Game Night is definitely a staple in our house, especially when getting together with our extended family or friends. Whether it’s on a game console, cards, or a board game, our family can play games for hours.
My husband and his family are super competitive, so that energy makes for very exciting game play. Over the years we have created a rotation of our favorite “go-to” games to play as a family on Game Night. But, every time we get together with loved ones, we like to try out new games.
Our Game Nights have evolved over time as we add little ones to the mix. Sometimes it is a struggle to find games that our toddler, nieces, and nephews can play. And some games are just more enjoyable when the kids go to bed. So we compiled a list of our favorite games by age groups and hope you enjoy them as much as we do.
Game Night with Toddlers
Our three-year-old daughter really loves playing games. We have found this age group does really well with games that include colors and matching activities. Below are some of our favorite games to play with her. We especially like Twister since it also gets her to move around and be active. At this age, don’t worry about following the rules exactly. Have fun and make it your own!
Game Night with Elementary Kids
Our nephew is seven years old and always wants to be involved in the games the adults are playing. If the game is too complicated, he sometimes gets discouraged. The games below are pretty easy for elementary-aged kids to grasp. They even have some educational components as well including problem solving, strategy, and math.
Game Night with Middle Schoolers
Our niece is 13 years old and is really good at games. Especially ones that include strategizing next steps and playing with a team. Below are the games that we enjoy the most when playing with her.
Game Night with Young Adults in High School and College
Although we don’t currently have high school or college-aged family members in our household, we have found these games to be some of our favorites to play with the adults. They take a little more effort, strategy, and patience to complete.
Bonus:
The Jackbox Party Pack series for game consoles is one of our favorites. Although not a board game; it is fun to answer trivia, draw on your smartphone or tablet, and solve puzzles with a big group of family or friends. These games are more geared towards adults, but some activities in these packs are family-friendly.
We really enjoy playing all the games listed above with different people. And a lot of these games cross over the age categories. Sometimes we bend the rules and change it up so our kids can play, too. It just really depends on your interests and who you’re playing with, as that makes a difference in how you choose to play.
