10 Great Family Games to Gift for the Holidays

We are a game-loving family over here, and we have definitely amassed a collection of favorites over the years. Each of the games on my list I have personally played about a billion times.

I like to keep a game or two right in the middle of our dining table in case anybody wants to play when we have a few minutes to spare. Some games, like a round of Bananagrams, can be played in just a few minutes.

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Great to play with younger kids…

#1 Zingo

All three of my kids LOVED this game when they were younger. Though it says “Ages 4 and up”, I worked at a preschool where I played with 3-year-olds and most of them do just fine. The game brilliantly incorporates matching, hand-eye coordination, and is actually pretty fun for adults too!

#2 Guess Who?

No joke, I used to have the little characters in this game memorized by heart, that’s how much I played this with my kids. The two players try to guess who the other player is by asking questions and eliminating the characters that don’t fit the description. I loved playing this one when my kids were little because they would always come up with the funniest questions that had nothing to do with the game LOL.

Great for the whole family…

#3 Bananagrams

This game basically saved us during quarantine. We had an all-out Bananagrams WAR in our house. With three teens, it got competitive, it got LOUD, and at times, it got ugly! Think of a portable Scrabble, but everybody has their own board. Comes in a cute little bag which makes it great to throw in your suitcase for family travels.

#5 Rummikub

Rummikub = nostalgia for me. When I was a little girl, my grandmother taught me to play Gin Rummy and I have many fond memories of sitting at her kitchen table, cards in our hands, while delicious smells came from her oven. Fast forward many years later and my mom taught each of my three kids Rummikub. It says ages 8 and up, but most 6-year-old can easily play. This is the one that gets broken out at every family get together…

#6 Boggle

I am a lifelong Boggle nerd. In fact, for many years, it was sort of my claim to fame that nobody could really beat me in Boggle. Alas, that is no longer the case. In fact, there is someone who can not only beat me, but who absolutely DESTROYS me every single game. And I gave birth to him. Yes, friends, I have been bested by my 19-year-old son, and I ain’t too happy about it! All of my kids played Boggle growing up and along with just being an easy, quick, portable game, it’s also great for spelling and vocabulary!

#7 Farkle

#8 Catch Phrase

One of my kids’ all time favorites, and great for family get-togethers because you can play in a large group and team up. In this fast-paced game, you have to try and get your team to guess your word using clues. Always good for a lot of laughs.

#9 Phase 10

A good old-fashioned Rummy-type card game, you have to be the first player to complete 10 “phases” to win. A great gift for under $10.

#10 Scattergories

Creativity will get you far in this family-friendly game where you can play individually or team up for more fun. You choose a category, then race against the timer (and your opponents) to write down as many unique words in that category as you can. Half the fun is challenging other people’s ridiculous answers!

Bonus Game on my list: Telestrations

The only reason I didn’t put Telestrations in my top 10 is because it’s over $20. But it’s so worth it! This game is like a way more fun version of the old classic Pictionary. It’s a drawing game, but with a twist. This game is perfect for bigger groups (up to 8 players) and probably generates the most laughs of any game we own. Highly recommend!

I hope you enjoyed my game suggestions…there are some great deals on these right now so stock up for upcoming birthdays and holidays!