I believe that playing board games is always worth it, not only indoors but also outdoors, and it's for sure that when the weather is not great and one is confined within four walls, it's good to have some board games at home. We found ourselves in that situation recently, and our afternoon was saved by the following six board games:

These board game afternoons have two important foundations that are good to adhere to. Firstly, we wait until everyone is in the mood to play. Board gaming is typically the kind of activity that is truly valuable when everyone can be fully engaged. The presence of parents who are bored, watching a match, or on their phones is not a genuine presence. The other aspect we usually apply for our motivations: everyone can choose an equal number of games, ensuring that everyone contributes equally to the occasion. My 6-year-old daughter chose Ice Cool and Kuflinyomozók, my wife opted for Quacks & Co.: Quedlinburg Dash and Grand Prix, and I selected Ganz Schön Clever Kids and Fruit Mix. Let's go through them one by one.

Ice Cool

I strongly believe in having a variety of board games because our moods don't always align with the same preferences. Ice Cool, for instance, may not be among our absolute favorites, but it can be quite refreshing at times because it's entirely different from almost anything else. It's a flicking dexterity game with a highly creative and unique execution. The atmosphere can be very enjoyable as we chase each other, struggle to pass through gates, narrowly avoid collisions. While, as with any dexterity game, there can be significant skill differences among players, there's no elimination, no major setbacks, and the lightheartedness removes the pressure for kids to win. In this type of game, there's much less likelihood of the loser getting upset.

Grand Prix

Marbushka is a Hungarian toy manufacturer. The most notable features of their games are their beauty and the fact that they are made from natural materials. Despite being a Hungarian company, they don't exclusively cater to the Hungarian market; their games are language-independent and available internationally. A common critique of their games is that they are visually stunning, but the mechanics may not be particularly exciting. While some of their games may fall into this category, the execution and illustrations captivate both children and adults. Moreover, I believe Grand Prix, from a mechanical standpoint, is not at all lacking. It's an exciting racing game that can be a bit unpredictable at times, but this adds to the charm. It relies on simultaneous decision-making, so those who enjoy this aspect appreciate it, while those who don't may not find it to be their favorite children's game. We really like it because it's charming, quick, and the unpredictability levels the playing field, allowing our 6-year-old daughter to win frequently as well.

Ganz Schön Clever Kids

You might not need much of an introduction, as it's an extremely successful brand with a well-executed children's version. (I write about this and another game by Wolfgang Warsch, 

Quacks & Co.: Quedlinburg Dash, in this article). Although the box contains many double-sided game sheets, we are slowly using up about half of them due to its immense success at home. I've been looking forward to playing roll & write games with my daughter for a long time; it's one of my favorite mechanisms as a game designer - I've created two myself: Lajka and Absolute Wild Letters. The cute graphics and clever gameplay ensure entertainment. Both Grand Prix and this game require just the right amount of thought, making them enjoyable and beneficial. It's not only for the kids but for us as well. Luck plays a role, but there are plenty of decision points that significantly influence the outcome of the game.

Kuflinyomozók

This is a Hungarian game designed for an extremely original and special contemporary Hungarian fairy tale series. In Hungary, it's our equivalent to the international hit game Outfoxed! Like its counterpart, this game involves investigation and deduction, but it also incorporates memory, which is quite beneficial in children's games. We're not necessarily big fans of cooperative games, and this was the only one we chose, but sometimes it's nice to collaborate against the game.

Quacks & Co.: Quedlinburg Dash

Push your luck, perhaps one of the most divisive game mechanics. Typically, either you love it or you hate it, as you constantly try to influence the game, but luck is still luck. My small family falls into the group that really enjoys it. We love the thrill, the frustration when things don't go our way, but the joy when they do. This is a bit of a longer game, around 20-25 minutes, but I think we've squeezed in about 100 rounds in half a year.

Fruit Mix

My favorite Hungarian-designed game, the work of Péter Szöllősi, was eventually self-published but became a huge success with over 10,000 copies sold, international releases, and recognition. And yes, it absolutely deserved it. I love games that are built on a single clever idea, and this one is no exception. We collect color sequences, but can only see the top card, so we must remember the others if we want to score many points. It's typically the kind of game that seems easy; we start chatting, and then everyone at the table falls silent, eyes fixed on the cards, maybe whispering a little. Tough but friendly and entertaining, as we constantly search for and anticipate cards. A few playing cards, a small box, and yet a great game - also extremely educational: memory, concentration, probability calculation, adaptation, and redesign.

So, that's how a rainy Saturday afternoon looks like for us. The above menu kept us entertained and engaged for about 120 minutes. If you enjoyed the report, we'll try to include more personal content in our articles. Thanks for your attention!