board games......

[oksonowwhat]

would love some suggestions for best board games for families. We are mainly adults, grown up children in early twenties and couple of sixteen year olds.

Although instructions should be easy as we're all abit thick

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MNHQ Update
This is an old thread, but if you’ve landed here while on the lookout for similar recommendations, our guide to the best family board games has been recently updated. Made up of recommendations from Mumsnet users, it includes a wide range of games suitable for kids of all ages, from pre-schoolers to adults. We hope it’s helpful!

We love backgammon and inflict it on all visitors. It is dead easy to learn, but is only for two people at a time. We have taught it to our 12 year old dd who hates board games, and even she quite likes it.

Risk is good

Scrabble.

Pictionary.

They are our favourites.

Not heard of Risk??!!! Need to look into that, thank you

I always got the impression backgammon was a hard game!!! Its not then???!!!! We've got scrabble but never played pictionary.

I've got a few ideas now, thank you!

Aritculate is fab, and there's always good old Trivial Pursuits.

Another vote for Articulate, and good ole' Monopoly

Articulate, Balderdash, Trivial Pursuits and Cluedo.

Monopoly never ends well in my family.

Cranium is fab as long as all players are ok at reading, as there are word games in it. You need at least 4 players.

Monopoly is always good, but takes yonks - have sometimes been still playing at new years! We played cranium last year and it was fab. Truly enjoyed watching MIL making a twozzock out of herself

the settlers of catan
bananagrams

Second Settlers of Catan. Also silly ones that you can play after you've had a few - Mousie Mousie caused much hilarity last year, also jenga etc.

Otherwise what about paper games like Consequences?

Hi, I'm looking for a board game suitable for a slightly younger group - kids are 8, 10 and 13 - any suggestions? Thanks.

Carcassonnne is great, but I'm not sure what the recommended minimum age is.

Ravensburger Labyrinth Game

Settler is my favourite game ever - it is a bit hard to learn the rules but it is really good.

German games like this seem to be really good- we have a great one called Marakesh made by HABA. Like Settlers, the board moves and changes as well as the pieces.

My kids (4,9,12) love Cadoo as it has drawing, clay, acting out and puzzle type things.

Monopoly is a bit long (and reminds me of unrequited kindness when I used to plaly it with my brothers and would let them of,but they would bankrupt) Junior monopoly is great and relatively quick nd simple.

backgammon is very simple to play as long as you put the counters in the right place to begin with and can count to 6. It's fab and can be bought very cheaply unlike some board games. (I just paid £25 for a pad of paper, thre bits of plastic, and three tubs of playdough ina box call Rapidough. Let's hope we have £25 of fun for it - if we do then it is excellent value for money, of course!)

Will try to get my hands on Articulate after the rave reviews above.

Not board games but we tend to play cards. Shed and chase the Ace with regular cards and the monopoly deal card game is excellent

I'd definitely recommend Absolute Balderdash - very easy to learn, very funny to play, and really not at all competitive, IME even a lot of games haters will happily play it (even my dad )

Agree Settlers of Catan is excellent for a more 'serious' game, but unless you have one of the expansion sets it is for a maximum of 4 players at one time. It would be fine with 8 y/o & up - dd now 8 has been fine with a wee bit of help for a year or so.

Ticket to Ride Europe is a nice train themed game again ok for 8 & up and good for adults - you're building trains across the map of Europe.

One of my current favourites is Stone Age, a bit 'Settlers-ish' but maybe lighter, good to play over a few drinks.

Completely different and not a board game, but a good one for larger groups is Once upon a time where you tell a story between you, each trying to get to your own ending (all of you have different endings).

someone asked about 8-13yo, I'd go for some basics if you haven't already got;
uno
rummikub
yatzee

Uno is pretty good fun if you have big group/mixed ages. We have played with age range from 6 to 84 (and frankly Grandpa was rubbish compared to DS)

Bananagrams is brilliant

I second Once Upon a Time - I love it. It does need the right group of people though, who are articulate and have good imaginations. My Mum is hopeless at it (very articulate, but not so imaginative)

Stone Age is one of my favourites too.

DS (8) loves Pictureka!, TransAmerica (or TransEuropa), Villa Palleti, and Kid's Carcassonne.

For 16yrs plus, most of the games on BoardGamesgeek would be playable - and they have reviews to help you decide which you might like.

I like Alhambra, Vinci, Dominion (and its various expansions) - Dominion seems very popular with friends too, Settlers of Catan, Agricola, St. Petersburg, and Pandemic (a co-operative game where you all work together to eradicate the spreading plagues)

Trivial Pursuit
Articulate

Liking the idea of articulate and balderdash. What is the kind of general playing aim of these games? Easy? long winded?

Thank you all so much