Quick and simple board games for kids

[Bonesofache]

My kids (8 and 10) enjoy playing games but none of us have the patience (or ability, it seems!) to get our heads around lengthy or complicated instructions. We enjoy Connect 4, Frustration, Dobble etc. Any recommendations for these type of simple and quick games?

When we've tried other board game recommendations such as Catan, we're immediately put off by trying to absorb the instructions and by the time we are ready to play the mood has gone.

I guess I am looking for something inbetween the very basic snakes and ladders and the more involved Ticket To Ride. I have just bought Cluedo and Game of Life so will give those a go. Thanks!

Forbidden island
Jungle speed
Bohanza
Pass the pigs

Uno?

king domino, monopoly deal, taco cat goat cheese pizza, Yahtzee, evens stevens odd, quirkle are all easily learned. I find watching a you tube video better than reading the instructions.

Yy to the above. Carcassone would be perfect.

Also try watching a youtube how to play video for Catan and more complicated games, Although I would say 8 is definately a bit young for either catan or ticket to ride. 10 still on the young side especially if the 10 year old isnt the only youngster playing so your attention will be split.

Genius Square is good

Just One
Apples to Apples
Labyrinth
Jenga

Something Fishy
Pass the Pigs

sushi go
go nuts for donuts

watch you tube guides on how to play

Labyrinth. It's a great game but rules are very straightforward.

Guess who?
Monopoly junior
Uno

Labyrinth

Carcasonne - if you make sure you’re confident in the rules so you can explain it to them as you play, it is very easy to pick up and quick to play.

There’s a numbers game we love called Skyjo, trust me, it’s much more fun than it might sound 😆 You have to swap cards to get the lowest number.

Have a look at blokus, only one rule but very good

Bananagrams - it’s not even a board, just size and design of a pencil case.

Any of those trivia games on cards with no board - they come in packs like a pack of cards.

Mini Mastermind

Azul Summer Pavilion is probably the harder end but it’s still quick to get and fun to play (I also struggle with long instructions because I forget them instantly but love Azul SP)

Uno (not a board game I know)
Rumikub

Eye Found It is fun. It's quite quick so you can play a few times. Also:

Game of Life
Scrawl is like quickfire pictionary for 3+ players
Rapidough
Articulate is brilliant for 4+ players - they do a junior version which might be better for the 8yo.
Uno
Exploding kittens (ok the last two are card games but they're easy and fun)

Cranium junior. Unfortunately it is not available in Australia at the moment so I haven’t played it. But I loved the adult/teenagers version when I was younger. I used to play it with friends.

It appears to be available in the UK.

www.amazon.co.uk/Hasbro-Cranium-Junior/dp/B018N2A8EE

Beetle. All you need is dice and pen and paper.

Ok play, similar to connect 4 but very portable and up to 4 players.
colourbrain - fun quiz game where the answers are all colours.
Dominoes
just one is fun, I’d say as long as they’re fairly confident readers it’ll work well.
spaceteam is a very silly cooperative card game.
river dragons - I’d say no more complex than monopoly or cluedo, and it has the potential for some sibling sabotage which is always fun.

Oh, and not a board game, but I loved Boggle as a kid.

Drakaries Dice
Pass the Pigs
Throw Throw Burrito
Uno
Tension
Articulate

All played often here and easy to get going.

Monopoly deal - quick, easy, fun

Another vote for SkyJo- great game and really
simple to learn

Camel Up is a big hit here too

Not necessarily board games but
10 second challenge
Obama Llama
The family version of cards against humanity are all very popular in our house and telestrations is very funny with kids and they love it