In our house, everyone enjoys family game night where we gather around the kitchen table for a little competition and a lot of fun. Playing games keeps us away from screens, helps us engage with each other, brings out all the giggles, and builds long-lasting memories. The best games to play with little ones are ones that have the following guidelines:
- A clear goal.
- Simple rules that everyone can understand.
- Play time of less than 30 minutes, maybe 45 if it’s one everyone really loves.
We have tried our fair share of card games, board games, and more, and here are our top 15 kid and parent approved games for family night and where to buy them in Birmingham.
For Ages 4 and Up
Charades
Charades is a classic party game where players act out a word or phrase while their teammates try to guess it before the timer runs out. Make up your own answers, or try Charades Junior, which features written and illustrated options so that even non-readers can play independently. For 4+ players
Connect 4
Players take turns playing colored chips and try to Connect 4 before the other person does. Whether you have a classic table top game or a huge yard set, Connect 4 is easy to learn and is a game you’ll keep coming back to. For 2 Players
Hoot Owl Hoot
Hoot Owl Hoot is an award-winning game where players must work together to help all of the owls return to their nest before sunrise. Everyone wins together, so this is perfect for young players or competitive spirits that can’t stand to lose. For 2-4 Players
For Ages 5 and Up
Pretty Pretty Princess
Pretty Pretty Princess is a classic 90’s game that has everyone racing to complete their jewelry collection first. For 2-4 Players
For Ages 6 and Up
Guess Who
Does your person have glasses? Earrings? In Guess Who, players ask questions to guess which character the other player has chosen. For 2 Players
Hedbandz
In Hedbandz, players wear—you guessed it—head bands that hold cards to their foreheads. The one wearing the head band asks the other players questions to guess the object pictured on their card. This silly game provides plenty of laughs and fun for everyone. For 2-6 Players
For Ages 7 and Up
Phase 10
In Phase 10, players collect certain combinations of cards at each of the 10 levels. We often bring this game to restaurants and play while we are waiting on our food. Each round is fairly quick, but the game could last a long time, making it easy to pause and pick up where you left off later. For 2-6 Players
Taco, Cat, Goat, Cheese, Pizza
This fun game with a funny name has players repeating “Taco, Cat, Goat, Cheese Pizza” as they play cards. Try to be the first to slap the deck when the word someone says matches their card. A few silly twists keep the giggles going throughout the game. For 2-8 Players
Tenzi
Tenzi is a fun and easy dice game with multiple ways to play. Our family also loves Buildzi, a fun building game by the same creators that is great for similar ages. For 2-4 Players
Uno
Uno is a classic favorite and is another game that is handy to bring to a restaurant to play while you are waiting. Players take turns discarding cards with matching colors or numbers, and whoever is out of cards first is the Uno champion! For 2-10 Players
For Ages 8 and Up
Azul
In Azul, players compete to build a beautiful tile wall. Although this game seems a little complicated at first, my family found a YouTube video with instructions and has been building beautiful walls since. For 2-4 Players
Play Nine
Play Nine is a golf-themed card game where players combine strategy and luck to finish nine holes with the lowest score. For 2-6 Players
Sleeping Queens
Sleeping Queens is whimsical card game where players compete to awaken the most queens from a magical slumber using strategy, memory, and elementary math. For 2-5 Players
For Ages 10 and Up
Ticket to Ride
Players learn geography and strategy as they build railroads to travel across the United States. For a younger group, Ticket to Ride Junior is a simpler and very entertaining version for ages 6 and up. For 2-5 Players
For Teens and Adults
Cranium
In Cranium, each team completes a series of trivia, word puzzle, acting, drawing, and sculpting challenges in a race around the board to “Cranium Central.” This game is fun to play with younger kids if they are teamed up with older family members. For 4 or more Players
Where to Find Our Top Family Games in Birmingham
- Homewood Toy and Hobby
2830 18th Street South, Homewood - Learning Express
3132 Heights Village, Vestavia Hills - Snoozy’s Kids
228 Country Club Park, Mountain Brook
