Some evenings, the family could do with one shared problem instead of another winner and loser. In these games, everyone is on the same side. Start with the kind of choices your group likes to make, and the time you can realistically spend at the table.
How this guide was made. This is a research-based buying guide drawn from publisher specifications and rules. The examples are arranged by the kind of play they offer.
Affiliate disclosure. EdCaptain may earn a commission from the marked Amazon link. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Start without buying
Write six simple clues on scrap paper for a shared treasure hunt. Take turns drawing a clue. Everyone can suggest an answer, but the person whose turn it is gets to choose where to look. Hide a drawing made by the group as the final treasure. If the shared challenge goes down well, ask a friend, library or toy-lending service if you can borrow a board game next.
For a child who likes matching colours
Hoot Owl Hoot! from Peaceable Kingdom uses colour cards to move owls towards their nest before sunrise. The publisher recommends it for ages 4 and up and says reading is unnecessary. If telling colours apart is tricky for someone in the group, look at the cards and board together before buying and see whether you can agree on cues everyone can use. The box has small pieces, so check the age warning if younger siblings will be nearby.
See the Peaceable Kingdom game and instructions at MindWare.
For a family that likes a mystery
Outfoxed! from Gamewright is listed for ages 5 and up, two to four players and about 20 minutes. Players gather clues and use a decoder to narrow down which fox took the pie. Pick this if your child enjoys saying why they think an answer fits. If a sibling tends to solve everything first, let the person taking the turn say what a clue means before anyone offers help.
See the Outfoxed! game and rules at Gamewright. View Outfoxed! on Amazon US (paid link).
For older players who like planning together
Forbidden Island from Gamewright is listed for ages 10 and up, two to four players and about 30 minutes. The team needs to collect treasures and escape as parts of the board sink. The changing board gives the group a reason to talk through what to do next. If the family wants a quieter game that can be dropped halfway through dinner, start with one of the shorter options above.
See the Forbidden Island game and rules at Gamewright.
Before you buy
Check the edition, rules language and number of players on the actual listing. If buying second-hand, compare the pieces with the publisher’s contents list. Try one round with everyone taking a turn as the decision-maker. The game has done its job if everyone had a say, even when the team loses.
Read EdCaptain’s guide to helping a child handle winning and losing.
