Why it's best: Monopoly is, without question, the most famous board game of all time. It is a true classic. It allows 8 people to play at a time, which means no one in the family is excluded. It is a game that perfectly balances luck and skill, while simultaneously educating children (and adults) about simple math, the value of money and gives a simplified picture of how the real-estate economy works. Monopoly is a game that anybody, no matter how old they are, can enjoy. The game enables interaction with one another in a non-threatening environment, which is something that a computer or television cannot offer. Monopoly teaches its players about handling imaginary money, counting, adding without paper or a calculator, making change, handling real estates, losing gracefully and winning without bragging too much. This game also incorporates ideas of bankruptcy, mortgages and loaning money. However, Monopoly is a game that takes a long time to play through. Thus, some people, especially children, may get bored with it and want to quit. The key to keeping this game exciting and intriguing is creating “house rules” to make things a little different each time you play. As a result, Monopoly is never the same game twice. For such a small price, this game will bring you and your family priceless memories. See more reviews, photos, prices, and specs
Why it's a best pick: Clue is a great game that puts deductive reasoning to the test and is fun for the whole family. It is, like Monopoly, a classic game that has been enjoyed by families for generations. According to the game, Mr. Boddy has been murdered in one of nine rooms with one of six weapons by one of six suspects. Clue is a game that introduces logic, luck and strategy into the requirements for winning. It is challenging and entertaining not only for this reason, but also because of the mystery elements. This game can be played by all ages. Children can be on a team with mom, dad or anyone else playing and can share their secret clues with one another. This game is easy to learn and even easier to catch onto. What I like most about this game is that you can’t tell who is going to win until the very end because there is no definite marker of who’s winning. This way, participants don’t get discouraged because they think they are losing, which is especially helpful for children. The speculations and accusations made by the players are intriguing and the game doesn’t tend to drag on for too long. It has a definite end to it, which happens to be when the correct accusation of who, where, and with what, is made. Clue teaches children how to solve a problem with the process of elimination. It’s a game that makes you think. You have to keep track of the clues that you collect and pay attention to other people’s clues and who is proving them wrong. It’s the eavesdropping and shrewdness that makes this part of the game educational and fun. Something to note are the small sizes of the playing pieces that could potentially be a choking hazard for kids. Also, detective sheets run out quickly, so if you make copies of blank cards you will never need to buy the game again. Clue is a great family game that is different every time it is played. Highly recommended. See more reviews, photos, prices, and specs
Why it's a best pick: Scrabble is, arguably, one of the most challenging family games invented and perhaps, the most fun. Up to four players choose seven letter tiles that each have a separate value, and they must use them to construct words that connect with other tiles already on the board. The game works very much like a crossword puzzle, as words can only be built horizontally and vertically. Scrabble makes players not only produce words with their letters but also strategize. It is a word game that can be played by anyone in any language that uses the English alphabet. It is entertaining no matter how many times it is played, since no game is ever the same twice. Scrabble is based more on the skill and vocabulary of the player than on luck. Children will learn in a fun and friendly way to build critical thinking, improve spelling and gain vocabulary skills. Not only will you learn words you never knew before, but you will also teach other players a word or two. I recommend keeping a dictionary nearby not for cheating purposes, but for settling arguments as to the legitimacy of a word or the spelling. The game often takes a while to finish, but as the tiles and space on the board run out, it only gets more exciting. The Diamond Anniversary Edition of Scrabble adds a sleek new look to the classic game. The wooden tiles that make up the letters are very durable and fit perfectly into the grid, but they can be dangerous for small children, so use caution. If you're on a budget, the standard version runs the cheapest. See more reviews, photos, prices, and specs
Why it's a best pick: Sorry! is a competitive game that teaches graceful losing and the art of revenge. Up to 4 players race to be the first to get all 4 of their pawns into their "home" square on the board. You can be red, blue, green, or yellow. Players take turns drawing from a deck of cards and moving pieces as indicated, trying to be the first to get all their pieces home. The cards offer some nice twists beyond simply moving forward. Sorry! is a great, colorful game with easy to move pawns. It is wonderful family fun and entertainment. The skills required to play the game, such as decision making, strategizing, and taking setbacks in stride, are skills that transfer easily to everyday life. Since it is a game of chance and strategy, everyone has equal opportunity to win, regardless of their age. Sorry! draws on many important lessons of sportsmanship. The game can be frustrating for children when they get kicked back home or can see themselves losing, but this is truly a game that isn’t over until it’s over. Children learn to not give up when things aren’t going well and often times see extraordinary results. This game has, without a doubt, withstood the test of time clearly withstood the test of time will remain a family favorite for years to come. See more reviews, photos, prices, and specs
Why it's a best pick: Hasbro has recently changed the game of Life from its original version by Milton Bradley to make it more politically correct. They have also, in return, made the game less challenging and less educational, and while it is on the bottom of this list, it is still a great game to play with the family. Even more recently, Hasbro has come out with The Game of Life: Twists and Turns, which offers a fantastic update to the classic version. Essentially many of the things that can happen in real life can happen in the game of life. For example, not going to college usual leads to a lower income. You can even get married and have children in this game. Every game seems to have it's own unique feel, and no matter who seems to have fortune on their side, the twists and turns keep everyone on edge. During the game you have to spend your money wisely and make the right choices. There's so much fun and imagination in the game. The game of Life is a great family game because there is so little strategy involved that even an 8 year-old child could beat mom or dad. The game has a much shorter time limit than Monopoly or Scrabble since there is a pre-set path to be followed from the beginning to the end. The newer version of the original game is much less complicated and involves less skill than the old version.
The newest version Twists and Turns is wonderfully fitting to present times. Every player gets a Visa credit card that represents their money, and everything is kept track of electronically. The careers and situations are more suited for the times and there are more exciting options than the original version or the modified original version. I would say the most important thing that the Game of Life offers is a life lesson: just like in real life, chance must be a factor of any strategy, and life doesn’t always go according to plan.
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