Best family board game?

[ScariestFairyByFar]

Looking for a present for step brothers family don't see them much but will see then at Xmas was thinking a game for them all would be good but need ideas.

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MNHQ Update
We appreciate this thread is a little old now, but if you’ve come across it while on the hunt for similar recommendations, our guide to the best board games has been recently updated to reflect current availability and new releases. It’s been compiled based on advice from Mumsnet users as well as consumer reviews with fun for the whole family in mind. We hope it’s helpful!

[KarenG]

We and our kids aged 9, 10 and 11 love Carcassonne. And there's all kinds of extension packs so be warned, you'll lose hours to it if you're not careful.

[shazyt]

The 6year old and even the 2 year old would love elefun. My 2 loved it and still do .:-)

[DaisyWhiteauthor]

Just got a job lot of vintage games off ebay and my kids (3 and 5) love the Victorian Happy Families cards. Not quite abiding by the rules yet, but loads of fun!

[JerryLeadbetter]

Trivial Pursuit- my family has played it for years and everyone gets shit-faced and extremely competitive. Even as kids we joined an adult and played in teams and it was so much fun even if we didn't know the answers. Hoping to pass the tradition on to my DCs when they're old enough!

[LadyPeterWimsey]

at your DSS, fuzzpig.

This will probably out me to anyone who knows me as I have told this to every single person I meet in RL, but I found Settlers at DD's school fair, for 30p! Reduced from 50p! BRAND NEW, STILL IN ITS PLASTIC!

It is my most bargainacious bargain ever.

[EugenesAxe]

My favourite board games are Pictionary, Articulate, Trivial Pursuit and Cranium.

My favourite child's game is Tummyache.

When we went on holiday as a family with children aged 3, 11, 13 we had great fun playing the card game Pit. Whot and Uno are of a kind and equally great fun.

Don't know if they do them anymore, but the 'family' games we loved best were Game of Life and Ratrace. The former was awesome... everyone always tried to land on the 'Goldmine' square - invariably my Dad would then whip out his 'Share the Wealth' card and say 'I'll have some of that, thanks'...

[EugenesAxe]

Oh yeah - Yahtzee I also agree with. An all ages winner and the two year old can have fun trying to throw the dice in the tray.

Carcasonne is also great but only played once.

[zanz1bar]

Scattergories a list game
Ten things...in a bathroom, animals, things at the seaside.
You really only need pen and paper and every age group gets involved.

[moonshine]

(cough) Can I please refer you to Visualart's earlier question - are Blokus and Ingenious very similar (we already have Ingenious)?

And has anyone got any opinions on the Logo Game?

[theITgirl]

We have 'RunAround' not sure about the two year old, but could pair up with someone.
You have to nominate 5 rooms, e.g. kitchen, bathroom, dining room, ds bedroom & dd bedroom. Then you go around the board collecting letters and when you land on 'Rummage' or 'Everyone Rummage' you have to run to that room to collect something beginning with one of your letters. You have to be fast as the game carries on while you are looking so you miss your go if you are not there.
There are variations where you can take from other peoples collections. But we skip those rules as too likely to lead to fights/sulks (or maybe that is just my two).
So if you have the letters T M & S your collection could include, towel, teddy, milk, sock and soap.

Grown ups can really enjoy this as well, but not so good for aged granny's who cannot run as fast! but could be a good pair for the 2 year old.

[midseasonsale]

rush hour

[slalomsuki]

Not really a board game but UNO is the winner in our family with the two year old getting the hang of it quickly.

[multitaskmama]

We love scrabble, good fun, some funny words and improved the kids spelling!

[rockinhippy]

Frustration would work across those age ranges - DD has loved it since tiny & still plays now & DH loves it too, I can't really comment as I believe all board games are the devil spawn and designed to cause rows, or was that just my family as a kid

[shewhowines]

If you like monopoly but hate the length of time it takes to play, buy junior monopoly. Exactly the same format (but set in a funfair) but takes around 20 mins to play. For some reason it is difficult to get hold of. Make sure it has the dodgem car picture on the front.

I will never play real monopoly again.

[Erebus]

Ghostly Galleon is good here though my caveat would be a tired 8 year old just might not handle being sent back to the beginning, one step from winning! We have had to 'adjust' the rules in the past to prevent potential meltdown!

It's a fun game for a bunch of pissed adults, however

[ninjanurse]

I second or third Pictureka for a lively game that even little kids can join in with. Other games we enjoy are scattergories, Best of British, logo game, articulate and taboo. If you keep your eyes open you can pick up a lot of board games really cheaply in charity shops. I managed to get Best of British in a charity shop for £3, sealed and never used. Its £25 in shops!

[TellMeLater]

Thank you for this thread, we have just bough animal on animal for the Christmas Eve hamper and a few others for presents for the kids.

Just to add our own suggestion we like Viva Topo - great for adults and children alike. It's a cat chasing mice who are trying to collect cheese game - the pieces are beautifully made from wood. Lovely game, guaranteed to get everyone excited when the cat is chasing their tails.

[Clary]

I love Pass the Bomb tho my articulate 9yo struggles with it tbh; it's about quickly thinking of words with a certain combination of letters so you have to be well read and a good speller!

My kids like Cluedo but be warned, you need the old version (I got it 2nd hand on Amazon) as the new one is Wrong Wrong Wrong.

We all like Rummikubb and it is quick to play but too hard for a 2yo.

Kids Triv Pursuit has been a hit here tho some people are struggling reading out the questions. It's also waaay too easy for adults (well bviously! but I mean they really can't play it in any meaningful way)

[bealos]

My ds1 (7) has just discovered Cluedo at his grandparents and is loving it. A game doesn't really take that long to play and the little bit of sleuthing involved is enough for his age.

[Horseymumjo]

It's not a board game, but the Nintendo wii has endless possibilities , something for everyone and even a 2 yo can join in.

Simpler stuff .... tiddlywinks, twister, giant jenga, rapidough,

I once baked loads of Christmas shaped biscuits with a hole in the top for attaching string to, then got all the kids around the kitchen table, gave them icing, silver and gold balls, loads of tubes of writing icing and got them to decorate them for hanging on the tree. They had fun for a good couple of hours doing that although not many biscuits survived to make it on to th tree!!!

[fuzzpig]

A couple more good games (but not easy to get hold of) are Monopoly Express (dice version) and Doodle Dice.

I was given Lego Creationary for my birthday yesterday - it's fun, but really hard! I can't imagine being able to make good models like the ones on the box.

I'm getting kokoriko for my friend's birthday later this month, and animal upon animal as a family game for us this Xmas. This thread has been fab :)

[Grockle]

Really good thread. Thanks for suggesting it, Fuzz.

I have £15 from my MN secret santa to spend on something - I thought a new board game would be good.

I'm going to look at the ones suggested on here but if anyone has more ideas about what might suit me & DS(7) as well as me, DS, DP, DSS1(7), DSS2(6), that'd be great. I'm too impatient for snakes & ladders and Ludo is tedious (apart from when I send all of DP's pieces back to the start )

[betterwhenthesunshines]

These threads always cost me a fortune - have discovered and love Carcassone, Labyrinth and Blokus. Now have in my Amazon basket: Gamewright Forbidden Island and Small World. Any feedback before I hit 'buy'?

OP - Pit is great fun, loud but good fr younger ones too as you don't need to read and older ones just like the yelling.

Perrudo could also be good for the age range you mention- kids like it because you have to lie!