🎲 10 Games To Play With Family
🍼 The Newborn Survival Kit
The first six months of parenthood are a blur of exhaustion. Stop trying to tough it out—these are the 5 absolute life-saving baby essentials that experienced moms literally refuse to live without. They will instantly solve your biggest sleeping, feeding, and soothing struggles.
🌙 Hatch Rest Baby Sound Machine
The ultimate sleep hack. You can entirely control this white noise machine and dimmable nightlight from your smartphone, meaning you never have to accidentally wake the baby while sneaking back out of the nursery after a 3 AM feeding.
🤧 FridaBaby NoseFrida Snotsucker
It sounds incredibly gross until your baby has their first cold and literally cannot breathe to sleep. Throw away those useless hospital bulb syringes—this doctor-invented tool safely clears congestion in seconds, and yes, the filter absolutely prevents any germs from reaching you.
💧 Haakaa Silicone Manual Breast Pump
Every breastfeeding mom's best kept secret. Simply suction this cheap, cord-free silicone cup to the opposite breast while you nurse to effortlessly catch every drop of liquid gold letdown that would otherwise leak onto your shirt and be totally wasted.
🧴 Aquaphor Baby Healing Ointment
Forget buying ten different expensive, highly-fragranced creams. This is the only ointment you need. It miraculously cures severe diaper rash overnight, heals cracked nursing nipples, soothes baby eczema, and aggressively protects delicate skin from harsh winter wind.
☁️ Burt's Bees 100% Organic Burp Cloths
You will go through dozens of these a day, so do not cheap out on thin fabric. These thick, ultra-absorbent organic cotton cloths actually catch massive spit-ups before they ruin your only clean outfit, while remaining incredibly soft against your newborn's face.
Alright fam, let’s get real for a sec. We all love our screens, but sometimes you just need to ditch the TikTok scroll and actually talk to the people sharing your Wi-Fi password. Enter the glorious world of family game night! It’s less awkward than forced conversation and way more fun than another round of “who left the dishes out.” We’re talking genuine laughs, a little friendly rivalry, and memories that’ll last longer than your phone’s battery life. Grab some snacks, clear the table, and let’s dive into some absolute bangers.
1. Catan
Ready to turn your family into cutthroat traders? Catan is where it’s at. You’re building settlements, roads, and cities on a dynamic island, all while collecting resources like wood, brick, sheep, wheat, and ore. It’s surprisingly strategic but super easy to learn, making it perfect for both seasoned board game warriors and total newbies. Pro tip: don’t be afraid to make a deal with the devil (aka your sibling) if it gets you that crucial ore. Just remember to negotiate hard. Catan sparks some serious (but friendly) competition and teaches resource management, plus everyone loves yelling “I need wood!”
2. Ticket to Ride
Choo choo! All aboard for a journey across the continent. In Ticket to Ride, you collect colored train cars to claim railway routes connecting cities across the map. The goal is to complete your destination tickets, earning points for longer routes and strategic connections. It’s a fantastic gateway game that blends simple rules with enough strategy to keep everyone engaged. Pro tip: always keep an eye on what routes your opponents are collecting; sometimes blocking is the best offense. This game is perfect for a chill evening, offering a satisfying blend of competition and beautiful components.
3. Exploding Kittens
If you want pure, unadulterated chaos and giggles, Exploding Kittens delivers. It’s a highly strategic, kitty-powered version of Russian roulette. You draw cards until someone draws an Exploding Kitten, at which point they are out of the game unless they have a Defuse card. The cards are hilarious, the turns are quick, and the tension is real. Pro tip: save your Defuse cards for as long as humanly possible, and use those “Nope” cards mercilessly. It’s quick, it’s silly, and it guarantees some truly ridiculous moments.
4. Charades
Sometimes the best games require zero setup and zero purchases. Charades is a timeless classic for a reason. One person acts out a word or phrase without speaking, and the rest of the team tries to guess it. It’s fantastic for all ages, gets everyone moving, and brings out some truly memorable (and often hilarious) interpretations. Pro tip: for maximum laughs, choose categories that allow for big, exaggerated movements, like movie titles or animals. This game guarantees belly laughs and proves that sometimes, silence is golden… or at least, hilarious.
5. Pictionary
Can you draw a “jumping bean” under pressure? Pictionary tests your artistic skills (or lack thereof) and your ability to guess what on earth your teammate is trying to sketch. Players take turns drawing clues while their teammates try to identify the word or phrase. It’s a fantastic way to unleash creativity and witness some truly abstract art. Pro tip: don’t overthink your drawings; sometimes a simple stick figure gets the message across faster than a masterpiece. Pictionary is a fantastic icebreaker and always leads to some seriously funny misinterpretations.
6. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Yes, video games count! Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on the Nintendo Switch is the ultimate family racing showdown. Pick your favorite Nintendo character, grab some power-ups, and race through vibrant, chaotic tracks. The blue shell might cause family arguments, but it’s all in good fun. It’s accessible for all skill levels thanks to smart steering and auto-accelerate options. Pro tip: master those drifts and use your items strategically; sometimes holding onto a defensive item is better than immediately firing. This game is pure, unadulterated fun, perfect for some high-energy, friendly competition.
7. Spaceteam
Get ready to shout orders and push random buttons. Spaceteam is a free co-op mobile game where 2-8 players connect their devices and work together to prevent their spaceship from exploding. You’ll be yelling commands like “Set the Hydro-coptic Piston to Three!” and frantically searching your own screen for the right control. It’s chaotic, hilarious, and requires surprisingly good communication. Pro tip: don’t be afraid to get loud and repeat yourself; sometimes someone else has the control you need to save the day. This game is a fantastic way to bond over shared panic and laughter.
8. Sequence
If you’re looking for a game that combines strategy with a touch of luck and classic board game vibes, Sequence is your jam. Players try to create rows of five chips on the board using cards from their hand. You need to think ahead, block opponents, and strategically use your special cards (jacks are wild or can remove an opponent’s chip). It’s easy to learn but offers plenty of depth. Pro tip: always try to build two potential sequences at once; it makes you harder to block. Sequence is a satisfying game that encourages thoughtful play and some clever maneuvers.
9. Telestrations
Imagine the game of Telephone, but with drawings. Telestrations is an absolute riot. Everyone starts with a word, draws it, then passes their sketchbook. The next person guesses what the drawing is, writes it down, then draws that guess, and so on. The results are almost always wildly different from the original word, leading to side-splitting reveals. Pro tip: don’t try to be an artist; quick, clear (or hilariously bad) sketches are often the best. This game is pure, unadulterated fun, proving that miscommunication can be the best kind of communication.
10. Dominion
Ready to dive into the world of deck-building? Dominion is a fantastic introduction to this genre. You start with a small, identical deck of cards and strategically buy new cards to improve your deck, aiming to collect the most Victory Points. Every game feels different because the available cards change, offering immense replayability. It’s a game of strategy, resource management, and building a powerful engine. Pro tip: focus on buying cards that give you more actions or more money early on; it’s all about efficiency. Dominion offers a rewarding strategic experience that evolves with every play, keeping everyone engaged.
🧩 The Toddler Sanity & Learning Kit
Toddlers are tiny tornados. Instead of turning on the iPad in a moment of desperation, these 5 open-ended toys and clever tools foster independent, screen-free play while simultaneously saving your house from milk spills and crayon disasters.
🧱 Magna-Tiles 100-Piece Building Set
The undeniable king of open-ended play. It is the one single toy that a 2-year-old and a 10-year-old will both happily play with for an hour straight. They develop spatial reasoning, math skills, and independent focus—worth absolutely every penny.
🥛 Munchkin Miracle 360 Trainer Cups
Stop wiping up milk puddles. These genius, dentist-recommended cups allow kids to drink from anywhere around the rim like a real glass, but they instantly seal themselves the second the child stops drinking—even if they drop it on the floor.
🎧 Yoto Mini Kids Audio Player
The ultimate distraction for car rides or quiet time without the guilt of handing over a glowing screen. Kids control it completely by inserting physical cards to play audiobooks, music, and educational podcasts completely independently.
🧹 Melissa & Doug Wooden Cleaning Set
Toddlers desperately want to do exactly what you do. This kid-sized, highly durable wooden sweeping and mopping set redirects their chaotic energy into productive, confidence-building life skills while you actually get the real cleaning done in peace.
🎒 Montessori Travel Busy Board
The secret to surviving restaurants and airplanes with a two-year-old. Packed with buckles, zippers, shoelaces, and snaps, this soft, lightweight 'briefcase' develops critical fine-motor skills and keeps busy little hands occupied for surprisingly long stretches.
Conclusion
So there you have it! Ten killer ways to drag your family away from their screens and into some good old-fashioned fun. Whether you’re duking it out on the race track, trading sheep for ore, or just making truly questionable drawings, these games are guaranteed to create some epic memories. Ditch the endless scrolling, grab some snacks, and prepare for some truly unforgettable family showdowns. You’re welcome!
