Many of you will instantly recall the classics such as Monopoly or Battleship, two long-time popular board games most of us over 35 grew up with. But these days there are lots of fun and exciting new players in the top board games arena. Looking for a couple of new games to take on our camping trip this spring I realized that I had not heard of some of them. And I thought you might not have either. So, the following is a list of popular family board games, some classics, some contemporary, and some brand new, that will bring you and your loved-ones together at the picnic table for an evening of fun for your family and friends.

1. Bananagrams

And isn’t it weird that, as it turns out, our first game doesn’t even require a board! Bananagrams is a fast and fun word game that requires no pencil, paper or – that’s right – board! Indeed, all you need is a table. One game can be played in as little as five minutes. It is a great for family fun as well as being educational. Bananagrams portability makes it perfect for travel or for taking on the family camping trip. You just grab the pouch and hit the road!

Bananagrams is available for purchase at Amazon.com

2. Qwirkle Board Game

Our tactile wooden block game combines the logic and strategy of SET®
with the creative multi-maneuver game play of Scrabble®. Easy-to-learn rules mean you’ll be creating columns and rows of matching colors and shapes in no time! Look for opportunities to score big by placing a tile that touches multiple pieces and matches both shapes and colors; the player with the most points wins.

Qwirkle is available for purchase at Amazon.com

3. The Settlers of Catan

The Settlers of Catan from Mayfair Games is an award-winning strategy game where players collect resources and use them to build roads, settlements and cities on their way to victory. The board itself is variable, making each game a little different from the next. Each round of The Settlers of Catan is intended to keep three or four players ages 10 and above engaged for up to 90 minutes.

The Settlers of Catan is available for purchase from Amazon.com

4. Blokus Classics Game

Fun for both kids and adults, Blokus is a strategy board game that challenges spatial thinking. Bright colors and simple rules make it ideal for ages five and up, but adults will certainly be engrossed by this unique and challenging game.

Blokus is available for purchase from Amazon.com

5. Ticket to Ride

Join your friends in a race to claim railway routes across North America! Ticket to Ride, an award-winning strategy game, challenges players ages eight and older to complete multiple train routes connecting major cities. As miniature trains begin to populate the board map of North America, secret city-to-city rail connections are completed or hopelessly blocked by merciless competitors. Providing an enticing mixture of strategy and luck for groups of two to five players, Ticket to Ride squeezes the journey of a lifetime into a mere hour or less.

Ticket to Ride is available for purchase from Amazon.com

6. Dominion

You are a monarch, like your parents before you, a ruler of a small pleasant kingdom of rivers and evergreens. Unlike your parents, however, you have hopes and dreams! You want a bigger and more pleasant kingdom, with more rivers and a wider variety of trees. You want a Dominion! In all directions lie fiefs, freeholds, and feodums. All are small bits of land, controlled by petty lords and verging on anarchy.

Dominion is available for purchase at Amazon.com

7. Super Mario Brothers Chess

The Super Mario Collector’s Edition of Chess is the first and only chess set that features the most beloved and popular Super Mario characters in classic poses making this a must-have collectible for every Super Mario fan.

Super Mario Brother Chess is available from Amazon.com

8. Smart Ass

Smart Ass, the game, from University Games is here. Have you ever played a game and been bursting to yell out the answer, even when it’s not your turn? Well here’s your chance. Each Who, What, and Where Am I card has ten clues and the first player to yell out the correct answer moves one step closer to being the ultimate Smart Ass.

Smart Ass is available for purchase from Amazon.com

9. Hedbanz Game

Spice up your family game night with the Hedbanz Board Game, a fun, fast-paced, and simple question game that everyone aged 6 and up can enjoy. In a group of two to six players, you’ll draw an identity card for an animal, food, or common object but with one catch–everyone but you will see the card, displayed by the headband on your forehead. The goal is to deduce who or what you are by asking the players questions before the clock runs out.

Hedbanz is available for purchase from Amazon.com

10. Scrabble Flash Cubes

Scrabble Flash offers a compact, modern version of the classic game that people of all vocabulary levels can enjoy. Great for players eight years and older, this game features five SmartLink tiles that keep track of your words and points electronically. Play one of the two solo games, or swap tiles to win against a friend. Ideal for road trips or family vacations, Scrabble Flash delivers word-building excitement in a convenient, portable size.

Scrabble Flash is available for purchase from Amazon.com

So, as you can see, there are some pretty cool board games that would make a great activity for the entire family to enjoy on those unexpected rainy afternoons or evening gatherings around the picnic table, soaked in the glow of lantern light.

NOTE: Please be aware that some of these games contain game pieces which may constitute a choking hazard to small children. So keep your children safe by keeping this in mind when buying and enjoy your game =^).

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