The best games to play as a family

A few of my posts recently have been about spending quality time with your children, things like watching movies together and building forts is a great way to get that special time together. But there are also games, board games, video games, and others - and I've got a list of the best (in our opinion) games to play as a family.



Computer games


Having a husband who has worked in the games industry for more than 20 years games have played a huge part in our lives. From games like Call of Duty to iPad games like Crack Attack we're always looking for new entertainment.





The obvious objective of video games is to entertain people by surprising them with new experiences.

Shigeru Miyamoto





The boys are now old enough to play the bigger online games like Overwatch and Fortnite but they're not the type of game I'd enjoy playing. The number of times I've watched the boys get frustrated with the game and thrown the controller is ridiculous so I refuse to do that with them. Instead we choose different games to play as a family.



Super Mario 3D World


The Hubby and I grew up at a time when the Mario Bros were big - they were very popular and as a result we love them. Most of the Mario games we have played we've enjoyed - some the Hubby enjoyed more than me but they're all fun to play. But until Super Mario 3D World there wasn't a game we could play together.





More than once we have all grabbed a controller for the Wii U, chosen a character (I am always Peach!), and jumped into the Super Mario 3D World. The world is brilliant and because there are four of us someone's character and it doesn't affect the rest of the game. We all have special talents which means we work together to find stars and we have fun doing it.

Of course there are times when it can cause arguments - that's just what comes with playing games together as a family but for the most part it is fun.



Mario Kart


Mario Kart again dates back to when I was young, it was a game I loved as a teenager and it has always been multiplayer. Admittedly I'm not very good at it but it's great playing with the boys and them thinking it's brilliant that they can beat me.





It's a fun game that can be played and to be honest it's most fun because you get to throw things at your family - sometimes knocking them out of the race!



Lego games


From Harry Potter to Lord of the Rings the Lego games are some of my favourites. When I first heard about the Lego Harry Potter games I knew I'd want them and I played them for hours. I got everything I could in those games and the boys helped me. They love playing these games with me, partly because they know how rubbish I am and can claim that they're better than me, but still.





I am so excited about this game! The last Lego game I played was Lego Dimensions and while I enjoyed the levels of the game the open world didn't really appeal to me. I love the story-led Lego games and will be getting this one as soon as it's available. And I have no doubt the boys will want to play with me!



Board games


We play board games almost every week, if we find ourselves with some spare time we'll sit at the dining table and get out one of the many games we have. Our collection of games has been growing quickly over the last few years and it continues to grow.



Catan


Catan is a classic board game and while it is quite expensive for a board game I have no doubt you would get lots of enjoyment out of it for years to come. I've lost count of the number of times we've played Catan, and it's great because it's one that LP can play without being on a team too!





Colt Express


A newer addition to our list Colt Express doesn't involve a board as such but rather a cardboard train in which your characters move around. The boys love this one because they get to shoot and punch (not literally) me and their dad! It's great fun and will keep you occupied for years to come.






Carcassonne


Another classic Carcassonne is so easy anyone can play. All you have to do is place card pieces onto the table connected to other pieces. There are 'maple' - your little characters - and you get to own castles and farms. Yes, there's strategy involved which can get a little more complicated when there are little ones playing but LP, who is 9 years old, can hold his own these days.

Just lately we've also started playing Scrabble and Yahtzee too. LP is brilliant at Scrabble and he enjoys Yahtzee because of the dice I think!





I like to play board games a lot with my little girl, things like that. We attempt to cook. And even if it goes wrong, it doesn't matter because it's the time you spent doing it that's important.

Sam Worthington





Other games




Treasure Hunt


Treasure hunt works both in and outdoors. We play it in the car - for example we'll see how many supercars we can spot during a journey, or we'll count how many red cars we can see. We play when we're out on a walk - this is a little more complicated because you have to get it ready beforehand. Plan your route and write down things the children should look out for when you're out walking. You can give them clues or just tell them what to look for - like the Nottingham Forest Football Ground for example, either way you're keeping them busy. Print out the list and take it with you and they can tick off each item they spot - if they see everything you could get them a treat at the end of your walk.   The boys have loved when we give them a treasure hunt when we're on a walk - it keeps them busy looking out for things but they also talk about the things they see because they're looking around and noticing things they wouldn't ordinarily.



Hide and seek


In the house, in the garden, or even when you're out and about (although I wouldn't recommend it in the city!). I prefer to play in the house, which we've done once or twice. LP used to love it because he was so small he could fit in some really small places. He's hidden in cupboards, in boxes, even in wardrobes! Hide and seek is a great game to play as a family if you have little ones because it's something they can do without much help - they just need the odd tip to stay quiet when they're hiding!



Playing games together is a huge part of our lives and I think it's an important part of family life. We laugh together, have a great time, and bond. The boys get to compete in a friendly setting and there are lots of smiles all around. 


The best games to play as a family, including our favourites.


What games do you play as a family?





The Pramshed