Best Board Games Shopping Guide

by Alissa Marquess on December 6, 2012

I love the way a good board game can bring together a family.? When the game is right everyone can have fun and you make the kind of memories that kids think back on the rest of their lives.? We are lucky that Santa brings us a new one each year

The following board games are favorites in my family or were recommended by readers.? The ages I have listed come from personal experience as well as looking through reviews for each game, so they may not be the same as what the manufacturer recommends, but I think they?ll work for most people.

Roll, it?s your turn!

Fun Games for Toddlers:

	Thinkfun Roll and Play Board Gametoddlers get to roll the soft die and the cards prompt fun interactions and movement ideas that a parent or older sibling can do with the youngster.? Easy to involve the whole family, because who can resist making a toddler smile?? Age: 18mos+ Parents and older siblings can play with the toddler, Players: 2+, Cooperative: yes
	Ravensburger Snail?s Pace Race ? As a grown up Ido not find this game interesting, but I recommend it because my kids have all enjoyed it and played it both together and on their own.? The snails and dice are pretty wooden pieces.? As they roll the colors to move the snails? it can create happy conversation about, ?What snail do you think will win? Go blue go! Only ___ more spaces!?? Age: 2 1/2 ? 5, Players: 1-6, Cooperative: It doesn?t feel very competitive if you don?t present it that way.
	Haba ? My First Orchard ? is the younger version of Haba?s extremely popular Orchardgame.? The pieces are larger and the play is simple.? The wooden fruits are beautiful and everyone can work together to save them from the hungry crow.? Age: 2+, Players: 1-4, Cooperative: yes
?Stocking Stuffer!	?Animal ABC?s Ring Flash Cards ? Not a game exactly, but good for prompting lots of pretend play like, ?Can you chomp like an alligator?!?

Games for Preschoolers:

	Richard Scarry Busy Town comes recommended by readers as well as parenting bloggers I talked to.? The game comes with a large map of Busytown for a game board and players get to work together to find items and get to the the ferry to go have a picnic.? One reader said her kids favorite games are this one and the Richard Scarry Airport Game which is similar and her kids love it because it comes with little airplanes.? Age: 3-8, Players: 2-4, Cooperative: yes
	Hisss has remained a well loved game for two years for my boys.? It?s simple enough that after a few games younger kids can play it together on their own.? It?s not thrilling for adults, but I don?t mind playing with them either, and it isn?t one of those never-ending kids games.? You are matching snake cards according to color to try and create entire snakes.? We all have fun going HISSSSS when we pick up a snake we?ve completed.? Age: 3+, Players: 2-5, Cooperative: no
	The Sneaky Snacky Squirrel Game ? Players have to use little tongs to pick, steal or put back an acorn, depending on what the spinner lands on.? Recommended by readers as a new favorite, this is one I?m leaning towards getting for my five year old.? Age: 3-7, Players: 2-4, Cooperative: no
	Gobblet Gobblers ? A great game that is fun for parents too.? It?s played almost just like tic-tac-toe (so, VERY easy to learn) but you have the fun of being able to ?gobble? pieces, making it so sometimes your four year old catches you off guard and wins.? The pieces are high quality wood, the game play is quick, and kids begin learning strategy ? highly recommended.? Age: 4+, Players: 2, Cooperative: no
?Stocking Stuffer!	Catch Me! Tin Game by Haba- Players try to snatch their mice away to safety and save them from the cat in this cute game.? Many reviews mention lots and lots of laughter.? Age: 3-7, Players: 2-4, Cooperative: no

Big Kid Games:

	Chickyboom ? This is another game that?s fun for kids and grown ups.? It relies on steady hands so younger players may be at a disadvantage, however we usually play it as one team trying to save the chickens, so this isn?t a problem.? My kids love to do pretend play with the nice wooden pieces.? We all shout chickyBOOM!!! when the board falls.? Age: 4+, Players: 2, Cooperative: It can be if you decide to work together to ?save the chickens!?
	Labyrinth ? This is the game I think I?ll be getting for my oldest son this year.? We used to have this game when I was a kid and my brother and I both agree that it really sparked our imaginations.? Finding treasures in the maze is an enchanting experience.? Age: 8+, Players: 1-4, Cooperative: no
?	eeBoo Obstacles Game Comes recommended as a fun game for stimulating creative thinking.? Everyone works together to come up with solution to the obstacles and make their way to the finish.? Age: 5+, Players: 2-5, Cooperative: yes
Stocking Stuffer!	Spot It? ? I have seen this recommended over and over.? Players try to be the first to spot the only two similarities between two cards.? It looks like a game that would travel well due to size and some reviewers mention there is more than one way to play.? Age: 5+, Players: 2-8, Cooperative: no

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Games You?d Play Even Without Kids:

The following are games that we can play with the kids and yet when the family gets together for the Holidays, we wait until the kids are asleep so all the grown ups can play these, lot of fun.

	Ticket To Ride- It involves strategy as you try to claim the most train routes. This is a fun game for adults and kids. ?You can read the in depth reviews to find out more about how this is played.? My only warning would be, this is a difficult game to play with toddlers around ? lots of little train pieces.? When my oldest son was little he loved looking at the game board and lining up the little trains, but that isn?t as easy to supervise with more than one kid.? Age: 8+, Players: 2-5, Cooperative: no
	Qwirkle-This game of colors, shapes, and strategy can be played by kids as young as 5, but we stayed up late on Thanksgiving playing as kids slept.? The tiles are beautiful, shiny wooden pieces, and the game play is simple yet strategic.? I don?t see our kids ?outgrowing? this game.? Age: 5+, Players: 2-4, Cooperative: no
	Morphology- This game is hilarious.? My stomach hurt from laughing so much. ? It?s like pictionary with objects and somehow elicits the most ridiculous and funny guesses.? There?s also Morphology Junior for kids 8 and up, which might be a good choice for families with all young kids.? The junior edition is played very similarly to the regular version; it?s fun for grown ups too.? Kids do need to be able to read or team up with readers.? The cards in the Jr. version include an optional hint and they might be considered ?easier? than the regular game version, also the Jr. game pieces are slightly larger.? Either game is a ton of creative fun.? Age: 13+ or 8+ for the Jr. version, but younger kids had fun being on a team, Players: 4+, Cooperative: no

Do you have a favorite game I should take a look at?? I?d love to hear your suggestions!

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