Our Favourite Family Board Games (part 1)

...ones we have never argued over

I've always loved playing games, be it board or card, so when we started to have children, I was keen that game playing featured in their childhood.

I was also keen that we had a mixture of games that the children could play without adults, as well as games we could play as a family. For each birthday and/or Christmas I tend to get each of the children a new board game, so we have started to build quite a good collection.

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So, what criteria means a game stays in our collection…?

1. It’s quick to pick up the rules & get playing. I don’t want overly complicated rules (ever) and even less so when I’m trying to corral a group of children into playing a game as a family

2. It doesn’t cause arguments

3. It’s a game that caters for most of the ages in our family. The issue with trying to cater to everyone, certainly in our family, is the children’s ages range from 1 to 13 years. Therefore, the games I recommend are usually suitable for an independent player aged 6+ years old, however, we will ensure that the younger children sit & engage with the game, even if it’s just rolling the dice or picking a card

4. It’s beautiful to look at and to play

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And with that in mind, our current favourite games (in no particular order) are:

• Azul - on paper, this game sounds like it might not have any…point. But in reality, it’s beautiful, quick to pick up & play and, even better, you want to play it again and again. You are a Moorish tile layer, tasked with decorating the walls of the palace. This game is very tactile, with its colourful resin tiles, and it is a major part of why it appeals so much.

• Forbidden Island - one of the overriding positives of this game, it’s a group collaboration. You all work together to solve & try to win the game. It’s an ideal game if you have children (or indeed adults) who might be particularly sore winners or losers. It’s also quick to pick up and learn & often is the requested game for board game night. As part of a team of adventurers, can you all make it off the rapidly sinking island with all four of the forbidden treasures…?

• Sushi Go! - I love sushi, so this game already ticked the “beautiful to look at” box for me. However, if sushi isn’t your thing, never fear, this game is still really fun to play. And quick! It’s primarily a card game, meaning it can pack up well to take with you on holiday. There is also Sushi Go Party! A version which allows you to play longer versions of the standard game (you’ll want to, trust me)

• Catan Junior - I haven’t played the original version of this game (unsurprisingly called “Catan”), but we received this version as a gift from a friend, and it has been a hit ever since. Often I will find the older children playing this game together, but it’s definitely not just a game for children. We regularly play it on family board game nights. It’s a pirate themed game, requiring a level of strategy and planning, but not too much that younger kids can’t play.

• Carcassonne - this tile-laying strategy game is really easy to learn & play, but the reason you want to come back to it repeatedly, is because it’s a different game each time. Plus, you can work on honing your strategy each time to gain maximum points. It also has a couple of expansion options included in the game, increasing its repeat playability.

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Hopefully this list will provide you with some suggestions to add to your collection. We have so many favourite games, I suspect a part 2 (and 3 and 4 and so on…) will be posted in the near future.

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