Recommended Family Games

[El Geet]

Every year I try to buy a game for us to play as a family over Christmas. Ideally something for up to 6 people which can be played by a 10 year old and a 70 year old.  I’ve not been very successful. 

 

Trying to play Diplomacy with my dad after a big Xmas dinner was never going to work. Last Xmas, Coup and Avalon went down ok. 

 

Any recommendations? Something with a cool thematic ideally. 

[Kzo]

Codenames is great and should fit your requirements (other than theme). 

[Aluco]

Monikers has been a hit everywhere I have ever done it.

You do not even really have to buy it. Just find out how it is played, ask the people present to write some famous names  on bits of paper, divvy them up to your teams and then play.

Guaranteed to be a hit across generations.

[Professor Rob]

Deception: Murder in Hong Kong.

 

[jonnyalpha]

Sundae Split is a great little card game, very easy to explain and quick to play. It only goes up to 5 but it went down very well with a mixed group of ages and gamers/non-gamers this weekend.

[Jamin]

Survive: Escape From Atlantis has never let me down and I'll be whipping this one out this Christmas for the first time with the in-laws.

 

Codenames is a good one for a big-ish group. I also had success with Ticket to Ride Europe, never seen my mum so animated!

[Hexx]

Codenames (or Codenames Pictures)

Avalon or similar

Mafia De Cuba

Mysterium (pricey though)

Decrypto (might be too hard for young kids)

Funemployed

 

A Fake Artist Goes to New York

 

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/135779/fake-artist-goes-new-york

 

(You could easily make this at home with pads and coloured pens - but the company are nice)

 

[graemandius]

Forbidden Island is a good family co-op game. Then you can cycle through the other games in the series. (Desert and Sky)

 

Colt Express is (thematically) another good one. Interesting turn mechanic...you try to plan a sequence of events for your character but it can go hilariously wrong.

[Stejay]

Qwixx

Dobble

Cash ‘N Guns

Citadels

[Jamin]

Cash N Guns is a good shout, very easy to understand and non-gamers like the whole "holding a foam gun" element!  

[El Geet]

Thanks for the recommendations. Will take a look!

[Arn X Treme]

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/176589/cat-box

 

My pick if you like card games!

 

Something simple or advanced the choice is yours with alot of options. 

[Mortis]

Camel Up is always a good laugh and the new edition looks lovely

[matt0]

On 30/10/2018 at 08:43, Kzo said:

Codenames is great and should fit your requirements (other than theme). 

 

I tried Codenames at Christmas, we had my mum and dad on one team and me and my girlfriend on the other.

 

My dad refused to bet more than 1 point per round. Even when I said "Dad, you need more than one point this round or you're going to lose, there's nothing to gain by playing it safe."

 

He furrowed his brow for a moment and then announced "one".

[Hexx]

1 hour ago, matt0 said:

 

I tried Codenames at Christmas, we had my mum and dad on one team and me and my girlfriend on the other.

 

My dad refused to bet more than 1 point per round. Even when I said "Dad, you need more than one point this round or you're going to lose, there's nothing to gain by playing it safe."

 

He furrowed his brow for a moment and then announced "one".

 

I like your Dad. He sticks to his guns and doesn't give into peer pressure.