With everyone spending an endless amount of time at home right now, and looking for things to do that don’t involve screens, I thought it would be a good idea to put together a “Quarantine Family Game Guide.” I’ve always loved games and puzzles, but my kids are just now getting to the age when we can all play together. We’ve got our standard go-to games (like Uno, Monopoly and Go Fish) and I’ve been introducing the kids to some new options which has really helped mix things up during this time of social distancing. Games are really the perfect way to spend all these nights at home. If your kids are resistant to trying a new game (or any game at all), I’ve found that playing a game during dinner is always a welcome treat for the kids. Another one of those things we never would have done pre-quarantine.
I broke the list down into three categories— board games, card games, and puzzles. And then broke them down further by the recommended minimum age, from Kindergarteners all the way through teens and adults. (I skipped the preschool games, because we all know that playing board games with a preschooler is painful!)
I hope this list helps you discover some new games that will find their place in your rotation of favorites.
Games to Play in Quarantine With Your family:
Monopoly Junior Party Edition 5+
Candyland 3+
STARE! Junior – Ages 6+
Battleship 7+
Wits and Wagers: Family Edition 6+
Bananagrams 7+
Headbanz 7+
Connect 4 – Ages 6+
Tenzi 7+
Gnomes at Night – Ages 6+
Guess Who 6+
RummiKub 8+
Pandemic 8+
Monopoly 8+
Scrabble 8+
Proof! 9+
Balderdash 8+
Mad Gab 12+
5 Second Rule 10+
Taboo 13+
Codenames 10+
Catch Phrase 12+
Scattergories 13+
What Are the Odds: Family Edition – Ages 7+
Uno – Ages 7+
Smack It – Ages 6+
Kids Create Absurdity – Ages 7+
Throw Throw Burrito – Ages 7+
Skyjo 8+
Utter Nonsense: Family Edition 8+
Apples to Apples 12+
Kanoodle 7+
Galison 500-Piece Rainbow Popsicle Puzzle
Crocodile Creek 100-Piece Ocean Puzzle 5+
Crocodile Creek 48-Piece Country Fair Puzzle 4+
Family style puzzles have sections with different size pieces so that different ages can play together:
Ocean Pier 400-Piece Family-Style Puzzle
Candy Shop 350-Piece Family-Style Puzzle
What Do You Meme 17+
Utter Nonsense: Naughty Edition 17+
Have fun at your next family game night!
What are your favorite games to play as a family? Did we leave anything out?
My kids (ages 7 and 9.5) have gone crazy for TRIVIA games this quarantine. Have you ever played Beat the Parents? I think your girls would love it. My youngest actually turns 7 this coming Monday and his brother ordered him Trivial Pursuit Family Edition for his birthday to keep the trivia games going. We look up trivia quizzes online to give them at night after dinner instead of watching tv. It gives us a way to connect, them to learn/show off what they know, and a break from the monotony of being cooped inside. Plus, it’s really funny to watch my husband be flabbergasted by the facts the kids have picked up (he is always the loser at these games).
Telestrations. I think is 12+ but we play together and with a teeny bit of help even my 6yo can join in. The 9 and 11 yo love it. It’s not competitive so nobody throws a strop but it’s so funny we have been crying with laughter, especially when it’s a big multi-generational group playing together. Our favourite. We also really like Scotland Yard, but don’t know if that’s a UK game.
We played Too Many Monkeys today and it was so much fun! Thank you for the suggestion a few weeks (or was it months) ago. I’m glad the kids finally played with me. Mine are 4.5 and 6. Looking forward to checking out some of these other suggestions. Seems like it’ll be a long summer!
Kids Against Maturity and What do you Meme family edition have given us hours of entertainment lately. You play just like the adult versions but with less raunchy cards (still some fart jokes and butt mentions to keep everyone laughing).
This is an awesome list! My 5 year old loves Yeti in my Spaghetti and Clue Junior and my 7 year old loves Qwirkle! And they both love Charades for Kids. There are pictures on the cards so you don’t need to know how to read! We even played against our neighbors (6ft away outside 😂) last week.