If your family’s board game shelf is still mostly Monopoly and Cluedo, it might be time for something new. We asked the team at Board Game Guys for their picks of family board games worth adding to your collection. Here are four favourites for rainy days, family game nights or evenings with friends.
#1. Dixit
Dixit is a multi-award-winning game, beautifully illustrated, where your imagination is the main player. It tests logic, bluffing and powers of deduction, while keeping the rules to a minimum.
In every round, one player becomes the storyteller and calls out a word or phrase describing one of their cards. The other players each choose a card from their own hand that best matches the clue. All the cards are then revealed, and everyone votes secretly to try to guess which card belonged to the storyteller.
Dixit is simple, beautiful and great fun. It adapts easily to any age group, and expansion packs with extra cards mean it stays fresh game after game. It’s a great pick for family play or a games evening with friends.
Age: 8+, Time: 30 min, Players: 3-6
#2. King of Tokyo
Transform into a mutant monster, a giant robot or another terrifying creature, beat your opponents, conquer the city and become the one and only King of Tokyo! Roll dice to accumulate energy, heal your monster or attack other creatures, and use special cards – bought with energy crystals – to give your monster new abilities.
To win, you must either destroy Tokyo or be the last creature standing by knocking the others out of the game.
King of Tokyo is a fast-paced dice game of monster bashing, designed by Richard Garfield. It’s a popular pick with kids and with more experienced board gamers alike.
Age: 8+, Time: 30 min, Players: 2-6
#3. Villa Paletti
Long ago in Italy, a man named Paletti tried to build the tallest castle in the world. Before he could finish, he ran out of money and started taking columns from the ground floor to build higher levels above.
The result was an unusual masterpiece: the Villa Paletti. Can you repeat his daring feat?
Players try to get their own columns onto the highest possible level of the villa. The game ends when the structure collapses, or when no one can build any further. It’s quick, tense and genuinely fun for the whole family.
Age: 8+, Time: 30 min, Players: 2-4
#4. Carcassonne
Carcassonne is a clever, exciting tile-laying game for 2-5 players, set around the southern French medieval city of Carcassonne. Players build roads, cities, cloisters and meadows, then deploy their followers – “meeples” – as farmers, knights, monks and thieves.
The rules are easy to pick up, and the game never feels repetitive, because the board is built fresh from scratch each time, with countless combinations of tiles and strategies. It’s a worldwide bestseller and multiple award winner – a genuine must for any board game collection.
Age: 8+, Time: 45 min, Players: 2-5
About Board Game Guys
The Board Game Guys online store offers a wide range of board games and card games, with delivery and customer support.
Board Game Guys is a small team based in County Galway, passionate about bringing customers a world of games that are brain-stimulating, fun-loving tabletop entertainment for all ages and interests. Their aim is simple: games that get family and friends bonding, playing and competing together.
Have you played any of these board games? Tell us what you think in the comments below.
Frequently Asked Questions
What ages are these family board games suitable for?
All four games are recommended from age 8 and up, making them a good fit for family game nights once kids are a bit older and ready for games with more strategy.
How many players do you need?
It varies by game. Dixit works best with 3-6 players, King of Tokyo takes 2-6, Villa Paletti is for 2-4, and Carcassonne suits 2-5 players – so there’s an option whatever the size of your group.
Are these good games for a family game night?
Yes. All four are designed to be easy to learn, quick to set up and genuinely fun for mixed ages, which makes them solid choices for regular family game nights or evenings with friends.
Where can I find out more about these games?
You can browse the full range, including these four titles, at the Board Game Guys online store.
Related Articles
Looking for more ideas? Check out 10 Best Family Board Games According to MyKidsTime Parents for more tried-and-tested picks from other families.
Save These Ideas for Later
Bookmark this page or save it to your favourite parenting board so you have these game night ideas handy the next time you need a rainy-day activity or a new addition to your family’s game shelf.
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