family favorites.... board games

Playing board games is something we love to do as a family.  It isn't always easy finding a game that can appeal to everyone in our gang, but we definitely have our favorites.  I like games that don't have complicated instructions and rules and don't have a gazillion pieces.  If it takes longer to set up and put away than it does to actually play the game, count me out!!

I made a list of our top 9 favorite games.  But first let me talk about our favorite game, Sleeping Queens.  We randomly bought this card game for our oldest son two years ago for Christmas.  I had never heard of it and wasn't sure what to expect.  The kids instantly fell in love!  It requires some basic number knowledge but really no reading.  At the time, my middle son was still at home and didn't know how to do math.  He desperately wanted to play the game solo, so he ended up teaching himself how to add.  It was amazing. I definitely recommend testing it out.  It's fun for the grown ups too.  My daughter gets the rules of the game but doesn't have the number thing down yet, so we play as a team.  Here are some pics of my guys playing the other day....

My middle son often dominates this game, and this day was no exception......

Okay, so I have covered our #1 game, here are the rest:

2.  Left Center Right:  This is a dice game, and it is so simple.  There are no reading or adding skills needed.  My three year old can play just fine by herself.  It can be a little dull for adults, but the kids get so excited and it moves super quickly, so we all end up having fun.

3.  Take the Cake:  This game is definitely intended for the younger crowd, but my boys enjoy playing it too.  Again there is no reading involved.  It is a shape and color matching game.  It moves quickly and is a really cute and different game.

4.  Spot it:  My kids are obsessed with Spot it.  We have three different versions (Original, Junior and Halloween).  My daughter is able to play all three with ease.  It's quick and fun and easy to store!

5.  Doodle Quest:  My middle loves art, so I saw this and thought it would be the perfect Christmas gift for him.  It is a very unique game that involves drawing and strategy.  It's one of my favorites!  This is definitely more for the older kids.

6.  Perplexus:  My oldest received the original version for Christmas this year.  He loved it so much he used his money to buy the Epic edition.  It's a great game where you have to move a little silver marble along a crazy track to get to the finish line.  It's addicting, trust me.  I like it because we can all get into it together, but it is something the kids can also play with alone.

7.  Uno:  Good ol' classic Uno.  I had kind of forgotten about this gem.  We bought it recently, and the kids are hooked!

8.  Beat the Parents:  This is a trivia game where the kids play against the parents.  The questions for the parents are usually about kids stuff and vice versa.  It's always a good time!

9.  Headbanz:  Finally my daughter's favorite game.  I will say she doesn't always play by the rules, but it so silly and fun.  Another one I highly recommend for the little ones.

So what are your favorite games???  We are always looking for new ideas!!