Top Family Games This Christmas

Even if Christmas may be little different this year and many of us won't be able to spend time as usual with extended family, games can still be a lovely way to bond together for many families.

These are our top five for an enjoyable family game night - easy to learn but complex enough to engage children and adults alike.  They support learning in a variety of areas, but would never let that get in the way of the fun!

Cahoots (Age 10+)

A fun verbal cooperative game, requiring imaginative team play to win out.

Work together as a team to complete a series of goals – without communicating what’s in your hand.

Can you make all piles purple or green? Every card lower than four? All cards add up to ten?

There’s only one way to win before the time runs out: play in cahoots!

Qwirkle (Age 6+)

Deceptively simple, addictive tile-placing fun. 

Qwirkle can be played from six years and up - or even a little younger - and everyone has a chance of winning.

All players have six tiles and take turns to place as many as then can in a row on the table, joining with existing rows.  Each tile has one of six symbols in one of six colours. Rows must be either all the same colour or all different colours, and all the same symbol or all different.  You score a point for each tile placed in a row, and a bonus for completing a row of six, until all tiles are gone. 

Strategic thinking is a must, and there's a lot fun to be had outwitting your opponents or surprising them with a clever play!

Exit: The Enchanted Forest (Age 10+)

If you haven't tried a home escape room experience yet, this Christmas may be the perfect time.

Exit: The Enchanted Forest is a game for up to four people that offers a unique gaming experience.  It allows you to bring the excitement, intensity and team spirit of an escape room to your living room.

What you had planned to be a relaxing walk in the woods suddenly takes a very different turn. As you are walking over a bridge, it unexpectedly disappears behind you and you begin to encounter strange fairytale creatures and even stranger puzzles. 

Your team starts out locked in an imaginary room, or trapped somewhere. You must solve a series of riddles and puzzles in order to unlock doors and reveal new riddles. Each correct solution brings you to another riddle and eventually to freedom. The clock is ticking: You must solve all of the puzzles as fast as you can. Get ready to test your creative problem solving and logical thinking skills - you're all going to need your wits about you to get yourselves out of this one!

 Cortex Challenge 3 (Age 8+)

Challenge your brain in this fun game, which tests your thinking, memory and speed skills in a series of different puzzles designed to challenge every area of your brain: olfactory tests (yes, smell!), observation, analysis, coordination and more.

Gameplay is simple, but the puzzles are not! A challenge card is itaken from the top the deck and whoever solves it fastest takes the card.  The ultimate victor is the first to win two challenges in four different thematic areas, making them an all round genius!

Be warned - this one can get competitive!

The Magic Labyrinth (Age 6+)

A beautifully designed game that can be enjoyed by the entire family.

The little magician apprentices have lost some magic objects inside of the master’s maze. Collect them all before the master notices, or you’ll be in trouble!

First to find five tokens wins.  Easy enough, except the mazes constructed at the start, and then hidden under the board, so the only way through the maze is good memory and lots of skill!

A charming strategic memory game suitable for younger children, but with something for everyone!

See all our picks for a Christmas family games night.  

And finally, we'd just like to wish everyone a very happy, safe and fun Christmas this year!