The best new board games for holiday family fun
If “quality time” with your family is on your to-do list this holiday season, there’s no better way to make it happen than by pulling a board game off the shelf.
Our suggestion: Shop from our list below to find games to give everyone on your list. Once the unwrapping is over, pass around the eggnog and hot chocolate, and settle down for a family game night for the ages — and for all the ages in your family.
Here are our favorite new games for family game night. All were released within the last year, and all are guaranteed to please both the young and the young at heart.
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Trivial Pursuit 40th Anniversary Edition Ruby Edition
We love it when an iconic game gets a contemporary update. Case in point: this premium new release of Trivial Pursuit. It includes questions from six categories — geography, entertainment, history, arts and literature, science and technology, and sports and leisure — plus the Ruby deck, featuring key questions from the past 40 years. If you’re a family full of trivia buffs, brainiacs or plain old know-it-alls, this one’s for you. Best for ages 16 and up.
Shop it: $19 (was $40), walmart.com
If your family delights in potty humor (and let’s face it, whose doesn’t?), urine for a ton of fun with this bestselling game. Use the molds and compound provided to make your own piles of pretend doggie doo-doo; then try not to step in the poop as you walk along the mat while wearing a blindfold. Don’t be a party pooper: We guarantee this No. 2 game on our list will have everyone laughing. (As will the even newer, rainbow-colored Unicorn Edition.) Best for ages 4 and up.
Shop it: $20, jcpenney.com
Speaking of everyone’s favorite mythical creature, one of Kickstarter’s most-backed projects of all time is now available for sale everywhere. Often described as the “next” Exploding Kittens, the idea of this strategic card game is to build an army of unicorns while you “betray your friends — in a good way.” Unstable Unicorns gets bonus points for the hilarious phrases printed on many of its cards and the adorable Pokemon-style artwork. Best for ages 14 and up.
Shop it: $21, target.com
Mindware Double Spot Strategy Game
Don’t spike the eggnog if you’re planning to win at this new game. Players work to complete the same patterns at the same time while taking risks in an effort to outwit their opponents. Double Spot Strategy may not be easy to win, but it’s easy to learn — so it’s a great gift for the whole crew to learn on the spot as they pop in and out between other family activities. Best for ages 6 and up.
Shop it: $25, mindware.com
So Cards: A Collection of Questions for Deeper Discussions
We love a conversation starter, and this new game goes straight for the big ones. Like, “If you could witness one key moment in history, what would you choose?” Promising 52 cards and unlimited conversation, the lightweight deck is easy to toss in your bag and play anywhere. While not a game in the traditional sense, this Kickstarter-funded concept is a gift to any family wanting to forge more meaningful connections. Best for ages 12 and up.
Shop it: $15, amazon.com
Play as your favorite member of the Parr family — Violet, Elastigirl, Dash or Mr. Incredible — as you work together to save Jack-Jack, who gets teleported throughout the city. Along the way you’ll have to collaborate to solve problems as they arise throughout Metroville, with each of you using your own skills and abilities to the advantage of the group. This cooperative game is easy to learn and fun for movie fans of all ages. Best for ages 6 and up.
Shop it: $20, barnesandnoble.com
If most of your video footage features Grandma getting a face full of whipped cream, you’ll love the next-level version of this famous game. In the new Pie Face Cannon Game, one player rests her chin behind the face mask, while the other player aims the cannon and launches a dollop of whipped cream. The player behind the mask can try to avoid getting “pie-faced” by using the blocking hand. Players earn points by either “pieing” their opponents or successfully blocking the “flying pie.” Good for hours of hilarity, especially among the little ones. Best for ages 5 and up.
Shop it: $10 (was $25), walmart.com
Wham-O Stay ‘N Play Maze Craze
A dynamic new version of classic wooden marble runs, Maze Craze invites players to create their own runs using a plastic pegboard, pegs, and rubber bands. The balls must go through the maze to the holes of the corresponding color before the timer runs out. Roll the balls by standing up, holding the lightweight board, and maneuvering just so. Take the compact game anywhere — even in your suitcase for a family trip. Best for ages 8 and up.
Shop it: $25, amazon.com
In this cute and tactile game, players encourage the playful kitties to jump, bat the yarn balls around and race to the basket without catching a look from the watchful eyes of the mommy cats. A fun game to build visual perception and memory, Kitty Bitty is a sweet way to include your youngest family members while keeping the grown-ups entertained. Best for ages 4 and up.
Shop it: $31, walmart.com
Strategic gamers, Disney fans and everyone else in your family will surely be charmed by this easy-to-learn yet totally one-of-a-kind game. Pick your Disney villain from among the most infamous of all time — Maleficent, Jafar, Ursula, Captain Hook, Queen of Hearts, and Prince John; then work within your own story as you aim to reach your unique objectives while thwarting your enemies with curses, traps and more. Best for ages 10 and up.
Shop it: $32 (was $35), target.com
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? Merry and bright: Add some sparkle to your home for the holidays
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