The holidays are a special time of year, filled with the warmth of family and the joy of togetherness. As we gather around the fireplace and create new traditions, few things enhance the magic of these moments quite like a board game. Family board games for the holidays not only offer fun and entertainment, but also provide a fantastic way to connect, laugh, and create lasting memories together. When we bring out our favorite games, we’re not just passing time, we’re weaving stories and building bonds that we’ll cherish for years to come. Let’s explore 12 fantastic board games that are perfect for family gatherings during the holidays, each with its own unique charm and appeal!
Family Board Games for the Holidays
1. Ticket to Ride
Description:
In Ticket to Ride, players collect train cards to claim railway routes across a map, connecting cities and completing destination tickets for points.
- Suitable Age Range: 8+ years
- Number of Players: 2-5
- Average Playtime: 30-60 minutes
- Why It’s Ideal for Holiday Gatherings: We’ve often found that the accessible rules and engaging gameplay make Ticket to Ride a hit with all generations. The light strategy allows everyone to participate without feeling overwhelmed, creating an environment where we can chat, strategize, and laugh together. Plus, the theme of building train routes always feels right at home during the holidays!
2. Carcassonne
Description:
In Carcassonne, players take turns placing tiles to create a landscape of cities, roads, and fields, deploying followers to score points.
- Suitable Age Range: 7+ years
- Number of Players: 2-5
- Average Playtime: 35-45 minutes
- Why It’s Ideal for Holiday Gatherings: It’s always a treat to see how the board grows when we play Carcassonne, and it’s engaging for all ages in a number of the Family board games for the holidays. The easy-to-learn rules make it a great pick for mixed-age family gatherings, and the balance of strategy and luck creates an atmosphere of friendly competition. Each tile we place builds not only the landscape but also our shared memories.
3. Dixit
Description:
Dixit is a storytelling game where players use beautifully illustrated cards to inspire clues, and others guess which card matches the description.
- Suitable Age Range: 8+ years
- Number of Players: 3-6
- Average Playtime: 30-60 minutes
- Why It’s Ideal for Holiday Gatherings: We’ve often found that the creativity of Dixit sparks fascinating discussions and laughter. It’s more about creating shared moments through storytelling, and the game never fails to draw out unexpected interpretations and creative ideas that often become the highlights of our holiday evenings.
4. Qwirkle
Description:
In Qwirkle, players match colors and shapes on tiles to score points, creating lines and sets with colorful shapes.
- Suitable Age Range: 6+ years
- Number of Players: 2-4
- Average Playtime: 45-60 minutes
- Why It’s Ideal for Holiday Gatherings: Qwirkle provides a great balance of strategy and accessibility as one of the Family board games for the holidays, making it perfect for mixed-age families. Its simple mechanics mean that even younger players can join in, while strategic depth keeps older players engaged, ensuring that everyone can participate and have fun.
5. Exploding Kittens
Description:
Exploding Kittens is a card game where players take turns drawing cards, trying to avoid the exploding kitten, while using action cards to disrupt each other.
- Suitable Age Range: 7+ years
- Number of Players: 2-5
- Average Playtime: 15-20 minutes
- Why It’s Ideal for Holiday Gatherings: There’s nothing quite like the unexpected chaos of Exploding Kittens for lightening the holiday mood. The fast-paced rounds and humorous artwork make it a great icebreaker, and the game’s silly nature brings laughter and joy to our gatherings. Every card reveal is full of suspense and hilarity!
6. Codenames
Description:
Codenames is a word association game where two teams compete to identify their secret agents using one-word clues.
- Suitable Age Range: 10+ years
- Number of Players: 4-8
- Average Playtime: 15-20 minutes
- Why It’s Ideal for Holiday Gatherings: The teamwork and communication in Codenames make it a great choice for families who enjoy a mental challenge in the world of Family board games for the holidays. We’ve seen lively debates over clues and often find ourselves laughing as we try to decipher each other’s reasoning. It’s a fun way to strengthen communication and cooperation during the holidays.
7. 7 Wonders
Description:
In 7 Wonders, players develop their civilizations through card drafting, acquiring resources, and constructing structures across three ages.
- Suitable Age Range: 10+ years
- Number of Players: 3-7
- Average Playtime: 30-45 minutes
- Why It’s Ideal for Holiday Gatherings: When we play 7 Wonders, it’s thrilling to watch our civilizations evolve, and there’s always an exciting sense of competition. The game’s fast-paced gameplay and strategic depth keep everyone involved, creating many opportunities for shared discussion and thoughtful planning. It’s perfect for families who enjoy a bit of strategy and planning.
8. Pandemic
Description:
Pandemic is a cooperative game where players work together as specialists to stop the spread of deadly diseases around the world.
- Suitable Age Range: 10+ years
- Number of Players: 2-4
- Average Playtime: 45 minutes
- Why It’s Ideal for Holiday Gatherings: Working together as a team to save the world brings us closer together like playing the Family board games for the holidays does. The shared challenge of beating the game, instead of competing against each other, fosters a strong sense of camaraderie and partnership, making it a unique and enjoyable experience. We’ve had so many moments of teamwork and collaborative problem-solving!
9. King of Tokyo
Description:
In King of Tokyo, players take on the role of giant monsters competing to take control of Tokyo and defeat their opponents with dice rolls and special powers.
- Suitable Age Range: 8+ years
- Number of Players: 2-6
- Average Playtime: 30 minutes
- Why It’s Ideal for Holiday Gatherings: The lighthearted nature of the King of Tokyo makes it a great pick for families who enjoy a bit of friendly competition. The simple rules and dice-rolling mechanics guarantee excitement and fun, often leading to silly moments and playful banter. We often find ourselves cheering (and booing) with each dice roll!
10. Machi Koro
Description:
In Machi Koro, players develop their own cities by constructing establishments and rolling dice to earn income, competing to be the first to complete their landmarks.
- Suitable Age Range: 7+ years
- Number of Players: 2-4
- Average Playtime: 30 minutes
- Why It’s Ideal for Holiday Gatherings: Machi Koro is a delightful game that combines strategy with chance, creating a relaxing yet engaging gameplay experience in the group of Family board games for the holidays. It’s always thrilling to watch our cities grow and develop, and we find that the competitive element sparks plenty of laughter and friendly rivalry that perfectly fits into the spirit of the holidays!
11. Telestrations
Description:
Telestrations is a drawing and guessing game where players pass around sketchbooks, each drawing or guessing based on the previous player’s work.
- Suitable Age Range: 12+ years
- Number of Players: 4-8
- Average Playtime: 30-60 minutes
- Why It’s Ideal for Holiday Gatherings: The silliness of Telestrations always brings everyone together in fits of laughter. The misinterpretations and absurd drawings create hilarious memories that we often find ourselves reminiscing about long after the game is over. It’s the perfect way to create joy and levity for all.
12. Concept
Description:
In Concept, players use universal icons on a game board to communicate words or phrases, guiding teammates to guess what they’re thinking.
- Suitable Age Range: 10+ years
- Number of Players: 4-12
- Average Playtime: 40-60 minutes
- Why It’s Ideal for Holiday Gatherings: t’s fascinating to watch how we communicate through symbols and abstract ideas in Concept, and the collaborative nature of this game makes it a great choice of the Family board games for the holidays. When we play, there are always moments of realization and lots of laughter as we try to get on the same wavelength with the hints provided.
13. Wits & Wagers Family
Description:
Wits & Wagers Family is a trivia card game where players don’t actually need to know the answer to the questions, all one needs to do is bet on which answer is the closest to the correct answer.
- Key Features: Here is another cross between strategic game and trivia for those who are interested in playing with their families without having to worry about age restrictions.
- Why It’s Great: That’s not always the case since with the Wits & Wagers Family, everyone participates in the game! The betting system also keeps the player from having to know all of this information all they have to do is choose the right answer out of the multiple options. We always look forward to guessing our family at the end of the week, which provokes wonderful moments such as joy, fun, and laughter. It has become my tradition to play this game every time we are having our family time!
14. Outfoxed!
Description:
As the audience is outfoxed!, all the players are the detectives who solve the case of Fox who stole the pie and did not allow the team to stop him!
- Key Features: Cooperative and collaborative play is used in this game and as such it can perfectly be played by families.
- Why It’s Great: When we are all working together to catch the fox, there is an element of team building within Outfoxed! And it is neat to be able to work together to solve a mystery. This fun game works for all ages, and during our holiday time, it became really warm and people competed in different levels, which is excellent for the holidays!
Conclusion
Family board games for the holidays create an atmosphere of fun, connection, and shared experiences that we cherish for years. The games we choose provide more than just entertainment—they offer opportunities to strengthen family bonds, encourage communication, and create meaningful memories together. As we gather around the table this holiday season, let’s remember the magic that unfolds when we play and share laughter together!
How do board games enhance family bonding during the holidays?
Playing board games during the holidays creates shared experiences, fosters communication, and encourages teamwork, which can strengthen family bonds and create lasting memories.
What should I consider when selecting a board game for a family gathering?
When choosing a board game for a family gathering, consider the age range of the players, the number of participants, and the desired level of complexity and duration, to make sure everyone will enjoy playing!
What are some tips for making a family board game night successful?
To make a family game night successful, set a comfortable environment, explain the rules clearly, encourage friendly competition, and include snacks and drinks. The most important thing is to create a fun and inclusive space for everyone.
