Simple games to please people from 4 to 74

[DeathBanana]

I’ve appointed myself chief gamesmaster for Christmas. The teens are the tricky ones. The small kids and olds are easily pleased.

so I’ve got dog bingo….that is it so far. Hit me up with your crowd pleasers. Nothing too complicated and ideally things that don’t need a great deal of organising.

Uno or similar card games.

Telestrations, played at christmas time last year and requested ever since. Honestly, just get it. It's really entertaining, simple and you can team kids with grandparents etc. Lot's of belly laughs.

Nothing to appeal to that range of ages
I suppose at a push twister

came to say Uno too

I was just in Lidl and they had Herd Mentality for only £14.99. It's a brilliant game and that's great price for it.

I would second herd mentality. Also triominos.

Cockroach poker. Simple card game of bluff and it’s far funnier trying to convince your opponent to take your insect based card. Winner in our family gatherings / games nights

Oh my pigeons!

Timelines card games (might be too tricky for 4-8 year olds).

Beat that and It's bananas have gone down well for us with similar ages.

I’m planning on buying ‘Incohearant’ this year for our Xmas game.

Exploding kittens

Bingo. Or Roulette.

Mexican Train. Great for all ages!

How about some classic party games - nostalgia for the adults, a bit 'ironic' for the teens and fun for the little ones. Pin the tail on the donkey; Simon Says; Pass the Parcel, Musical Statues - that kind of thing.

"What did we say": like charades, but several people say the words of a title all at once, for the others to guess.

"Legs": very simple. A letter is chosen, and everyone writes down everything they can think of beginning with that letter that has legs: people, objects, animals.

"Keeper of the keys": everyone is in a circle around the keeper, who is blindfolded, and sits with a bunch of keys near them. Check that the keeper can't see a thing, then point at someone in the circle, who creeps up and tries to grab the keys. The keeper points at any sound they hear (no swinging finger in an arc - must point in individual directions only). If the keeper points at the thief, say "out", and another thief has a go. If the thief succeeds in stealing the keys, they become the keeper. (Perhaps limit each keeper to catching two thieves, to keep the game short.)

Can't believe there hasn't been a single vote for Jenga yet! Loved by all ages in this house.

Wizard - great card game, it’s German but no language involved and you can ask AI to translate how to play.

Consequences- hilarious fun for everyone. And you just need paper and pens (4 year old will need help)

Card games go down well here... Flip7, or flip7 with a vengeance if it is for older.

Whatever Next is our go to for mixed ages - don't think it is still sold, but often on ebay etc, it has silly actions like pretend you are walking on the moon, speak like a pirate, hold your arm in the air until your next turn (cue 3 teens asking gran if she needs the toilet...) Great for all ages.

Consequences is fun. The age differences create comedy.

Lady Gaga met .. Winston Churchill... er OK!

Another vote for herd mentality!

Articulate works really well with that range of ages too, but you have to mix the teams up so the generations are mixed to cover your different knowledge bases.

Waterstone's has a good range of games.

We had a big hit with Peach Snaps one holiday.

Tiddlywinks is good!

Tiddlywinks is dangerous in our house. Surprisingly competitive 😆

We do a tournament every Boxing Day. There is even a little engraved trophy plate for the champion!