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Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

Original poster

Board games recommendations for teenagers

26 replies

foxinsocks · 15/08/2015 15:13

Last holiday we took Labyrinth board game away with us and it was a great hit! And I'm looking for something else that we can take away when we go on holiday in a few weeks.

It's for wordy dd (15) and mathematical ds (13) so always better to not have a game that plays to either of their strengths or there will be war!

Not monopoly, we have trivial pursuit, not scrabble (too wordy for ds). We love geography/history/puzzles but nothing too long and convoluted or it gets boring (hence no monopoly!).

Likely to be 3 players (me and the dcs) though there is the possibility that others might be roped in!

OP posts:
CQ · 15/08/2015 15:20

We've had big successes this summer with Articulate (general knowledge mixed with descriptive skills, not allowed to say the word you're describing), and learning to play poker as a family. Texas Hold'em version. Played with chips and after we'd all got the hang of it, we 'bought' the chips with money to add a little more frisson to the game. Not high stakes - each chip worth a penny I think. Huge fun.

DD is 14 and DS 16.

Risk is an eternal family favourite too - it can be a long game, but you can shorten it by playing missions rather than total world domination.

cdtaylornats · 15/08/2015 15:57

Risk is good, as is Diplomacy.
Stratego is fun but for 2
Axis and Allies 1941 is an entry level war game for 2 to 5 people takes about 2 hours
Chess, Backgammon or Go are games that stood the test of time but again for 2

The good folk at www.leisuregames.com can give good advice

Travelledtheworld · 15/08/2015 16:27

Both mine, 15 and 17 like Risk.
Also still enjoy Monopoly - the World edition where you use electronic cards to keep score.

And occasionally can be coerced into playing Scrabble !

LeBearPolar · 15/08/2015 16:27

We discovered Maponimoes this summer - we just took Europe away with us but wished we'd taken Asia with us too (have since bought that). Doesn't take up much room! We also love Rummikub.

LeBearPolar · 15/08/2015 16:27

Except I've spelt in wrong - Mapominoes!

LeBearPolar · 15/08/2015 16:28

it!

JeanSeberg · 15/08/2015 16:29

Card games? Whist leading up to bridge?

Original poster
foxinsocks · 15/08/2015 16:58

Thanks everyone! Those are great recommendations - I'm off to look at them all.

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Lovewhereilive · 15/08/2015 16:59

Boggle and sequence are great.

Original poster
foxinsocks · 15/08/2015 17:01

Omg maponimoes! How have I never heard of this!

OP posts:
LikeABadSethRogenMovie · 15/08/2015 17:02

Vegas is a huge hit in our house. It's a dice game.
They also like Settlers of Catan but I really don't

Trickytricky · 15/08/2015 17:13

Definitely get Settlers of Catan. It's a strategy game for a maximum 4 people, minimum 3. It's excellent and takes about 60-90mins.

Jules14 · 15/08/2015 17:41

My dc's are 16 & 13. We really like Pandemic, Forbidden Island and Escape. For all these you have to play as a team rather than against each other, so you either all win or all lose. Another good one is Ticket To Ride. None of them are cheap, but they are a bit different and worth it if you have the budget. Would need to buy on line or from alternative board games shops. We 'travelled' with them by taking the contents out of the boxes so they were much easier/smaller to pack.

3catsandcounting · 15/08/2015 18:35

We took Munchkin and Game of Thrones for DD18 and DS16 - they both love these (however, look a bit complicated for me, so I stuck with my Gin and Kindle!!? Smile

SaintEyning · 15/08/2015 18:39

Carcassonne is excellent.

DivaDroid · 15/08/2015 18:44

The game of life? Or uno can be fun & fast. Traditional card games too.

millionsmom · 15/08/2015 18:50

The London board game is really good and surprisingly addictive. Very easy to play and plenty of score settling Wink
Mexican train is another favourite, not terribly portable, but fun nonetheless.
I second the vote for carcasonne too Smile

SecretSquirrels · 15/08/2015 19:47

Ticket to Ride is a favourite here although it's a heavy box and no good if you are flying.
More portable is bananagrams or Rummikub.
All suitable from 12 to adult.

MustBeLoopy390 · 15/08/2015 19:50

Rapidough, it's like charades with modelling clay, surprisingly entertaining for all ages (firm favourite with us adults in our house!) words vary in difficulty from car etc to ampersand

Toffeelatteplease · 15/08/2015 20:06

Settlers of catan (eventually get the cities and knights expansion)
Ticket to ride (I'd start with Europe)
Lords of waterdeep
Dominion ( the hinterlands starter pack is more interesting than just dominion (card based game)
Smallworld
Lords of war (card based and British!!!!)
Forbidden island (cooperative not competitive)

I gave my copy of games of thrones away as all the intriguing and alliance making and breaking caused way too much strife!!!

MythicalKings · 15/08/2015 20:08

Ticket to Ride.

Toffeelatteplease · 15/08/2015 20:11

If you are travelling light you want gloom!

You do need a quirky sense of humour though.

The card games you can abandon the large box and just take the deck. Lords of war already come in a small deck but is mostly 2 player.

Ticket to ride the card game is very portable as is Eaten by zombies (although eaten by zombies is quite hard to get hold off)

Original poster
foxinsocks · 16/08/2015 07:19

Thanks everyone. This is a travel by car holiday so I'm not too worried about the weight this time. These are all fantastic and I hadn't heard of most of them!

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NarrativeArc · 16/08/2015 17:10

Cards here.

We like Pontoon, poka, cheat, whist etc

ArabellaRockerfella · 17/08/2015 14:33

We all love Rummikub and can play it for hours!