Family game recommendations please.

[IcedupTulip]

We always get a new game for Christmas but I think we have most suitable ones now.

family of 4 and kids are 15 and 12.

m we already have dibble, Yahtzee, uno, bug bash and some I can’t think of.

was looking at exploding kittens but not sure if the kids are too old for it?

Current favourite is Codenames

Codenames Game (johnlewis.com)

Hardy perennial is Articulate

Newer tradition (since 2020) is Pandemic

Thank you. Im
off for a google.

And yes, you should be fine with Exploding Kittens - our DC were older than yours when we got it!

I just bought Labyrinth after another thread mentioned it. It's a great game. No quiz. No dice. It's a strategy game.

Fluxx. Its a card game. Lots of different themed versions. Its very simple to learn, you just do what it says on the card but the rules and the goal to win change all the time. Its great and once you get the hang of it can be very tactical.

Following!

We played Taskmaster last New Year's Eve with friends and the kids (14-11). Was great fun.

We enjoy playing Linkee but it’s more of a quiz type game, it’s not a board game

Following

We like Dixit, Catan, Mysterium and Ticket to Ride.

splendour
castles of burgundy is complicated and lengthy but my just turned 13yo loves it.

Sequence, it's a bit like connect 4 but you use playing cards and play in teams, but you don't know what cards your team mate has. Simple but great fun

I’m eyeing up Pandemic for my lot this year.

The card version of monopoly is surprisingly good if you want a fairly quick game.

We love exploding kittens - it’s a good laugh.

If you like Uno, get Uno Flip.. so much better!

The London Game is good.

Ticket to Ride.

Codenames is great as somebody above suggested. We also like articulate, trivial pursuit, sequence and topix

Mine that are those ages enjoy/play most

Quacks of Queslinberg
Karuba (planing pathways & collecting treasure)
Qwerkle
Mysterium (I can't stand it 🙈)
Azul
Wingspan (so pretty!)
Love letter (very quick card game but fantastic & played repeatedly)
Tsuro (quick & can be played instantly but also with great strategy as you know the game)

My son is a similar age to your eldest. They’re not too old for Exploding Kittens, especially with an expansion pack or two. There is one called Muffin Time that I think is similarly fun. I actually really like Throw Throw Burrito. For slightly more grown-up/tactical games I agree with Pandemic and Splendour. Also Quacks of Quedlinberg.

And yes to Azul as well

I personally wasn’t a fan of Tsuro, it made my head hurt/felt too much like chess but I admit we’ve only played it a couple of times.

I was thinking of getting Mysterium this year, what do you dislike about it?!

Also has anyone ever played Everdell? It looks so pretty!

Oh! Also the Jumanji board game is actually pretty good as is the Crystal Maze one and Taskmaster. I’m thinking of getting the Traitors one this year.

With older kids there's a lot more fun to be had with more complex games.

If they would be up for games that fill a whole afternoon try Terraforming Mars
Ark Nova
Scythe

If you want shorter play times
Azul
Photosynthesis
Seven Wonders
Istanbul
Carcassonne

The kids LOVE it but it's too whimsical for me - I like black & white but it's all about subtle clues that are entirely subjective! I suppose it's a little about knowing the person who is giving the clues. That's the other thing I don't like- someone has to run the game & can't play (although 2 of mine fight over who gets to be the ghost so maybe not actually a problem). The game structure is also a bit odd/disjointed.

Everdell is very pretty & playable from a younger age.

Ticket to Ride is our favourite game of the moment and we have similar aged children. We’re looking at getting the Europe and Rails and Sails version for Christmas this year. Bought pandemic last year but still new in box as we couldn’t get our heads round it!