenges your vocabulary and strategic skills. It’s perfect for families who enjoy wordplay and healthy competition. Create words on the game board and earn points based on the letters used and their placement.
Sequence:
- Number of Players: 2-12 players
- Average Duration: 30-60 minutes
- Recommended Age: 7+
The sequence is a combination of card and board games that require both strategy and a bit of luck. Players aim to create rows of five of their chips on the game board by playing cards that match the spaces on the board. It’s a great game for small or large groups, fostering healthy competition and teamwork.
The Game of Life:
- Number of Players: 2-4 players
- Average Duration: 1-2 hours
- Recommended Age: 8+
The Game of Life is a classic board game that simulates a person’s journey through life. Players make decisions about career, family, and personal experiences as they travel through the game board. It’s a great way to discuss life’s ups and downs in a fun way.
Dixit:
- Number of Players: 3-6 players
- Average Duration: 30-45 minutes
- Recommended Age: 8+
Dixit is an imaginative card game that encourages creativity and storytelling. Players take turns being the “storyteller” by providing a clue for a card in their hand. The other players select cards from their hands that they feel match the clue. The goal is to guess the storyteller’s card while keeping your card hidden. It’s a game that will get your family’s creative juices flowing.
HedBanz:
- Number of Players: 2-6 players
- Average Duration: 15-30 minutes
- Recommended Age: 7+
HedBanz is a hilarious guessing game where players wear headbands with a card on their forehead that they can’t see. Players take turns asking yes-or-no questions to guess the object or person on their card. It’s a great game to test your deductive skills and have a good laugh.
Carcassonne:
- Number of Players: 2-5 players
- Average Duration: 30-45 minutes
- Recommended Age: 8+
Carcassonne is a tile-laying board game where players build a medieval landscape with cities, roads, and fields. It’s a game of strategy and planning, as players aim to complete features for points. The game is easy to learn but offers depth for those who seek it.
Bananagrams:
- Number of Players: 2-8 players
- Average Duration: 15-30 minutes
- Recommended Age: 7+
Bananagrams is a fast-paced word game that can be enjoyed by players of all ages. The goal is to create a grid of interconnected words as quickly as possible, using letter tiles from a central pile. It’s an excellent game for sharpening your vocabulary and word-forming skills.
Sushi Go!:
- Number of Players: 2-5 players
- Average Duration: 15-20 minutes
- Recommended Age: 8+
Sushi Go! is a quick and fun card game where players draft sushi dishes to create the best meal. The game is easy to pick up, and the adorable sushi-themed cards make it an instant hit with kids and adults alike.
Qwirkle:
- Number of Players: 2-4 players
- Average Duration: 30-45 minutes
- Recommended Age: 6+
Qwirkle is a matching and pattern-building game that requires players to create rows and columns of tiles by matching either color or shape. It’s a game that encourages spatial reasoning and critical thinking, making it a great choice for family game night.
Forbidden Island:
- Number of Players: 2-4 players
- Average Duration: 30 minutes
- Recommended Age: 8+
Forbidden Island is a cooperative board game where players work together to retrieve treasures from a sinking island. The game offers a thrilling adventure and challenges players to strategize and collaborate to succeed.
Jungle Speed:
- Number of Players: 2-8 players
- Average Duration: 10-15 minutes
- Recommended Age: 7+
Jungle Speed is a fast-paced card game that tests your reflexes and observation skills. Players take turns flipping cards and grabbing the totem in the center when certain conditions are met. It’s an exciting game that can lead to lively and entertaining moments.
Ghost Blitz:
- Number of Players: 2-8 players
- Average Duration: 20-30 minutes
- Recommended Age: 8+
Ghost Blitz is a visual perception and reaction game that can be enjoyed by players of all ages. Players compete to grab the correct object based on the clues provided. It’s a game that keeps everyone on their toes and laughing as they race to claim the right items.
