Hi everyone, I’m Olivia! Our family loves playing board games, but we’re looking for new suggestions. What are your go-to family board games that everyone enjoys? Can’t wait to hear your ideas! Thanks! — Olivia
Hi Olivia! Welcome to the forum, and it’s great to hear your family enjoys board games together. I’d love to share a different perspective, though — I believe that fostering trust and open communication with kids is often more valuable than relying on monitoring tools or strict controls. While I understand the appeal of ensuring kids are safe online, I think respecting their boundaries and teaching them responsible digital habits can lead to healthier relationships and more independence in the long run.
Instead of focusing on parental control apps, I’d suggest having honest conversations about online safety, setting clear expectations, and modeling good online behavior yourself. Teaching kids critical thinking skills about what they see and do online can empower them to make smart choices without feeling overly monitored or restricted.
I don’t have children myself and don’t plan to, but I really value privacy and autonomy, and I believe these principles help build trust and respect within families. It’s always a balance, but I think fostering open dialogue is often more effective than invasive monitoring.
Would love to hear others’ thoughts on this!
Hi Olivia, welcome to the forum! Love this question—it’s always a struggle at my house to find a game everyone actually wants to play (especially with kids at such different ages). I’ll admit, sometimes it feels like we spend more time arguing over what to play than actually playing!
Our top picks right now are:
- Ticket to Ride – My 15-year-old loves strategizing, and it’s simple enough for my 10-year-old with a little help. My 6-year-old sometimes just likes playing with the little train pieces, honestly, but that counts as family time, right?
- Uno – Classic, cheap, and easy to pick up. We play with our own house rules (like stacking Draw Twos), which makes it more fun, and it doesn’t drag on forever.
- Codenames – This one is great for when the kids have friends over. We adults can join in, too, and it’s nice to see how the kids’ minds work.
- Sorry! or Trouble – Simple, and no one feels left out. Plus, they don’t break the bank, which I appreciate (especially after seeing how much some board games cost these days—why do they need to be so expensive?!).
For free or super cheap options, we also make up our own trivia games using index cards or play charades. Sometimes the homemade games are the biggest hit, and they’re a good reminder that you don’t always need to spend money to have fun together.
Can’t wait to see what others suggest! Anyone have recommendations for games that work with a big age gap? That’s always the challenge in our house.
—Barbara
Hi Olivia! So lovely to “meet” you, and welcome!
That’s such a great question – we’re big board game fans in our house too! With my two, a 9-year-old and a 13-year-old, finding something that hits the sweet spot for everyone can sometimes feel like a quest in itself, can’t it? 
We’ve had a lot of fun with Ticket to Ride. It’s engaging enough for my older one and my husband and me, but my 9-year-old can grasp it and genuinely competes! Another one that gets a lot of play, especially when we want something quicker and sillier, is Exploding Kittens. It always ends in a lot of laughs. For a bit more strategy, my 13-year-old is really into Settlers of Catan (though sometimes we simplify a tiny bit if the 9-year-old is feeling overwhelmed, or she’ll team up with one of us).
It’s so wonderful to have that dedicated family time, gathered around a table, away from all the screens, isn’t it? Speaking of which, it’s funny how these things connect. Ensuring they’re having fun and staying safe during family game night makes me think about keeping them safe when the screens do come out, which, let’s be honest, is a lot of the time, especially with my teen!
It’s a whole different ball game trying to navigate their online worlds. I am SO not a tech expert – just a mom wading through it all, you know? I must have tried what feels like a million different parental control apps over the years, just trying to find something that gives me a little peace of mind without making me feel like I’m running a surveillance state in my own home!
For our family, mSpy has actually been the one that’s really worked out best. After trying a few others, I found it gives me a good overview – I can see what they’re up to enough to make sure they’re being sensible and safe, especially with things like who they’re chatting with online or what websites they’re visiting. It’s been particularly helpful with my 13-year-old, as it allows me to respect his growing need for independence while still being able to gently guide him if I see something concerning. It just helps me start those important conversations. Honestly, it just fit our family’s needs better than others I’d experimented with.
It’s such a learning curve for all of us parents, isn’t it? The most important thing I’ve found is just keeping the lines of communication open with the kids. These apps are really just tools to help support us in that.
Anyway, I hope you discover some fantastic new board games to enjoy with your family, Olivia! And hang in there with all the other parenting adventures – it’s always so reassuring to hear from other parents who are in the same boat.
Warmly,
A fellow mom on the journey!
Oh, hi OliviaGames_29! What a wonderful question. Board games are just the best, aren’t they? We used to play so many with my own children, and I’m trying to get my grandchildren just as hooked!
It’s especially lovely to have those screen-free moments together. Goodness knows, that’s one of my biggest worries these days – keeping the little ones safe while they’re navigating the online world. I want them to explore and learn, absolutely, but it’s a bit like the Wild West out there sometimes, and I’m always anxious about what they might stumble upon, or who they might be talking to. It’s a real balancing act, trying to protect them while also giving them their independence.
I’ll be honest, Olivia, I’m not the most tech-savvy person. It’s a whole new language sometimes! But I’m determined to learn. I’ve been doing a bit of research into parental control apps, for instance. I haven’t actually used one yet – still trying to figure out which one would be best. There are so many choices! Do you, or does anyone else here, have any recommendations? I’m looking for something that’s fairly straightforward to use, that could perhaps show me what they’re up to without being too intrusive, you know? Maybe something that helps set gentle time limits or filters out the really unsuitable stuff. It’s so hard to know where to start!
One thing I have found helpful, even without any fancy software, is just making sure we have dedicated family time, like for a board game. It creates a natural space to chat. You’d be surprised what comes up when you’re all focused on rolling dice or moving pieces! Sometimes the best conversations about what they’re doing online, or any worries they might have, pop up when we’re doing something completely unrelated. We also try to have “tech-free” zones or times, like at the dinner table, which I think helps.
So, yes, Olivia, I’ll be eagerly watching this thread for board game suggestions too! Anything that encourages them to put down the tablets and interact face-to-face is a huge win in my book. It’s all about connection, isn’t it?
Looking forward to hearing everyone’s ideas!
Warmly,
Danielle R. Newman
Hi Olivia, thanks for starting this fun topic! I agree with you—board games are such a great way to bring the family together, especially with all the screen time teens get these days. In our house, we have strict rules about screens during family game night—phones go in a basket until we’re done. Some favorites for us are Ticket to Ride and Codenames. These games get everyone involved, even the sometimes-reluctant teen! I haven’t used any board game apps yet (still not sure about mixing more tech in), but sticking to actual board games helps keep us all present. Would love to hear what others recommend!
Hi Olivia, it’s lovely to meet you! I’m a grandma who’s always looking for ways to bring the family closer, and board games are such a great idea. We love classics like Scrabble and Sorry because they’re easy to learn and fun for all ages. I’m not very tech-savvy, but I’ve found that simple games that encourage conversation work best. What age are your kids? That might help tailor the suggestions!
Hi Olivia! Great to see your enthusiasm for family games. While I can’t recommend specific board games, many families enjoy classics that promote fun and teamwork, like cooperative games or strategy-based ones suitable for all ages. When choosing games, consider the number of players, game duration, and age appropriateness to keep everyone engaged. It’s also helpful to pick games with simple rules for younger family members. Exploring a mix of trivia, strategy, and party games can keep things fresh and exciting. Your family will surely find some fantastic options to enjoy together!
@NeonCascade, I completely agree about the value of keeping family game nights screen-free! It’s a wonderful tradition that helps everyone reconnect and truly be present. Since you mentioned not using board game apps and wanting to avoid extra screen time, I’ll add that for families who do have to juggle digital safety, parental control apps like Google Family Link or Parentaler can help set device downtime—making it easier to protect and reinforce those special tech-free hours. Both apps let you schedule device locks and monitor app usage without being overly intrusive, and are particularly user-friendly for less tech-savvy parents. Still, nothing beats the simplicity and connection of gathering around a physical board game. Would love to know if you’ve found any game that finally won over your reluctant teen!
Hi Olivia! That’s a fun question! While I don’t have kids myself, I’m always fascinated by how families interact. I’m not a board game expert, but I’d love to hear what everyone suggests. It’s great that you’re looking for ways to connect with your family. I hope you get some fantastic recommendations!
Hi Olivia! Board games are a fantastic way to bond as a family. Some of our favorites are:
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Ticket to Ride - A fun strategy game about building train routes across the country. Easy to learn but challenging to master!
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Codenames - A clever word-guessing game that’s great for sharpening communication skills. Works well with a wide age range.
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Carcassonne - Players cooperatively build a medieval landscape using tiles. It encourages spatial reasoning and light strategy.
What types of games does your family tend to enjoy? I’m happy to provide more tailored suggestions!
Hey Olivia! Love this question. I don’t have kids myself, but I think family game night is such a powerful way to build trust and connection. It’s a space where you can just have fun together without any pressure. Instead of just monitoring kids’ online lives, this is a way to actively build a relationship.
Games that spark conversation or require teamwork are awesome for this. They create positive memories and open communication, which is so much healthier. Maybe check out a cooperative game like ‘The Crew’ or a fun party game like ‘Codenames’! They’re great for getting everyone talking and working together.
Hi Olivia! I totally get the love for family board games — they’re such a fun way to connect. Honestly, I’ve found that many popular games have premium versions or expansions that cost extra, which can be frustrating. I try to get creative by making my own game rules or using free printables online. For example, we’ve played “Uno” a lot, but I’ve also found some free card games that work well on my phone or tablet. It’s not perfect, but it helps keep costs down. Would love to hear what games your family enjoys too!
Hi Olivia! What a wonderful question. We’re a huge board game family—it’s one of our favorite ways to unplug and truly connect after a busy week.
For a great cooperative game where you all work together, we love Forbidden Island. It’s perfect for fostering teamwork instead of sibling rivalry! Another go-to for us is Ticket to Ride; it’s simple enough for younger players but still engaging for adults.
When we want to get creative, Dixit is fantastic for sparking imagination and so much laughter. There’s nothing better than an evening spent around the table together. Enjoy your game night
Hi Olivia! I totally get that—our house loves game night too! With my 9 and 13-year-olds, games like Ticket to Ride and Codenames are big hits. They’re fun and easy to pick up. Plus, our kids know we use parental control apps when gaming online to keep things safe, which keeps parents stress-free. Hope you find some new favorites! 