Spending time with your family should be fun, but too often we get together and then crowd around the TV screen. Arguing over what to watch is not the best way to be spending that valuable time together! Fortunately, there are lots of activities and games that you can play together as a family. For some of these family games you’ll need some basic equipment, while for others you’ll need nothing more than paper and pencils. If you want to spend some quality time with the family over the next few months, then here are some of the best games that you could be playing instead of staring at the TV.

Cards

There’s nothing quite like a good game of cards – and you’re spoiled for choices too. There are more card games to play than you might have realized and you can choose the games to reflect the age of every player. Older family members might want to play a few rounds of poker or blackjack, while younger members of the family will love a bit of Snap or Crazy Eights. The best thing about card games is that everyone can get involved and a single deck of cards is a very inexpensive thing to buy. One deck of cards can provide endless hours of entertainment, just don’t let the little ones start ganging up against the grown-ups!

Escape!

Escape rooms have never been more popular and they’re a great way to spend some time with family or friends. It used to be that you had to leave the house to head to a dedicated escape room, but that’s no longer the case. Now, it’s never been easier to prepare your own escape room at home! There is now a wide range of ways to play an at home escape room and your family can get in on the action quickly and easily. Escape rooms are a great mental workout that encourages teamwork and collaboration, so it can be a lot more than just a way to kill a few hours. Prepare your home escape room and you’ll be getting every person involved and thinking hard.

Charades

A true parlor game classic – charades requires no equipment and no preparation. Everyone just gets in their teams and starts playing. Most people already know the basic hand gestures to indicate a film, TV show, song, or book and they’re easy to explain to first-timers too. Of course, if you want to win your game of charades, then it’s worth doing a little brushing up on some of the best ways to beat the family at the classic game. If you have a contest going and the loser has to do the washing up, then learning some sneaky tips could be the key to a more relaxing time post-victory!

Consoles

There’s this misconception, especially among older generations, that game consoles are not good for families. The stereotype of gamers being lonely teens who rarely leave their room is long gone and now every generation will find something to love if you plug the console in. Old and young generations alike will find a lot of enjoyment with the right game and there are certainly a lot of options. The best party games for families include options like Terraria or Super Mario Bros, but younger family members might prefer something like Overcooked or Rocket league. Computer games are very good for the brain too and elderly players can get as many benefits as the younger ones.

Board Games

You’ll need to know in advance what board games your family is going to want to play, but there’s nothing quite like a few hours around a good board game. From classic, rage-inducing Monopoly to more modern board games like Settlers of Catan, there really are board games to suit all ages and tastes. You can even get board games based on grandpa’s favorite film (Jaws) or the always popular Ghostbusters game. Some families have huge collections of board games but for those that don’t, they’re remarkably easy to get. Buying a brand new board game can get quite expensive, but buying second-hand is often much more affordable. You could even head to sites like Kickstarter and check out new and innovative board games that nobody has ever played before. 

Playing games as a family isn’t just good for the memory or for improving brain agility. It’s also a fantastic way to spend time together and bond. If you and your family spend more time slumped in front of the TV or staring at your phones, it’s time to start coming together and playing some classic or modern family games to create memories that will never be forgotten.