I love games. I’m a game hoarder. If I see one at the local thrift store, I buy it. I’m sorry. Games are fun! I remember playing lots of games with my family growing up…retro games like Uno, Skip-Bo, Battleship and Monopoly! Good times! This is a family tradition that I wanted to keep going in my family…and you can’t play games if you don’t have any! 🙂  I just love having family game night!

I love the idea of having games that the whole family can enjoy playing together…games that aren’t Shoots & Ladders or Candyland! We happen to stumble upon a few games that really worked for us when we had a 5 year old and 8 year old…and we could all play together!! I thought I would share those with you, for your enjoyable Family Game Night!

Ratuki-

This is a fun card game that we found on Amazon! I read the reviews and snatched it up! It really worked for us, even when our littlest one was 4 years old! We all loved playing it and it might work for you too! The premise of the game is to get rid of all your cards, while paying attention to the stacks of cards that people are putting their cards, 1-5 ( in shapes and number form), on. It’s a quick game and you can get through 1 game in about 15 minutes. Fun times!

Stratego-

This is like a cross between battleship and checkers….plus capture the flag! Our kids beat me regularly at this game at 4 & 7 and I was really trying! So fun! This game takes 30 minutes to play, so it’s not a huge time commitment either.  My son loved this one because it was a “battle” and there were bombs that you need to avoid to win!

Dog Eat Hotdog Card Game-

This card game is another quick game (can you tell I like a quick game…the benefit is that you can squeeze them in between other things…like cooking dinner and stuff!) This one you try to build different kinds of hotdogs with elements that you have on your cards, mayo, onions, ketchup…that kind of stuff! Its pretty fun and kids love it!

Apples to Apples-

Wow…we are on an Apples to Apples kick right now…my kids are 9 & 12 and we are loving this game! What is so great about this one is that anyone can win. There is some strategy, but if your kids can read, they can possibly win…and that idea has my 9-year-old wanting to play this game all the time! He actually beat about 8 other family members the other night at a family cabin week! It was fun and I love that anyone can win!

Phase 10-

We are also on a Phase 1o kick right now. We discovered this game a long time ago, but it has re-emerged in our family as we just found it in a random box in the garage! I love it when you find random treasures like that! 🙂

This one is a little more time commitment, 45 minutes to 1 hr, but its fun and the tides turn quickly…one person might be ahead at the beginning, but end up in the back later. Never give up hope on this one!

This card game is great for kids that know their numbers…and can handle a longer game. You collect cards in different groupings for each of the 10 phases, then whoever is done first, wins! Not a loud game…one that you can play quietly and enjoy talking while you play!

These are just a few of our favorite games right now! What games does your family like to play? I would love to hear about them in the comments! I’m always up for a new game!!