In our family, we have one kid who absolutely loves games and another who can barely tolerate them. Over the years, we’ve discovered a variety of games, creative toys, and activities that work for all personalities and interests. Whether you’re looking for ideas to bring everyone together or searching for the perfect gift, here are some of our top favorite family games and gift ideas for your next family game night or gift list!

If you need other gifting ideas, check out this post with my favorite art supplies or this one to put together a cozy burr basket gift.

Games

Tap 2 Win – This is a new one for us this year. It’s easy to learn and great for all ages. You pick a category from the card deck and have ten seconds each to think of a word in that category for each letter of the alphabet. It requires quick thinking but not a lot of strategy.

Monkey Palace – Build walls, stairs, and arches out of legos to earn points and try to reach the highest point in the palace. The instructions for this game look complicated at first, but once you begin, it’s quite simple and fun. Great for ages 8 and up.

Gnomes at Night – Gnomes at Night is a collaborative game – two players race the clock to move through the maze and gather all the items on the list. Perfect for kids who don’t love competitive games.

Taco, Cat, Goat, Cheese, Pizza – This one is just fun and hilarious. I find that kids often do better than adults (we tend to get mixed up on the actions when under pressure). A great game for almost any age.

Monkey Bingo – My boys loved this game when they were little. This is a fun game for the younger kids in the family.

Catch Phrase – Another quick-thinking word game. Give hints to your team until they guess the phrase and then hand off the controls to the next player as quick as you can. This one is great for a larger group.

Left, Right, Center – I love simple, easy-to-learn games, and this is one of them. Requires no strategy – roll the dice and follow the instructions. Another group game.

Beat That! – If you love a random challenge, this one is for you! This game is full of wacky challenges that level the playing field and gets everyone involved and moving. A great icebreaker game if you have a crowd (you will need some space to move around as you play!)

The Farming Game – Similar to Monopoly but we find it more fun. All the locations are set in Washington state, so the names are familiar and fun. Build your farm and your bank account – this game is really good for teaching investments.

Bananagrams – The easier version of Scrabble – create your own crossword grid to win. If you love words, I think you’ll like this one (it’s one of my favorite games).

Mastermind – Great for two players – create a secret code with game pieces for your opponent to guess. This one takes a bit of logic and reasoning.

Othello – This one is a classic. Easy to learn but harder to win! Another great two-player game.

Outdoor Family Games and Gift Ideas:

KanJam – A simple frisbee game for four players – one player throws the frisbee and the partner’s job is to help guide it to the goal. Seems simple, but it’s actually a bit tricky!

Kubb Yard Game – This is a great game to take along to the beach! We played this on the beach in Wissant, France, and had a great time! (The location wasn’t bad either 🙂

Activities and Toys:

ZipString – We first saw this toy at Hamley’s toy store in London and then bought two as gifts. It’s a simple but highly entertaining toy!

Balance Board – We keep ours in the living room and I’ve been surprised at how often we all hop on and give it a go.

Play Anywhere PingPong Net – Turn your dining table into a ping pong table without the need to store a large table in the garage!

Silent Basketball – If you have a kid who loves basketball, this just might save your sanity. Let them dribble the silent foam basketball inside and practice their moves without the incessant bouncing noises.

Do you have a favorite family game that I missed? Let me know in the comments!! This post includes affiliate links, if you purchase I may receive compensation at no cost to you. Thank you for your support!