Introductory Games to Play with Kids

I want to get in to board games with my kids, but you know, the good ones. Not that crap that I grew up with and loved. Those suck.

Let’s pretend we’re at a party where I just heard that from across the room. My ears have perked up. I feel my pulse quicken. This is it. I can make a difference! I make a beeline over there and I UNLOAD with way too much information on this unsuspecting person. I don’t even think we’ve been introduced! I don’t care!

Here it is baby, the games I think you should start playing with your kids. The list of games I suggest, based on my personal gaming experience, that I think work very well as an introduction to gaming for a family. This is a list for a family with kids 7-12 (years of age, not number of kids you maniac), that you’ll be playing with them. Not something you fire at em to play themselves. That trick never works. Minecraft will always win that contest.

In no particular order, click the game to read my write-up:

• Forbidden Island
• Crokinole
• Pit
• Hey, That’s My Fish!
• Sushi Go!
• Skull
• A Fake Artist Goes to New York
• Flyin’ Goblin
• PitchCar Mini
• Harry Potter: Hogwarts Battle
• Dixit
• Dragonwood
• Codenames Pictures

There’s a lovely website called Board Game Oracle, that let’s you search games and see where the game is available online to be purchased, and what the price is by store. I’ve made a wishlist based on this list to help you in your time of need. Buying games online can save you money-dollars, but make sure you avoid buying from unknown sources on Amazon. There’s a lot of crappy fakes out there. Don’t get duped.