Now that it’s winter, I’ve been thinking of indoor activities we can do at home. While Houston’s winters are typically mild, it still gets cold! So this is the perfect time to focus less on outdoor games and more on staying cozy at home, especially in the evenings.
Personally, I like to have a mix of quiet and relaxing options as well as more rowdy, interactive options. Along with doing crafts and watching movies, we love playing games. My youngest is almost nine, my middle kid is 11, and my oldest is almost 13, so I’ve seen firsthand the benefits of playing games together as a family — and how it evolves over the years.
For me, the best family game night games include options that are fun and engaging for everyone. But it can be challenging to find a game that everyone likes and can play together, especially when you have multiple kids and wider age gaps. So I’m going to share our favorites — along with tips for how to involve your kids in family games.
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Get Started: Your Quick Go-To Guide for Game Nights
Need some new options to add to your list of family game night games? From slow, simple games to quick, strategic games, here’s a quick guide to help you find what you’re looking for.
Simple games for preschoolers: Zingo, Spot It!, The Floor is Lava, Bluey Scavenger Hunt
Fun, fast-paced games: Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza, Left Center Right, and Uno Attack, Zingo, and Spoons
Best strategic games: Rack-O, Flinch, Yahtzee, Mexican Train Dominoes
Why Games are Good for Kids
As kids grow, their play shifts from unstructured, imaginative play (like I talk about in this post) to rule-based games. While creative play is important for little kids — and should be their main focus — even two year olds can begin to play short games with simple rules. Once kids move on from preschool and their attention spans increase, you may find they’re ready for more competitive, strategic games.
Here are a few ways that games can benefit kids long-term:
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Improve social skills. Games can teach kids to take turns (which can ultimately help with the concept of sharing), work together on a common goal, and practice good sportsmanship.
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Increase confidence. Kids love to have control and assert their independence. Games provide a safe space to learn new skills, take risks, and navigate emotions that may come up.
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Build persistence. Games can teach kids how to keep going and trying, even when they’re behind or may lose. This can help them build resilience in other areas of life as well.
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Encourage creativity. Many games can help kids think outside the box, make new connections, and come up with creative solutions. Little kids, especially, may want to change the rules or play games in a different way; while this can be frustrating for older kids (and adults!), give them a chance to explore and see where it goes.
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Boost cognitive skills. This one’s helpful for adults as well! Games have been shown to improve your memory and focus, build attention spans and impulse control, and help with planning, decision-making, and problem-solving.
While video games can provide some of these benefits as well, I prefer to focus more on screen-free games the whole family can play together at once.
Helpful Tips for Family Game Nights
Wish your kids were more into family game night games? Tired of planning a fun game night only for it to turn into frustration and tears? Here are some tips that can help.
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Pick a game that everyone can play. Make sure your family game night games work for everyone. Little kids will lose interest quickly if a game is too challenging and older kids may not want to play something that’s overly simple.
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Go with the flow. It can be easy to become rigid in your game play instead of keeping things flexible and fun. Little kids, especially, may need game modifications, or they may be done playing before the game is over.
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Accommodate age gaps. Choose games that focus on collaboration, a shared interest (like UNO cards that feature their favorite characters!), and luck over strategy. If one of your kids is a little too young for a game, you can try to coach them through it or have them play along with an older kid as part of a team.
Board Games & Tabletop Games
Here are some of the best board games my family has enjoyed playing over the years. Board games typically offer a sense of predictability, which can help kids learn how to play games and start to develop more complex skills, like strategic thinking and problem-solving. They can also encourage both collaboration and competition in a friendly environment.
Bluey Scavenger Hunt: The perfect game for preschoolers and parents! Bluey fans will love this game where everyone works together to collect 12 toys before bedtime. Challenges include a timed search and find, simple trivia, role play, and unexpected surprises. Ages 3+
Don’t Break the Ice: Will the penguin fall in? Tap a block to find out! Similar to Jenga where one piece makes a difference, this is a simpler version that’s fun for preschoolers to play. Ages 3+
Cootie: This simple game with a spinner allows kids to get creative and silly as they build their own Cootie bug. The first one to complete a bug wins! Ages 3+
Zingo: A fun take on Bingo that’s perfect for pre-readers and early readers. Little kids will enjoy sliding the Zinger to see which pieces appear — and you can play as slow or as fast as you want. Ages 4+
Hoot Owl Hoot: This is another cooperative game where all the players have a common goal — help the owls fly back to their nest before the sun comes up! Kids will learn how to follow directions, take turns, and think more strategically. Ages 4+
Eye Found It: This fun game encourages focus, teamwork, and problem-solving. As kids (and parents) travel through 12 different Disney scenes, everyone must find Mickey, Moana, and more characters before Maleficent casts her spell. Ages 4+
The Floor is Lava: If you’re looking for fun family games that get everyone moving, this is the one. Combining a spinner, stepping stones, and imagination, you can easily transform any space into a lava jumping adventure! Ages 5+
Trouble: This classic game is a favorite in our house. Simply pop the popper to enter the game and race all of your pegs around the board to the finish line. Landing on someone else’s peg can also send them back to the beginning! Kids will learn counting, turn taking, and how to win or lose. Ages 5+
Monopoly Jr.: My kids love this simpler version! This game features kid-friendly properties, like a zoo and video arcade, and only uses $1 bills, making it easier for kids to learn about math and money. Ages 5+
Outfoxed: Love solving mysteries? Roll the dice to gather clues, rule out suspects, and find out which fox stole the pie! This is a fun game for kids that teaches cooperation, deductive reasoning, and critical thinking. Ages 5+
Hedbanz: This is such a fun one to add to your family game night games. And it’s great for big gatherings, too! Put the headband on, place a card in, and ask yes/no questions to guess the card. Ages 6+
Jenga: Jenga is a simple, low-pressure game that can teach kids about strategy, planning ahead, and patience. It’s also a great way to improve hand-eye coordination, and it’s entertaining when all the blocks fall! Ages 6+
Mantis: This game combines strategy, luck, and two simple rules — steal or score! My youngest started playing this when she was six, and it quickly became one of our most reached-for games during family game nights. Ages 7+
Bananagrams: Think Scrabble without the points and much faster! This classic word game is fun for kids and adults, and it’s easy to play at home or on the go. You can also use it to help kids build their spelling confidence. Ages 7+
Zombie Kidz: This team-based game starts off simple and gets more complex the more you play. Each mission completed unlocks a new mystery envelope, changing the game each time you go to play. Kids will also love using the stickers to keep track of their progress. Ages 7+
On a Scale of One to T-Rex: A fun twist on Charades! Instead of guessing what someone is acting out, you guess how intensely everyone is performing their action on a scale of 1-10. Ages 7+
Harry Potter Trivial Pursuit: A must-have game for Potterheads. My kids can’t get enough of testing their Harry Potter knowledge. Ages 8+
Catan: We haven’t played this one, but I know so many families who love this game! Catan combines strategy and luck with lots of player interaction. Even when it’s not your turn, you can play — and each game you play opens new possibilities, keeping it fresh and exciting. Ages 10+
Card Games
Even the best board games can get boring. And sometimes you just don’t feel like playing a game for hours on end! I love card games for quick gameplay, and they easily draw everyone in. They’re also easier to set up, put away, and store, which comes in handy when you don’t have a ton of space for games.
Go Fish: This deck features beautiful illustrations that make it easy for all ages to play. While best suited for preschoolers, it still remains fun for older kids (and adults!). It’s also a great way to introduce more complex concepts, like strategy and probability, in a very basic way. Ages 3+
Spot It: Take matching skills up to the next level with this fun, fast-paced game. This is a great way to improve memory and focus, while adding in some friendly competition between family members and friends. Ages 6+
Harry Potter UNO: This classic card game is one of my all-time favorite family games. I also love that you can buy sets that feature characters from your favorite movies. For us, that’s Harry Potter and Star Wars! Little kids might also like this Toy Story version. For a more intense game, try UNO Attack. Load card into the shooter, then play like the classic UNO game, but watch out for the shooting cards when the Attack card comes up — it could be one card or it could be five! Ages 7+
Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza: This is a fun and fast-paced game where players race to match cards with spoken words. My family loves this game so much that we also have the Halloween version and the Christmas version! Ages 7+
Spoons: My kids can't get enough of this game! The scramble to match four cards and grab a spoon before anyone else is what makes this game fun. Kids will also learn to pay close attention, act quickly, and deal with friendly competition. Ages 7+
Flinch: This fast-moving game helps build attention, patience, and quick decision-making. Play classic Flinch or fast Flinch and race to get rid of your cards by playing them in numerical order. Ages 7+
What Do You Meme? Family Edition: Such a fun addition to your family game night games! Choose caption cards for each photo to create the funniest meme. A rotating judge gets to pick their favorite, so this is a great way for families to bond and get to know each other’s sense of humor really well. Ages 8+
Monopoly Deal: If you love Monopoly but get tired of how long it can drag out, I highly recommend trying this card game instead. It’s easy to learn, but quick and competitive — and the action cards keep it exciting. Plus it only takes 15 minutes to play! Ages 8+
Sleeping Queens: I love that this game was created by a six-year-old based on a dream she had. It also encourages kids’ imaginations, builds strategic thinking with simple rules, and helps kids practice math without realizing it! Ages 8+
Skyjo: Aim for the lowest score to win! This is a quick and easy game that combines luck and strategy as you reveal, exchange, and collect cards. As a bonus, it also helps kids improve their math skills. Ages 8+
Rack-O: This classic game came out in the ‘50s and is still popular today! The goal is simple — be the first to arrange your cards from lowest to highest as you draw from the new pile or discard pile. Ages 8+
Do You Really Know Your Family?: I love family game night games that bring everyone closer together! This game encourages new conversations and lots of silliness — along with some friendly competition over who knows who best. Ages 8+
Dice Games
I can’t explain it, but it always feels so satisfying to roll dice — and see what other people roll! I love dice games because you never know what you’re going to get, which makes family games feel more exciting and unpredictable. They’re also easy to play, which can come in handy when you just want a simple game that doesn’t require a ton of planning and strategy.
Left Center Right: This is my family’s favorite game! We play it at home and we bring it along to bigger get-togethers. Just roll the dice to see if (and where) your chips will move. The last player with chips wins the center pot. Ages 5+
No Dice!: If you’re looking for family games with more educational value, add this one to your collection. This is a fun and easy-to-play math game where you try to create math equations to score as close to zero as possible. The player with the fewest points wins! Ages 6+
Yahtzee: A classic addition to your family game night games. Just roll the dice to try and get certain combinations, and choose which dice to keep or roll again. It’s super simple but always entertaining! Ages 8+
Bunco: My mom loves this game! Bunco is all about luck, so it’s very low-pressure, and it encourages social interaction by having you switch partners throughout the game. Ages 8+
Mexican Train Dominoes: A fun twist on the classic version! Race to get rid of your tiles by playing matching dominoes on your own private train or a public train. Ages 8+
Electronic/Video Games
Finding electronic games for the whole family to play can be tricky! While we typically limit screen time during the school year — and even during summer — we ease up over the holidays. My family’s favorite gaming console is the switch. I also like having some electronic game options that don’t require a screen.
Video Games
Nintendo Switch Sports: A fun way to get some movement in when the weather turns! Play golf, soccer, volleyball, bowling, tennis, badminton, or chambara. There are no buttons to press, so it’s super simple for all ages and skill levels. 4+
Mario Kart: Choose your favorite character and get ready to race! This is a great game to play if you have a mix of ages. And not knowing what items you’ll get (or what others will get!) keeps the game exciting. Ages 5+
Just Dance: Team up in party mode or compete in challenge mode! This is a fun way to get your energy out and stay active indoors. It also features a great variety of songs, themed dancers, and silly dance moves. Note: Parental discretion is advised for certain songs, but there is a kids mode. Ages 5+
Mario Party Superstars: This game includes 100 minigames from the Mario Party series. Parents will love all the throwbacks to classic games and kids will love all of the different challenges and ways to play. Ages 6+
Electronic Games
Beat the Parents: Split into teams and choose one of six games to play. From dance competitions to rhyming challenges and more, this is a fun, fast-paced game for the whole family. Ages 5+
Bop It!: Who can react the fastest? This is a quick game that helps kids with memory, coordination, and listening. The increasing speed also makes it very addictive! Ages 8+
Catch Phrase: Charades meets “hot potato” but with verbal clues! Get your teammates to guess the word, then quickly toss (or pass) it to the other team. Whoever’s holding it when the timer goes off loses that round. Ages 10+
Family Games Q&A
Which games work best for little kids?
For little kids, choose games with simple rules, cooperative games, silly games, and games with colors, sounds, and pictures. Remember, their attention spans are short, their impulse control is low, and their need for control and creative play are high, so it can help to manage your own expectations. Zingo was our favorite family game when my kids were little.
Which games work best for older kids?
As kids get older, they become more interested in longer games with more complex rules. Think social games, competitive games, and strategic games. While you can look at age recommendations for family game night games, you know your kids best and what they’re capable of!
What are the best family board games for 4 players?
One of my kids hates playing games. She loves playing Harry Potter Trivial Pursuit and Mexican Train Dominoes, but that's about it, so we often play with only 4 people. Our favorite 4-person games are Zingo, Trouble, Flinch, Mantis, and Rack-O.
What are the best family-friendly party games?
Left Right Center, Spoons, and Nintendo Switch games.
Ideas for fun family games to play at Christmas?
Honestly, any of these games would be fun to play! If I had to choose one from each category, it would be Hedbanz, What Do You Meme Family Edition, Left Center Right, Mario Kart, and Catch Phrase.
More Gaming Fun
Games are a great way to keep kids entertained and help them build important skills. If you need more ideas, check out my post on yard games for kids and the best travel games for car trips and flights.
Have any family games you love that aren’t on this list? Share them with me below — we’re always looking for new games to play!
