Board games

[spinn]

Kids get some board games every xmas and we usually do well to get some good ones that they haven't expected.

I'm looking for some inspiration for board games - 2ds, age 6 (strategically astute and competitively plays games named below so not to worried about age guidance) and 10yr old both love carcassone and ticket to ride, Scotland Yard and London Underground (you’ll notice a theme....maps, transport and strategy...and I refuse to entertain games with noises, batteries or screens).

Anyone got ideas for other games that would be enjoyed?
Bonus points if the grandparents can buy them in Argos for Xmas/bday presents and are under £30!

---

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!

My 9 year old would play Catan every night if we let her, but I think it's a little pricier than that? Labyrinth js good but classic so you might already have it. How about a Carcasonne expansion like the princess and the dragon?

Also pandemic if they have an adult to play too?

We got Destination last year for DD and we all love playing that.

Also Recommend settlers of Catan.
Dixit is a gorgeous board game too- a bit different but excellent

Pandemic is very good, although I’ve only played it with adults. It’s collaborative as well, which makes a nice change, but still nerve wracking!

Carcassone expansions also a good shout!

My DC have just learnt to play Rummikub and love it. We took Mapominoes on holiday with us and it was enjoyed by all. www.johnlewis.com/wild-card-games-mapominoes-europe-dominoes-card-game/p162934
We play Hare and Tortoise whenever we go to my sister's www.johnlewis.com/hare-and-tortoise-board-game/p1985710

These all sound good!

Expansion packs are on the list for sure already. We do have labyrinth as well.

Our current favourite is lords of waterdeep though it may be a bit complicated for your youngest.

We like Sushi Go! And Dobble!
Survive is good (but can be brutal)
Pandemic is good, so is Forbidden Island/desert
Takenoko is pretty good and about pandas :)

I recommend Hive - there's no board involved, it's a bit like a less intense, more fun game of chess. The pieces are nice and weighty too, so it has a nice feel to it!

I was going to say Hive!

Rhino Hero is a cross between Uno and Jenga. ‘Rhino Hero Super Battle’ is the expanded and updated version.

I would also recommend King of Tokyo, Sushi Go, Spaceteam, No Thanks, Port Royal and Coup. Some of these are card games rather than board games in the strictest sense, but my 6yo (similarly gifted in the low cunning department) enjoys them and manages to grasp the rules without too much difficulty. He got Hive for his birthday - he hasn’t beaten me at it yet, but give it a couple of weeks...

DS age 11 like Risk and the Wikipedia board game.
DS2 age 7 loves the Lego board games

I don’t know about Argos, but (in the absence of a good independent games store locally), try Blackwells or Waterstones fin you’ve got a branch nearby - they have both really increased their range recently.

Blokus

We go camping a lot and some smaller card games which are inexpensive but loved by our kids are:

Love Letters
The Gubs

Both involve strategy but are also quite short to play.

So far for xmas this year I have bought Articulate but plan to get Pandemic so nice to see it is popular on here!

We buy games here: www.thirstymeeples.co.uk/ they are usually cheaper than Amazon etc. (If you're in Oxfordshire they are well worth a visit too!)

Dobble because there are several variations you can play with one set of cards.

We tried Codenames over the weekend which was good and involved strategy.

And there's a game weigh Mr X that's good but I can't remember the name.

Tatsu is great and playable at those ages.

Not a board game but flux is a great card game that is easy enough for the younger ones to play but can get really competitive. You can also get it in different themes. The game is essentially the same but can get a zombie version, Wizard of Oz etc...

We love Flux - the Pirate version and Monty Python. We love Uno as well. The family also loves Sitting Ducks, Legretto and Exploding Kittens. My daughter babysits every week for a family of three age 11/9/6 and those are the games they usually ask her to bring.

Mine love Bird Bingo,
Dibble, and mancala

Make that dobble

And I almost forgot, Exploding Kittens is their absolute favourite, even I enjoy it, it's great

We've just bought and played Mysterium for the first time with DD8 and DS11. Really enjoyable. Uses lots of abstract thinking and communication skills. Took a while to set up/get our heads round how to play, but once understood it was very accessible and engaging.