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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To say that it is normal for families to play board games

273 replies

Millimat · 11/01/2026 08:00

Am I delusional to think that families do this? DH hates playing board or card games and this is influencing my DCs opinions. I’m not on about when children are little and it’s about learning rules and turn taking, I’m on about just as a pastime to do as a family activity.
it’s a lighthearted question but I’m intrigued as to how many of you out there play board and card games at home.

OP posts:
vanillalattes · 11/01/2026 11:56

BootMaker · 11/01/2026 11:41

I mean, charades is a classic that gets played a lot, it's not a 'board game' though.

See also, 'the rizla game' where one is given a character by another player that one sticks to their forehead and has to guess who it is. Obviously goes in rounds, if one gets it wrong, it moves on to the next player.

Who doesn't love this schizzle?

Mad people. That's who.

If I was at someone's house and they suggested a game of charades I would be running for the door 😂

Fends · 11/01/2026 12:07

Constantly play them here.

Ticket to ride
Exploding Kittens
Labyrinth
Blokus
Tension
Linkee
Outsmarted is fantastic!
Dino Dump
Bears vs Babies
Pandemic
Yahtzee
Mastermind

I think we have over 100 games easily

stclementine · 11/01/2026 12:13

I’m so glad I never had kids because I hate all games - cards, board, role playing 😬

Ecrire · 11/01/2026 12:16

FT working mum and dad here with two in lower and stages of primary. Every evening after dinner we take it in turns to choose a board or card game before bedtime. Our 2 dogs come and sit with us and we play as a family of 6 :) it’s beautiful. So worthwhile. So bonding as a unit. The kids chat to us about stuff as we play without the pressures of a conversation about anything tricky. A pantry in our small kitchen has had its door removed and emptied out to become a toy library to store all these games in full sight lest they get forgotten somewhere

Theimpossiblegirl · 11/01/2026 12:39

We did when the girls were little and now they're young adults family game night is still very much a thing. I love it. They expect their boyfriends to participate and have games nights with friends. There's more wine nowadays so that makes it more fun.

EleventyThree · 11/01/2026 12:43

We've always played board games as a family and often have friends over to play as well, all together. My own father and FIL are not very interested in board games but lots of other people in our families are. My husband likes strategy-type games best while I love party games that make me laugh til my belly hurts. Our son likes both!😊

DemonsandMosquitoes · 11/01/2026 12:47

I had an ongoing Connect 4 marathon with DS2 home from uni over Xmas, but I suspect only because there was money on the overall winner. Otherwise, we haven’t played as a family since they were in primary school other than maybe cards at xmas or on holiday.

Hedjwitch · 11/01/2026 12:48

Nothing worse than having a lovely evening with friends and someone saying " let's play a board game".
Changes the whole relaxed nature of the night: enforced jollity,having people trying to explain the rules to you, all squished round a table. If your family loves board games then great,but dont assume everyone does.

anon4net · 11/01/2026 13:08

Most weeks we play board games and/or card games at least weekly. Uno (and all the new variations that make it harder for the older dc), Blokus, Othello, Sequence, Scrabble, Rummikub, Splendor, Five Crowns & Quiddler. The little ones play Snakes and Ladders, Candyland, Sequence Jr, Bingo, Connect 4 Checkers etc.

In our circle Ticket To Ride is very popular for people with kids 8-10+. Probably followed by Catan, Five Crowns and Blokus.

I think there's some adults that seem to be embarrassed like it's a kid thing to do. We very occasionally go to board game cafe's for work socials and I can tell you they are absolutely heaving with adults from all walks of life playing and purchasing board games. I also think sometimes people haven't been exposed to the range of games that are out there and think it's only Scrabble & Monopoly etc. and find those boring.

There's so many important skills kids learn from board games - strategy, patience, logic etc. Also a great distraction from any screens & a nice way to have a family night weekly without having to spend money (once you have the games, though you can also borrow from friends and/or some libraries have lending schemes). I like it gives us the opportunity to spend time together despite having different interests generally.

A good way to build your stock of games is to ask for them for birthdays/Christmas. I always buy the family a new game for Christmas and we have older family friends who get the family one each Christmas too. We are always happy to lend them to friends who are seeing if a game is a good fit or don't have a large variety. When we have toy/gift drives I will often purchase a few to donate to families in need as well.

We don't tend to play games with adult friends, more likely to just enjoy catching up over a hot drink or glass of wine. But the games very often come out when the dc's friends come round.

Toddlerteaplease · 11/01/2026 13:10

We never did when I was little. I wish we had though.

stclementine · 11/01/2026 13:12

BootMaker · 11/01/2026 09:41

Why do find them dull?

Games are fun!

In your opinion. Some of us find them dull and boring. It doesn’t mean we have had over competitive siblings or that we can’t process things quickly (wtf to both). We just find different things interesting.

Millimat · 11/01/2026 13:27

I need to investigate a board game cafe I think WinkWink

OP posts:
PermanentlyExhaustedPigeonZZZ · 11/01/2026 13:29

Operationtimecomingup · 11/01/2026 08:13

Being able to play cards or boardgames is one of the things I really really miss now I live alone.

One of the few things I love about Christmas are my Christmas games of Scrabble and cards and the occasional board game that we get to play when my son comes to stay for the festive period. Having a game of Scrabble on Christmas day has been a tradition for us for many years.

There's an online platform called boardgame arena that has loads of games and you can play with friends online or strangers.

There are also some nice one player physical games you can buy. I'm really enjoying harmonies.

Youngeryoungsuddenly · 11/01/2026 13:31

Our family plays board games at every opportunity.

BootMaker · 11/01/2026 13:32

stclementine · 11/01/2026 13:12

In your opinion. Some of us find them dull and boring. It doesn’t mean we have had over competitive siblings or that we can’t process things quickly (wtf to both). We just find different things interesting.

I mean, that's fine.

BUT there is a game for everyone.

There's party games, strategic games, really fucking boring games that go on forever (Risk).

I can't believe that there's not a game you wouldn't enjoy.

vanillalattes · 11/01/2026 13:35

BootMaker · 11/01/2026 13:32

I mean, that's fine.

BUT there is a game for everyone.

There's party games, strategic games, really fucking boring games that go on forever (Risk).

I can't believe that there's not a game you wouldn't enjoy.

I mean, you can believe what you want.

The only games I've ever enjoyed are ones I play on my own at my own pace, and that can be picked up/dropped as and when. Nowadays they're all on screens.

Stressedoutmummyof3 · 11/01/2026 13:35

We used to all the time. I brought Monopoly and Game for Life at Christmas but (and I know it's only been a couple of weeks) every time I suggest playing DH and DD1 suddenly have something else to do. Oh well at least DD2 took pity on me and we played Monopoly last night.

BootMaker · 11/01/2026 13:39

Stressedoutmummyof3 · 11/01/2026 13:35

We used to all the time. I brought Monopoly and Game for Life at Christmas but (and I know it's only been a couple of weeks) every time I suggest playing DH and DD1 suddenly have something else to do. Oh well at least DD2 took pity on me and we played Monopoly last night.

Well that's rubbish!

We all have very happy memories of a holiday in the Highlands where we played Game of Life obsessively.

Newstartplease24 · 11/01/2026 13:39

i feel bad about how little we do this. I just get so tired at work and with everything to do at home that I cant face chivvying everyone into understanding the rules. It takes so much energy to get a game up and running. I wish I had more stamina.

BootMaker · 11/01/2026 13:41

Newstartplease24 · 11/01/2026 13:39

i feel bad about how little we do this. I just get so tired at work and with everything to do at home that I cant face chivvying everyone into understanding the rules. It takes so much energy to get a game up and running. I wish I had more stamina.

There are lots of games with very simple rules.

I refuse to play games that have a huge rule booklet!

Tryagain26 · 11/01/2026 13:41

Its very normal in our household. I have a cupboard full of boardgames as have my adult children.amd visiting the Board Game cafe is a real treat for us

YourJoyousDenimExpert · 11/01/2026 13:42

We LOVE board games! My children are both adults now but we still enjoy cards and loads of different board games. Monopoly is not a top favourite as it takes so long! Mainly play if away in holiday together or Christmas time now - but we always have a good laugh over it!

Tryagain26 · 11/01/2026 13:48

Martymcfly24 · 11/01/2026 08:19

Hate board games, I am the least competitive person and I just couldn't give a crap if I win or lose.

There are some extremely entertaining non competitive board games .
Games people work together as a team.

TubeScreamer · 11/01/2026 13:51

I hate playing board games

ItsyourSam · 11/01/2026 13:54

Yes, all the time! Our favourites at the moment are:
Hogwarts Battle
Through the Desert
Space Base
Catan
Bunny Kingdom
Viticulture
Quacks of Quedlinberg
Seasalt and Paper

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