Our Favorite Games

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Favorite Toys here.

Favorite Bookshere.

Teen Gift Ideas here.

Ideas by age/interest level here.

After reading my favorite toys post a week ago, Jeff informed me that I “forgot” to include all of the games the kids love.  I put “forgot” in quotations because I think I might have done that accidentally on purpose subconsciously.  I am not a game person-I can play a few: Scrabble, Candy Land,  Zingo.  Pretty much that’s it.  I just don’t have the patience, or the attention span, or maybe it’s the lack of competitive spirit.  I am terrible at logic and deduction and all that fancy stuff.

So here’s a guest post written (and updated every year) by my husband, game nerd extraordinaire, who never ever takes a pass. Most of these games are for the five, six, or seven year old and up crowd, and quite a few are one-player for when Jeff’s not around.

Here’s Jeff:

I grew up playing games, cards and puzzles.  Sarah grew up reading books.

Katamino

Like a Tetrus puzzle, there are different challenges to fit the wood pieces into the grid.  Six and up-the games adjusts to make it easier for younger kids.  All the kids in the family enjoy it.

Ticket to Ride

2,837 Five Star reviews!!!

An awesome fun game that the whole family enjoys.  For two to five players, the object of the game is to travel to as many cities as you can in just seven days.

Syclone

Like an old-fashioned top, that needs to navigated through the maze by tilting it.

Perplexus Epic

We have four of these and they are ADDICTING!  So much fun.  You guide a marble through the maze by tilting the ball in your hands.  Ages six to adult.  These are great to set around the house-they are irresistible. 

ThinkFun Izzi

This if for ages 8 and above and it IS difficult. The edges of each tile must match black to black and white to white.

All Think Fun Games get great reviews-they cater to all different ages from toddler to adult also.

Rubik’s Race

Shake the cube and then match the pattern as fast as possible to win-a two-player game.

 Nowhere To Go

This is a great two player game where you try and trap your opponent before they trap you.  What is nice about this game is my 9 year old gives me a strong challenge every time we play.  It is very easy to learn, but once you play a few times you start to understand different strategies to win.  This is great when you are tired of chess or checkers.  Each game takes only about 5 minutes to complete.

Rubik’s Cube– Our kids have viewed tutorials on YouTube to help solve the cube.  Isaac can solve it in under a minute and Andrew under three minutes.  I tried to solve it 25 years ago without any technological assistance, but never did, until YouTube!

Boggle-Our kids got onto a big scrabble kick this past year.  Andrew liked Boggle better.  You make up as many words as you can in three minutes.  We play together at night before bed and help each other try to set a new record for words found.  We sometimes re-shake it if the letter that come up are too tough.  

LONPOS Rectangular and Pyramid Puzzle-This is really two puzzle/pattern games in one.  Each puzzle is gradually more difficult.  The pyramids are fun to build.  

Rush Hour-We have Rush Hour and Rush Hour Two.  You just have to drive the red car out of the game by moving the other cars out of its way.  I think I have played this game more than the kids.

Solitaire Chess This is also a puzzle game where you use chess pieces and moves to capture and remove all the pieces until there is just one piece left.  You do not have to know how to play chess to play it, but you do have to know how the different chess pieces move.  Like Rush Hour, the easy cards help you learn how to play and get you hooked. 

Monopoly Deal-A fast way to play a game of Monopoly using playing cards.  I think this was the “in” game sweeping the country last year-our kids learned it from friends out in Colorado, and as soon as we left their house, they all begged us to stop and get a deck.  It has been worth every penny.

Qwirkle Cubes– This is a great game where both adults and kids can have fun together.  We have both Qwirkle and Qwirkle Cubes, unless Qwirkle found its way into one of Sarah’s 40 black bags.  

Speed Stacks Competitor Sport Stacking Set, Red

Our kids still play this game four years later.  It is hard to not get addicted to attempting to beat your time again and again.

Guess Who Mix and Mash-Andrew is Mr. Game.  He is Jeff Junior.  This is one of his favorites.

Chess, Checker and Backgammon Set– It folds up and latches, and all the pieces fit inside which is why Sarah bought it. 

2 in 1 Travel Magnetic Chess and Checkers Set – 14”

Royal Crest Analog Chess Clock/Timer by Wood Expressions

This year we bought a new chess set, as the chess playing moved to the low table on the porch that was constantly getting bumped by younger siblings.  For Father’s Day we bought this magnetized version and a timer (to prevent the constant arguments over who was taking to long.

Champion Sports Anywhere Table Tennis To Go Set

This clip on ping pong net is another new addition and fun-fits on any table.