Top Ten Board Games

I don't have anything to do.  I'm bored.  Have you heard these words?  I've heard them from my children and my grandchildren.  My solution is to get out the board games or a deck of cards.

All children love to play games and if they are fast moving and the don't have to sit still you might even be helping them learn.  So many games help with reading and counting, not to mention they must wait their turn which instills some patience.  I've also noticed that it teaches them that you can't win all the time.  That seems to be the hardest lesson to learn

I have selected 10 of my all time favorite games.  These are games that make my Top Ten List of games and they don't come from any survey.

Sorry is a game of luck and a little strategy, but mostly luck!

By drawing cards you move your game piece around the board with a goal of getting your 4 game pieces in one spot called "HOME". On the card is a number which tells you the amount of spaces you can move and some cards have additional instructions like, change places with another players game piece or move 4 squares backward. If you draw a number 2 you get another move.

This game can be played by 2 to 4 players from age 6 and up. If you have younger children they can also play but will need a little help.

Spelling required

Scrabble or the Crossword game is a board game for 2 to 4 players. In my view the age preference would be 8 years old and up. This game requires spelling and looking at mixed up letters so that you not only have to spell you must be able to move letters around to make a word. A great challenge for some.

The game board is made up of 225 squares with 164 of the squares normal and the remaining squares are special because they give you more scoring points with "double letter", "triple letter", "double word" and "triple word" points.

Each player draws 7 lettered tiles that are assigned numbers (used for scoring). The first player attempts to make a word on the board with his 7 tiles, the next player has to make his word using one of the tiles already on the board.

The end result looks like a crossword puzle and the winner is the one with the highest point score after all tiles have been used or no one can make a word with the tiles they are holding.

The real estate game.

Monopoly is the board game of real estate, banking, taxes, railroads, utilities and yes even a jail. You've probably heard "Go to jail, directly to jail, do not pass Go".

Roll the dice and try to get around the board without landing on anyones property (because if you do, you need to pay them rent) and while you are going around the board you are trying to buy as much property as you can. This is so when someone lands on your property, they need to pay you rent.

It is a game of strategy and taking care of your money....you know Monopoly money.

There are many, many new and different Monopoly games on the market today. Some of the games are geared for the young and some for the teens so I am sure you will find a Monopoly game that your family will enjoy.

Any children aspiring to be doctors?

Operation is a game filled with lots of laughs and the younger children just love this game. I could never quite figure that out but I always enjoyed watching the grandchildren play this one. Lots of giggling and lots of laughs.

The Operation Board has Sam, the patient, lying on the operating table with 12 body cavities needing work.

Players use a pair of tweezers and try to remove the "butterflies" from his tummy or his "broken" heart without touching the metal lining of the body cavity. If you do touch the metal lining Sam's nose lights up and a specialist steps in at a much higher fee :)

One person can play this game by trying to get out all twelve of the problems from Sam's body cavity without making his nose light up. But there are many more laughs if two or more play the game.

Like I said, lots of laughs and great family fun.

Checkers is a great game to have around and it makes a great gift too. It's a quiet game but one you can play with a child or grandchild. I'll bet it will even turn into more than one game.

Checkers is a 2 player board game that requires concentration. It is age appropriate for 5 year olds and up. You might think 5 is too young but it is a great time to start teaching this game. You'll be amazed at how quickly those young minds learn.

The checker board is made up of 64 squares which are alternately colored. The game is played on squares of a single color. Each player gets 12 pieces which are moved forward while trying to capture your opponents pieces. Once you reach you opponents back row your piece is "kinged" and now you can move your "kinged" piece forward and backward.

The first player to capture all of his opponents pieces is the winner.

There are many variations of this game....so give one a try.

The Whodunnit Game

Clue is the ultimate board game. There are games for all age groups so don't think this game is just for adults.

Clue is a classic whodunnit game so if you like to solve murder mysteries then this one is one you should have on your game shelf.

Players are dealt cards with "clues". Who was murdered? What was the murder weapon? What room was the murder commited in? And, Who did it? Now you have to determine all these things and once you do, you are the winner. You can never play just one game, it always turns into 4, 5 or 6 games.

Lots of fun...So, if you want to be a detective some afternoon or evening this is the game for you.

The Trouble board game has been around for many years and it is still a great game. This game is simple to learn, easy to play and has lots of excitement.

Trouble is a board game for 2 to 4 players, for ages 6 and up. If your little one can count then he/she is old enough to play Trouble.

This board game is unique because the dice are in a bubble in the center of the game board. When you push on the bubble the dice pop and move and when they land this is the amount of spaces you may move on the board. This is the part most children love, pushing the bubble. The object of the game is to move your pawns around the game board and get to safety first. There is "Trouble" along the way but you will have fun playing this game.

The drawing game

Pictionary isn't really a board game but it is a game that is lots of fun and a great game to play when you have large family or friend groups over for dinner or a special ocassion gathering.

Pictionary is a game played like charades, only on paper.

This is a team game so the more people you have playing the better. Once teams are selected ( for instance boys against the girls or husbands against the wives ) one person is picked to draw a word while his team mates try to guess the word. AND, you only get one minute. The tricky part for the person drawing....he can't use numbers or letters!

This game doesn't use a board but it is loads of fun for a great family gathering or if you have a group of people that don't know each other very well. This will get them acquainted in no time.

Classic game

Aggravation is a classic board game that has been around for about 30 years. It is for 2 to 6 players ages 6 and up.

Roll the dice and move your marbles around the board. There are shortcuts but watch out your opponents might "aggravate" you. The object is to get your 4 marbles from their base to their home. First one to accomplish this is the winner.

This board game is easy to play and lots of "aggravation" type laughs.

For the toddlers

I saved the best for last. This is a great game for your toddlers. It was the first game I bought for the grandchildren and the first thing they wanted to do when they would come for a visit.

Candyland is your childs first board game. A child can play this game alone or with up to 4 players.

It helps a child learn to follow direction, it helps them learn to wait their turn and it helps with counting and colors.

This is a color themed game requiring no reading and is easy for children to follow. Players move around the board by matching colors that they have drawn from the card pile to the color spaces on the board. The first player to reach Candy Castle first wins.

Please share your favorite family game and please tell me why it is your favorite. Thanks for taking the time.