I believe that the idea of board gaming is strongly connected to family. Essentially, board games exist to provide meaningful entertainment for every member of the family. The purpose of board games is to bring the family together. Fortunately, today board gaming is even more, just think of board game cafés, friendly gatherings, or competitions, but the family as a key target group remains of paramount importance to game designers and publishers.
Family board games
A family board game is designed to be engaging and accessible for players of all ages, providing entertainment that bridges generational gaps. These games typically feature simple rules that can be quickly understood, allowing for easy participation by both children and adults. The focus is on fostering interaction, teamwork, and communication among family members, making these games ideal for family gatherings and quality time. Family board games often incorporate a balance of luck and strategy, ensuring that games remain competitive and fun but also give younger players a chance to win. The themes and content are family-friendly, avoiding complex or mature subject matter. Overall, family board games aim to create memorable and enjoyable experiences that strengthen bonds and bring joy to the family unit.
Best Family Board Games
Of course, it's not easy to say which are the best family board games, but it might help to look at the Spiel des Jahres award winners, as the award's explicit goal is to honor games that help to popularize board gaming widely. And for this purpose, family board games are most suitable. Let's look at the best games of the last 10 years according to the Spiel des Jahres jury.
2014: Camel Up - A fast-paced and fun betting game where players wager on camels as they race around a pyramid. Strategy and luck are key components.
2015: Colt Express - In this game, players are bandits robbing a train at the same time. The game stands out for its 3D train components and requires planning and strategy amidst chaos.
2016: Codenames - A social word game that involves teams trying to find their agents based on one-word clues. It combines elements of deduction and team communication.
2017: Kingdomino - A quick and accessible tile-laying game that has players creating their kingdoms by connecting domino-like tiles. Strategy in tile placement is crucial.
2018: Azul - Players compete as artisans decorating the walls of the Royal Palace of Evora with colored tiles. It's celebrated for its beautiful design and strategic depth.
2019: Just One - A cooperative party game where players give one-word clues to help guess a specific word. It requires creativity and collaboration.
2020: Pictures - A unique and creative game where players use a variety of materials to recreate images for others to guess. It emphasizes imagination and interpretation.
2021: MicroMacro: Crime City - A detective game played on a large city map, where players solve crimes by observing detailed scenes. It combines storytelling and visual search.
2022: Cascadia - A game about creating the most harmonious ecosystem in the Pacific Northwest. Players select animal and habitat tiles to score the most points based on specific patterns and criteria.
2023: Dorfromantik is a serene tile-placement game where players create beautiful countryside landscapes by placing hexagonal tiles. It combines strategy and puzzle-solving, offering a peaceful yet engaging experience.
Century: Spice Road is a great family board game
Azul, perhaps a perfect family board game
Shared Gaming Experience
Board gaming is a community experience that holds significant importance within the family. In today's world, it's not always clear how to be together, and board gaming greatly aids in this aspect. I recommend making it a routine to have one or more board game days every week, with its own set structure. It's important to establish our own rules regarding eating, drinking, listening to music, and mobile phone use. We need to discuss game choice and etiquette. While the educational impact of board games is important, our game nights should primarily be about entertainment.