Tonight could be family game night. No, not video games, but actual board games. We can all remember the fun of landing on Boardwalk in Monopoly, drawing the Sorry! Card, or being the first to solve the mystery in Clue. Don’t wait for a rainy day – board games are family-friendly fun, and some even teach logic, basic math skills, and problem-solving.
As much fun as you remember
Grab your coat and you can be the Top Hat in Monopoly town. Thimble and wheelbarrow got the boot, and the boot is gone now, too – those pieces have been refitted with a penguin, a rubber ducky, and a T-Rex token. But the object and theme of this iconic game remain the same. Find out if you still buy all the properties you land on or if you have to pay the luxury tax. Some counting, adding, and subtracting skills are needed to play this game, which is why it’s recommended for kids over eight years old. Build houses and hotels, or buy some utility companies with the classic board game of Monopoly. Just be sure to stay out of jail, and remember to collect your funds each time you pass Go.
Newer kid on the block
The 25th Anniversary Edition also comes with the extension pack, so everyone can join in this popular board game. The game formerly known as Settlers of Catan may have shortened its name, but it’s still long on fun. One of the reasons we like this board game so much is that rather than sitting and waiting for your turn, it’s interactive. To be victorious, you need to trade and talk with the other players. The premise is simple – roll the dice, collect resources, and use them to expand your settlement. The average game lasts between 60 and 90 minutes.
Buy: CATAN Board Game 25th Anniversary Edition
Best choice for children
With easy rules and a simple strategy, Sorry is fun for kids of all ages. Give Netflix the night off. Board games are enjoyable with the family and at parties, too. Give your pieces a ride on the slide where they can bump off all the other brightly colored pieces. Or wait out your other three opponents in the safety zone. With the youngest player getting the first turn, all players get four matching pieces. Everything you need for a giggly time with kids six years or older is included.
Buy: Sorry! Game
An updated classic
Are you ready to take a spin on an updated version of the childhood favorite? Secret agent or ice cream flavor designer, spin the wheel and make or break your future. This edition of Life allows you to choose from 31 careers, and lots of twists and turns of life. There are no bridges and mountains to assemble in this version, so all you need to do is set up the board and let the fun begin. Do you choose a tropical vacation or hit the ski slopes? Do you ride in the car with your family?
Buy: Gaming The Game of Life Board Game
The original whodunnit game
Use your deductive skills to hone in on suspects and solve the crimes in this classic game of Clue. More players make this game more challenging as you move around Mr. Boddy’s mansion looking for the clues to reveal who is the guilty party. Remember putting the cards in the envelope at the start of the game? This updated version has a brighter board and the same rooms as the original game. Was it Mr. Plum with the candlestick in the conservatory? Perhaps it was Miss Scarlet with the wrench in the kitchen? There are six suspects, as Mrs. White may have gotten lost in one of the secret passages, and has been replaced by Dr. Orchid. Multitudes of plots and scenarios offer hours of sleuthing fun in this classic game of mystery.
Buy: Clue Game
Cyndi Mathews is a contributing writer to Florida Travel & Life, an online brand that inspires active, affluent travelers, providing them with insider information on discovering the best of Florida. Informative and engaging, the website showcases travel destinations, arts and cultural venues, vibrant dining scenes, recreational activities, the great outdoors and the revitalized real-estate market. Cyndi recently published her first book and enjoys traveling to Florida in her sailboat.
