These board games will make it the most fun family-night ever! From traditional classics to new, fun (and even gross) games – there’s something for kids of all ages.
THE TOP 3
Board games have come a long way since Monopoly and Chutes & Ladders (not that we don’t love those games), but today it’s all about completing a task, pretending you’re basically on a game show trying to compete for a prize, and trying to gross out everyone in the family with poop props and general potty humor.
Times they are-a-changing, because now when your kids sit down with the rest of the family for quality game time, the games on the table have significantly changed. Oh, and did we mention that it’s almost impossible to get your kiddos away from their tech devices and smartphones…even for two seconds? Well, you knew that already. Anything we can do to try and gain some extra time with them, well, all the better. Even if we have to wear a hat that spins while we try to eat snacks from it while a clock counts down to zero. Or don’t even get us started on the floor board game where you’re, literally, trying to not step in poop. Eh, at least it’s just a prop (for a change).
The point is that these kind of games are actually on an uptick lately as people (specifically millennials) have wanted to go back to simpler times (and take some time away from their favorite toys) to the tune of over $9.6 billion in game sales!
Check out some of the most fun (and gross), new, and family-minded games for kids (and even some of us adults with maturity issues) so far in 2024.
Let’s start with the more traditional and work our way down…
1. CLUE Game
HASBRO
Perfect For Ages: 8+
Number of Players: 2 – 6
Someone was murdered, there are 6 suspects, and it’s your job to figure out who did it, what room they were in, and what weapon they used. Whichever player guesses all three correctly wins. I always assume it’s Professor Plum, with the gun, in the conservatory.
2. Googly Eyes Wacky Family Drawing Game
GOLIATH GAMES
Perfect For Ages: 7+
Number of Players: 4 – 16
So much fun! Place on the googles and good luck drawing what’s on the game card all while your family and friends try to guess what it is you’re actually drawing!
3. The CATAN Board Game
CATAN STUDIO
Perfect For Ages: 10+
Number of Players: 3 – 4
While this is still a bit of a newbie, it’s been on Amazon’s best-seller list for over 1 year already! You basically have to build a land (think almost like Sim City) but board-game-style. The game, overall, can last for about 60 minutes, is great for 3 or 4 players, and appropriate for ages 10+. If you have kiddos a bit younger than that you just may need to help them out a bit.
4. Classic Monopoly With New Tokens
HASBRO GAMING
Perfect For Ages: 8+
Number of Players: 2 – 6
Who doesn’t love Monopoly! It’s one of the most popular games of all time. The goal, as you know, is to build as many houses and hotels as you can, collecting the most money and, well, maintaining a true monopoly. Collect $200 each time you pass ‘go’ and be careful to not wind up in jail! We love the token update to this version which includes things like a rubber ducky, a t-rex, a penguin, and more!
5. The Game of Life
HASBRO
Perfect For Ages: 8+
Number of Players: 2 – 4+
Could their be a more traditional and fun game we all grew up on than LIFE? Spin the wheel and move your piece to find out who you’ll marry, how many kids you’ll have, if you’ll have any pets, and more!
6. Not Parent Approved
NOT PARENT APPROVED
Perfect For Ages: 8 – 12
Number of Players: 3 – 10
Everyone is obsessed over this one! It’s like ‘Cards Against Humanity’ but for children and 100% family friendly. It’s even been listed as a top game by the Wall Street Journal, The Today Show, and now “us.”
7. Classic Candy Land
HASBRO
Perfect For Ages: 3+
Number of Players: 2 – 4+
How can you have a best of list without adding Candy Land to it?! Perfect for anyone with a sweet tooth, race to the castle and be the first to get there to win the game. Draw card to see which spaces you’re moving to, if you’ll get some sweet treats, or have to start all over again.
8. Ticket to Ride Board Game
DAYS OF WONDER
Perfect For Ages: 8+
Number of Players: 2 – 5
This is now one of the best-selling games of all time on Amazon. Everyone is obsessed! You have to see who can travel by rail to the most cities in North America in just seven days. It’s perfect for 2-5 players and ages 8+. The winner takes the $1M dollar grand prize (not real money, of course).
9. Hedbanz
SPIN MASTER
Perfect For Ages: 8+
Number of Players: 2 – 6
This one never gets old! A perfect family option, simply snap on your headband, place a card in it (without you knowing what it says) and your fam will give you clues to try to make you guess what word or phrases is on the card.
10. Speak Out
HASBRO
Perfect For Ages: 16+
Number of Players: 4+
This is the funniest game of the year! Simply put the mouth pieces in your mouth, grab a card, and try to “speak out” what phrase is on the card while your team tries to guess exactly what you’re ‘trying’ to say. So, so funny.
11. The Hysterical ‘Chow Crown’ Game
HASBRO
Perfect For Ages: 8+
Number of Players: 2+
This game is seriously a riot! You gotta see it, for real. All you have to do is add your favorite foods (think fruit, marshmallows, etc) to each fork and then place the hat on your head, turn it on, and when the music starts the snacks spin and you have to eat as many and as much as you can before the music stops. This is the game this year that will make almost any family famous on Instagram!
12. “Don’t Step In It” the Poop Dodging Game for Kids
HASBRO
Perfect For Ages: 4+
Number of Players: 1+
Because kids love poop jokes. Even though you may ban potty humor in your house, this is still a total “must-play” this year. Simply set up the poop mat, place the various clay poops in different place, blindfold the kiddos and have them see how far they can make it without “stepping in it.” You may want to get in on the fun your_blank. #PoopFTW!
13. The ‘Hearing Things’ Game
HASBRO
Perfect For Ages: 12+
Number of Players: 4 – 8
This one is super fun and like something we’d see on Fallon! Each person will take their turn wearing the speech-cancelling headphone and try to guess the clue the other person is reading aloud! It’s so funny to hear what they think you’re saying! This one comes with 150 cards that’ll give you 600 different phrases so the laughs will keep on coming.
14. Pimple Pete by Dr. Pimple Popper
SPIN MASTER
Perfect For Ages: 5+
Number of Players: 2+
Who’s ready to get totally grossed out!? One of the grossest (in a good way) games of the year is Pimple Pete by Dr. Pimple Popper. Yes, that Dr. Pimple Popper. Carefully try to pull out the gross pimples but, be careful, because if you pull too hard Pete’s nose will squirt you with water. Gain points from a variety of difficult tasks and whoever gets the most (without getting squirted) wins! Gross and fun all at the same time.
15. Unstable Unicorns
TEETURTLE
Perfect For Ages: 14+
Number of Players: 2 – 8
Still a top seller this year, in fact, it’s one of Kickstarter’s 50 most backed projects of all time. Pretty impressive. This super fun/crazy unicorn-based game is for the older kids. They say 14+, but plenty of parents who’ve reviewed and played feel like 10-12+ was perfectly fine. Either way, the goal is to build your own unicorn army (mainly by betraying your friends). Be the first to to build the army of 7 unicorns and win this strategic card game!
16. Escape the Room: Werewolf Experiment
MATTEL
Perfect For Ages: 13+
Number of Players: 2 – 8
Everyone seems to be obsessed with going to Escape the Room parties. Well now you can bring the party home with Escape the Room in a Box: Werewolf Experiment. You’ll have one hour to crack some codes, solve some puzzles, and find some hidden clues. Plus, even better, you can connect this game to your Alexa (if you have it) to keep track of time, ask questions, and even play a special soundtrack that just adds to the intensity of the game. This one also made our must-play murder mystery box games. And your one hour begins….now!
17. Connect4 Shots
HASBRO
Perfect For Ages: 8+
Number of Players: 2+
How cool is one?! Connect 4 Shots is similar to the one that we all grew up with, but with a twist! This time you have to bounce the balls into the right slots to try and get four of the same color in a row (or diagonal) to win! This is one that you’ll not only want to play with your kids, but will probably end up taking over and playing with your own friends. And, well, drinks may be involved.
18. What’s That Smell – Party Game
WOWWEE
Perfect For Ages: 13+
Number of Players: 6+
This is the fun party pick that’ll keep everyone in the family on the edge of their seat…and holding their nose! There are over 50 smells you have to guess. Some are decent and some are pretty much nasty! So many options, so little time! Who will be able to guess the best and who will have to just quit! If you have a teen in your home, they’re going to love it.
19. Codenames
CZECH GAMES
Perfect For Ages: 14+
Number of Players: 2 – 8+
This one is another best-seller! The two rival spymasters know the secret identities of 25 agents. Their teammates know the agents only by their Codenames. The teams compete to see who can make contact with all of their agents first. Spymasters give one-word clues that can point to multiple words on the board. Teammates try to guess words of the right color while avoiding those that belong to the opposing team!
20. Flickin’ Chicken
UNIVERSITY GAMES
Perfect For Ages: 6+
Number of Players: 2 – 4
Because who doesn’t want to toss little rubber chickens onto a target in order to score points?! It’s basically like darts but, you know, with rubber chickens. Love it!
21. Exploding Kittens Card Game
EXPLODING KITTENS
Perfect For Ages: 7+
Number of Players: 2 – 5
So much fun for the whole fam. The players draw cards until someone draws an “Exploding Kitten” (which is when they explode) and they are out of the game, unless that player has a defuse card, which can defuse the Kitten using things like laser pointers, belly rubs, and catnip sandwiches. It’s really so funny and perfect for ages 7+.
22. Greedy Granny “The Teeth Pop Out” Game
GOLIATH
Perfect For Ages: 4+
Number of Players: 2 – 4
Kids love their Granny and they’ll certainly love “Greedy Granny” where each kid will take turns trying to remove some of the cookies, treats, and whatnot from a very sleepy Granny. But be careful because you never know when she’s going to wake up and see her teeth flying out of her mouth. No joke. It happens. #Technology
23. Dunk Hat
HASBRO
Perfect For Ages: 5+
Number of Players: 2+
Another fun toy for the kiddos this year. You’ll definitely want to have the camera on your smartphone rolling for this one! The first player places the hat filled with water on their head all while the other players take turns throwing the foam ball at one of the targets. If they hit it, the tank tips and the player wearing the hat gets wet!
24. The Giant (2-Feet Tall) Connect Four-Like Game
GOSPORTS
Perfect For Ages: 8+
Number of Players: 2+
Now this isn’t the official Connect Four game we used to play when we were little, but similar concept. And, even better, it’s huge! This one is actually 2-feet tall by 2-feet wide. Plus, it comes with a handy carrying case so you can bring it with you on the go whether you’re heading to a friends house, the beach, camping or wherever. It’s perfect for indoors too!
