Quick and Simple Games to Play

Board games and card games can be loads of fun. They are great for get-togethers or quiet nights at home. Games can also be a great way to pass the time when you are waiting or when you are on the go.

Below are some cool card games and board games that are perfect for quick and easy games. These are games you may not have heard of, but should definitely play.

These games are easy to pack so you can slip them into a bag or purse and whip them out when you are waiting or riding in the car or are just bored. They make great icebreakers, ease tensions, and are wonderful ways to spend time with people you love.

Descriptions of great games, suggestions about their family friendliness and how well the games can be played while traveling are included.

So don't sit around bored--get out a game and get ready for some fun!

Five Crowns is an easy game to play and to learn. It is similar to rummy and progressive rummy. There are 5 suits (hearts, clubs, diamonds, spades, and stars) rather than the 4 in a normal deck of cards. Each hand the players are dealt one more card than the last. There is a different wild card for each hand. The first hand begins with 3 cards and 3’s are wild. The second hand is 4 cards and 4’s are wild. Hands continue like that until the Kings are wild.

• This game is family friendly for kids who are able to do simple math and recognize numbers, colors, and shapes. Kids about 8 years and up should be able to play the game. Adults and children will enjoy the game.
• Five Crowns is also great for travel and to pass the time while waiting. It is easy to stop after a hand and continue the game later. As long as you have a stable place to place the discard pile and the draw pile, it can be played in the car.

Cosmic Coasters only takes about 10 minutes to play and is for 2-4 players. Each person gets one planet (one coaster). Using coins as ships, the players try to teleport ships back to their home coaster. Battle is played Rock, Paper, Scissors style to see who wins.

• Most children above elementary age will be able to play this game. As long as they understand the concept of Rock, Paper, Scissors, the rest of the game can be played with prompts from an adult.
• This game is quick and easy to play, so it can be played when you don’t have much time. It can also be played in the car as long as there aren’t many turns. The coins may slide a bit as the car turns. The game pieces can also be used as drink coasters, so it is a fun restaurant game.

Phase 10 is another simple rummy style game where players try to make runs and pairs. The twist to this game is that there is a different goal to each phase or hand. There are lots of variations and alternate ways to play, so the game never gets old. It is for 2-6 players and each phase takes roughly 10 minutes.

• The game is good for kids 7 and up who can recognize numbers and number order. Color recognition is also important in the game. Adults should have no trouble learning the game.
• The game is always is exciting because each phase is different and winning is a combination of luck and skill. The full game can take awhile to play, but you can play one phase or hand pretty quickly. You can play a hand and then continue the rest later. It is great for game nights, restaurants, and even travel. Each player has a hand and there is a draw pile and a discard pile in the middle, so playing in the car will work.

Quiddler is a word game with cards. Each card has one or more letters on it. The goal of the game is to form words with the cards. There is a scoring system where some letters are worth more, so you want to finish with the most points possible. It can be played as a solitaire version with just one person, but it is more fun with 2 players and as many as 8 people.

• Kids who can read and know how to spell words can play this game. So children 8-10 or older can enjoy playing this game. It can be a great spelling and reading practice for kids who are beginning and intermediate readers.
• This game is great for travel and anytime you are waiting. You can pause the game between hands and continue later. There is a draw and discard pile in the middle and players hold their cards in their hands.

Fluxx is a game that is all about changing rules. The amount of cards each player draws and plays is constantly changing. There are Keeper cards that have pictures of items on them that you will play as well. The basic goal of the game is to have the right keeper cards when the right rule cards are in play. There is tons of replay value with this game and there are also lots of expansion decks available (like Zombie Fluxx, Pirate Fluxx, and more) that can be added to the game or played separately. It is best with 2-6 players.

• The game is great for teaching kids how to follow directions and rules. It is best for kids who know how to read, but there is a Family Fluxx card game available that has more basic game play and is easier for younger kids to understand.
• Fluxx is a perfect for game nights or anytime you want to bring out the cards. It can be played while traveling, but you would need a stable place to spread out the cards. There are more cards that will go in the middle with this game.

Lego has a series of board games that are very cool. They are basic games with a goal on the board that most be reached or achieved in order to win. The awesome part about the game is that the game pieces are actual Lego characters and parts so you are playing with Legos while playing a board game at the same time. There are several different games available with different themes. Most of the games will be for about 2-4 players.

• Most of the Lego games will say that are for players 7 and up, but younger kids who understand basic game play concepts shouldn't have much trouble. There isn't much reading or math involved in the game. Colors and counting are a small part.
• The games can be played just about anywhere. The boards are relatively compact and the pieces are Legos, so they stay attached to the board pretty well. Just make sure the game is set up before trying to take it on the go. There are small parts and some set up the first time you play.

The game of Bananagrams is basically a free-style form of Scrabble without a board. There are letter tiles that you use to form words like crossword. They come in a cute banana-shaped pouch. There are also similar letter games in fruit pouches for more variety (Appletters where you form continuous word snakes and Pairsinpears where you make matching patterns with words). The games are fun for up to 8 players.

• These letter games are great for kids who can read and spell words. Beginning readers can play the game to practice their new skills in a fun way.
• The game is very easy to take with you on the go. The pouch is small and can fit into day bags so it can be pulled out when you have down time. It can be played anywhere there is a flat surface. It may be a bit more difficult to play in the car since you will need to spread the letters out.