Already have an account?
Get back to the
Entertainment

6 Family Board Games to Break Out This Thanksgiving

Tags:

First For Women has affiliate partnerships. We receive compensation when you click on a link and make a purchase. Learn more!

Thanksgiving is all about spending time with the ones you hold closest. Once the turkey’s been carved and you’ve eaten half your weight in stuffing, it’s time for activities! Studies have shown that family bonding is extremely beneficial for everyone involved, helping to develop positive behaviors, strengthen self-esteem, and improve mental health. An easy way to bond with your family this holiday? Break out the fun family board games, of course. A tradition in many households come turkey day, board games allow you to spend quality time with loved ones you haven’t seen all year — and to see who among you has inherited grandpa’s competitive edge!

Best Types of Board Games

Over the years, the board game has evolved and expanded to include a whole host of types. Keep reading for three of the best ones you’ll need to be familiar with to succeed when taking on your friends and family. 

Roll and Move Games: When you think of classic board games, roll and move games, in which you roll dice or spin a wheel to move, are the first type that typically come to mind. They’re still extremely popular today, with favorites including Monopoly, Sorry, and The Game of Life

Mystery Games: A staple genre in everything from books and TV to movies, and, you guessed it — games — mysteries are a great option for anyone who’s interested in throwing on their sleuthing cap to solve a case. From staple whodunnits like Clue to more kid-friendly mystery guessing games, like Guess Who?, mystery board games are another old classic that will never go out of style. 

Party Games: With each new generation comes a slew of new party games, all of which are extremely fun to play. Sure, a classic like Twister will still get people up and moving, but more modern options include picks like Jenga, Taboo, and card games like What Do You Meme?

Trivia Games: Finally, there are trivia games. The ultimate battle of wits, trivia games let you and your family test each other’s knowledge — usually with a lot of laughs in the process. Think Trivial Pursuit and Catch Phrase. 

Best Family Board Games

From classic board games passed down by generations to fun, new finds everyone can play, we’ve rounded up five must-have games for all of your turkey day shindigs. Keep scrolling to shop FIRST’ for Women’s picks for fun family board games that are sure to be a hit this Thanksgiving. 

We write about products we think our readers will like. If you buy them, we get a small share of the revenue from the supplier.

Best Board Game for Whole Family — Pie Face Showdown

Pie Face Showdown

Where to buy: $13.49 (Originally $24.99), Amazon

As one of the best games to be released in the last 10 years, Pie Face Showdown has become a hit with families the world over. A hilarious head-to-head game of speed, everyone from kids to grandparents will get a kick out of it —and it couldn’t be easier to play. Players load the board’s attached red arm with whip cream, place their chins on one of two provided rests, and reach for one of two built-in red buttons that’s closest to them. From there, they’ll each press their respective buttons as fast as they can, which will move the arm closer and closer to their opponent. When the arm reaches a red marker on either side of the board, it will spring up, dousing the loser in a face full of whipped cream! This game comes with everything you need for hours of play minus the whipped cream, including the pie thrower base, one throwing arm, two chin rests, two splash-card masks, one sponge, and instructions.

Best Trivia Board Game — Trivial Pursuit

trivial Pursuit

Where to buy: $14.99 (Originally $19.99), Amazon

Put your family’s smarts to the test with Trivial Pursuit: Family Edition. With more than 1,400 trivia questions, this game provides guaranteed hours of fun. This edition is kid-friendly thanks to an even split of 120 cards for kids and 120 cards for adults. Play individually or in teams as you take turns moving around the board and answering questions to see who really knows their stuff. With categories, like geography, entertainment, and history, this game is filled with laughter and learning. 

Best Classic Board Game — Life

Game of Life

Where to buy: $13.44 (Originally $19.99), Amazon

For a classic board game that’s perfect for an after-meal showdown, the Game of Life is one that’s oodles of fun. Hit the road for the ultimate roller-coaster that is real life as you get married, start a family, and choose a career. Kids and adults alike will enjoy moving their cars around the game board as they see how their choices pan out through a series of unexpected twists and turns. A word to the wise: Be careful how you spend your dough in this game, because it’ll be vital in the end!

Best Board Game for Kids — Charades for Kids

Charades for Kids

Where to buy: $10.99 (Originally $14.99), Amazon

Let your little ones get creative and burn off some of energy with Charades for Kids. Everyone knows the classic game of charades, in which you silently act out clues, but this kid-friendly version makes it fun for everyone with picture-based cards — no reading skills necessary! Best of all, with three levels of play (level one cards are easy while even older players will find higher level clues challenging), this game is good for a variety of ages. 

Best Board Game for Adults — Jenga

Jenga

Where to buy: $6.88 (Originally $14.99), Amazon

If there’s one game that’s seen a resurgence as of late, it’s Jenga. The ultimate test of skill and balance, the aim of this game is to become the last player to remove a wooden block from an intricate stack without bringing the house down. Timeless and beloved, it gets even more fun for adults once that combination of Turkey and mulled wine begins to take hold. 

Best Board Game for Couples — Taboo

Taboo

Where to buy: $13.35 (Originally $16.99), Amazon 

Looking for a fun team game? Try the game of “unspeakable” fun, Taboo. It’s a classic couples pick that will really put your creativity to the test. With more than 260 cards and 1000+ words to guess, it will be a challenge to have your partner guess the correct word you’ve chosen to describe without saying any of the five related forbidden words on your cards. Fun and fast-paced, this is just the game for anyone with a competitive spirit. 

See more of our best product recommendations.

More from FIRST

12 Thanksgiving Decorations You’ll Be Thankful For in 2019

7 Thanksgiving Crafts for Toddlers That Go Beyond a Handprint Turkey

16 Best Sensory Toys for Kids That’ll Ignite Their Senses

Use left and right arrow keys to navigate between menu items. Use right arrow key to move into submenus. Use escape to exit the menu. Use up and down arrow keys to explore. Use left arrow key to move back to the parent list.