Board games to play with kids (Update on page 2)

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Blackhawk
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Board games to play with kids (Update on page 2)

Post by Blackhawk »

Sumer Is Icumen In.

That means that the kids will be out of school shortly. When the kids get out of school, certain parts of my gaming hobby (like MMOs) get benched so I can spend more time with them.

I thought I'd try and get them into board gaming, and thought I'd get some recommendations.

I can find plenty of kids board games where you roll a die and move X spaces until you get 'home' and win. I'm not looking for that. I'm looking for something a bit more complexity and depth, but something that they'll still be able to have fun with.

My kids are 7 and 9, but very advanced. My eldest is in advanced math and still scoring 99.7th percentile, and my youngest is showing the same talent. I doubt they're ready for Risk or Diplomacy, but they're way past Candyland and Trouble. They both have a good grasp of logic, and love systems of rules. I'm fine with mature-ish content. I don't want The Porn Game, but it doesn't have to be Happy Smiley Face Land, either.

I was thinking about Castle Ravenloft for starters (given that it is a good gateway drug toward D&D), but don't know beyond that.

And so we sing cu-cu.
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Re: Board games to play with kids

Post by LordMortis »

Real basic munchkin style dungeon crawls are great gate drugs. That being the case, DungeonQuest might be a good way to start.

http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/ ... rd-edition" target="_blank

If you want to play with them and do some RPG lite, then I highly recommend Descent. It might be a little bit much for the 7 Year Old but if s/he's sharp and interested in games then s/he'll pick up on it and love the munchkin like aspect. As a GM you just need to go easy on them. Let them win but never make it easy. Make it an accomplishment.

Startego was probably my introduction to strategic game playing but that is so 1976. :D

I also think that cards are great introduction to gaming for kids and it really works with matching mechanic to memory.

BGG has a nifty way to search for game based mechanics etc...

http://www.boardgamegeek.com/advsearch/boardgame" target="_blank
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Re: Board games to play with kids

Post by Boudreaux »

What kinds of things are they in to? What are their other interests or hobbies? There are bajillions of board games, so if they're really into fantasy or sci-fi or trains or animals or whatever, that would help narrow it down. There are enough board gamers here and enough good games that we could easily give you a hundred suggestions, so if we can also tailor them to themes they're interested in, it would be that much better.

Edit - one more thing, what about time? My kids are about the same age as yours, and their attention span caps out at about an hour. Anything beyond that is a waste of time, so I limit our games together to stuff we can complete and/or have a reasonable amount of fun in an hour or less.
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Re: Board games to play with kids

Post by Blackhawk »

Science fiction, fantasy, science and astronomy are their big interests.
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Re: Board games to play with kids

Post by Blackhawk »

Just got done reading up on Descent. One thing that could be a hindrance is game time. Kids this age will be hard pressed to maintain interest for two full hours of a single activity, let alone a four to six hour game. I've got a small place (the coffee table is the game table is the dining table), so I can't really leave a game up for several days at a time.
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Re: Board games to play with kids

Post by El Guapo »

DungeonQuest is a good suggestion. It's pretty simple, good fantasy theme (get into dungeon, get dragon horde treasure, get out), and it's a blast. The one thing with it, though, is that your kids have to be ok with their character dying, and possibly quite abruptly (there are literally encounters that are - roll a d12, if you roll an 8 or higher, you are dead). Such death can occur on your first turn if you are particularly unlucky.

Of course, you could add a house rule about spawning a new character if you die too soon, to alleviate that concern.
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Re: Board games to play with kids

Post by LordMortis »

Blackhawk wrote:I've got a small place (the coffee table is the game table is the dining table), so I can't really leave a game up for several days at a time.
That in itself is a Descent (and FFG games) killer. The games require sprawl to keep moving efficiently. Game time being a consideration I'll want to think on it because we'll also want to take prep time down too.
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Re: Board games to play with kids

Post by Jag »

I'm in the same boat. Kids are 7 and 10 and my oldest is extremely advanced as well. I bought Castle Panic and my kids love it! It's an us vs. them collaborative game, although the person with the most monster kills technically wins. This is an issue with my 7 year old, but my older son is fine with letting him get the boss monsters for extra points :D

Image

I'm reading about Dungeon Quest. Sounds good. I may give it a shot as well although I'm concerned about the randomness and the younger one dying on a bad dice roll. That could be an issue.
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Re: Board games to play with kids

Post by Boudreaux »

Okay, fantasy and sci-fi interests and roughly an hour of play time makes for a good set of constraints. I'll throw in some others that aren't necessarily fantasy or sci-fi themed but are good games that my kids (ages 6 and 9) have played and enjoyed:

Castle Ravenloft, which you mentioned, and I'll also suggest Wrath of Ashardalon. I prefer these over games like Descent because they're quicker and they set up as you play, so the entire experience is more streamlined and better for kids. Wrath of Ashardalon (which I've not played) apparently has more interesting treasure and rewards, and my kids are all about killing stuff and getting their loot.

Ghost Stories - my kids love this, even though it's fairly difficult and we've never actually won the game. It has cool (but not too intense) Asian horror artwork, they get to roll dice and pretend to be Shaolin Ghostbusters. They ask to play this at least twice a week.

Last Night on Earth - scenario-based zombie adventure game. This one has a lot of cards and reading, but plays quickly, scales well with different numbers of players, and again the kids get to fight monsters and roll dice. Actually, this theme recurs a lot with my kids - any time they get to fight monsters and roll dice to determine the outcome, they love it.

Zooloretto - this one is firmly in the family-friendly camp, it's basically collecting sets of animals for your zoo, with some interesting decisions and light strategy. Nothing even remotely objectionable here, and the decisions and set collecting are interesting enough without any heavy thinking. Plays in about 45 minutes.

Micro Mutants: Evolution - this is basically tiddlywinks, with a competitive sci-fi bugs-fighting-bugs theme that works really, really well. It's all dexterity, so you're trying to flick your playing pieces across a cloth map to capture other bugs or enemy bases. The great thing is that the bugs all have different powers, so there's quite a bit of interesting strategy and tactics. There is also a basic game plus some advanced rules to throw in that make for different levels of gameplay. Another huge hit with my kids.

Finally, I'll throw out a blanket recommendation for most of the Days of Wonder games like Pirate's Cove, Cleopatra and the Society of Architects, Memoir '44, the various Ticket to Ride games, Colosseum, etc. All of these are great family games and most fall within the 60-90 minute play time.
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Re: Board games to play with kids

Post by Blackhawk »

LordMortis wrote:
Blackhawk wrote:I've got a small place (the coffee table is the game table is the dining table), so I can't really leave a game up for several days at a time.
That in itself is a Descent (and FFG games) killer. The games require sprawl to keep moving efficiently. Game time being a consideration I'll want to think on it because we'll also want to take prep time down too.
Room isn't a huge issue, so long as I can reclaim the space before dinner.
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Re: Board games to play with kids

Post by coopasonic »

Don't forget the best board game of them all, though it's only a two player game... chess! It's cheap, setup is a snap, the rules can be covered in about 3 minutes and they can spend the next 60 years trying to master the game. :)

My oldest is still too young to play most board games as designed, but he's got a basic grasp of chess.
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Re: Board games to play with kids

Post by Daveman »

Small World http://www.daysofwonder.com/smallworld/en/" target="_blank

I forget who on BGG said it, but Small World is for people who like the first 20 minutes of Risk, when everyone is on pretty equal footing and before people start getting eliminated (or worse, marginalized so they're just left hanging on with no hope of really competing to win). It's a very light-hearted fantasy war game where players choose a race/power combo and try their best to grab as much of the board with them as they can (usually) and after a couple turns, when they're either spread to thin or lost too many people to attrition, you pick another race/power combo and come storming back on the board with your new race. It has a very comical/whimsical theme that wouldn't put off youngsters or folks who aren't really "into" fantasy. Various races and special powers are randomly dealt so you get these crazy combos like Flying Ratmen, Heroic Wizards, Swamp Gypsies, etc. We had Peace-Loving Ghouls the other day :) Two big thumbs up from me. Can be played pretty quickly once people are familiar with the game and it scales very well with any of the 2-5 player options. My son and I play 2 player a lot and they're always interesting, close, competitive games.

Ticket to Ride http://www.daysofwonder.com/tickettoride/en/" target="_blank

I think most would agree this is a great intro/family game. It might not look like there's much to it but play a few games and there's a lot of subtle strategies... trying to figure out where other players are building and block them, trying to build your own connections without being obvious about it, etc.
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Re: Board games to play with kids

Post by hentzau »

Jag wrote:I'm in the same boat. Kids are 7 and 10 and my oldest is extremely advanced as well. I bought Castle Panic and my kids love it! It's an us vs. them collaborative game, although the person with the most monster kills technically wins. This is an issue with my 7 year old, but my older son is fine with letting him get the boss monsters for extra points :D

Image

I'm reading about Dungeon Quest. Sounds good. I may give it a shot as well although I'm concerned about the randomness and the younger one dying on a bad dice roll. That could be an issue.
+1. My kids LOVE this game (ages 11 and 8).

We've also had a lot of fun with Talisman.

Runebound may also be an OK choice. Build up your characters, roam around the map killing the monsters and getting the treasure and ultimately defeat the big bad guy.

Also, I think my kids laugh more and have more fun with Uno Attack than any other game I have.

A base set of Heroscapecould give you a bunch of fun, too, but it sounds like you would be space constrained for that one. The fun thing for the kids with that would be setting up their own battlefields.
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Re: Board games to play with kids

Post by Blackhawk »

Space itself isn't the issue. The coffee table is large, and I have a piece of wood that I plop down on top of it for wargaming with a friend when the kids are away that would be great for board gaming, too. So long as I don't have to have the space tied up for six hours at a time, it's fine.
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Re: Board games to play with kids

Post by Papa Smurph »

I've only played Castle Panic once, but I think it's a fine recommendation, so I'll second it.

Before I mention these, a small bit of background. My daughter is 10, and it also fairly advanced. She loves playing board games with us. My son won't sit still long enough to play most board games, so he's of no help here. Just saying...

Pandemic is a great cooperative game that requires problem solving. A game only lasts 60 minutes, so I don't have too much trouble keeping my daughter at the table. A 7 year-old might run off a couple of times, however.

Mystery of the Abbey is like a more grown up version of Clue. It's a nice deduction game that my daughter cannot get enough of. She rates it a 10 out of 10. They claim a playing time of 2 hours (I think it's less) but it's never been a problem because her mind is constantly engaged.

Agricola. I'm not sure I'm recommending this one, because it's actually a fairly complex game. However, my daughter loves it. So, with your kids being more advanced, they might not be overwhelmed by it either.

Galaxy Trucker is another fun game. It has a wonderful element in that after the problem solving part (building your ship) it judges your skills by trying to destroy your ship. There is no need for you, the parent, to critique their build, the game does it for you!

Ingenious is the only abstract game my kids enjoy right now. They'll both sit down to play it, and their friends will too. It's simple to explain, but still involves a good deal of thinking and decision making (especially in the mid-game). It's a good enough game that I don't mind playing it with them.
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Re: Board games to play with kids

Post by MythicalMino »

oh, wow...my kids are right at that age (my middle child just turned 8, and my oldest is about to turn 10).

Here are some hits for us:

Talisman: It is ok, but can be kinda long. They tend to start to lose interest, but they do like it, and they remember previous games of it.

Defenders of the Realm: They both really like this game. In fact, they have both requested we play this at different times since I bought it.

A Touch of Evil: They both like this one, also.

Thunder Road: My God. This game is probably their all-time favorite game, to be honest. It is old, and tough to get, but they both want to play this one ALL THE TIME.

Munchkin Quest: They really like this one. I think because it is so over the top silly. But, they both really like it.

I also have Marvel Heroes, and they want to play it. But, I am wondering if it will be too much for them. Regarding Descent. I have the base game, and they really like the figures and stuff....BUT....they just cannot "get it". They have tried several times, but they just burn out, and it doesn't take them very long to, either. They have shown some interest in Mansions of Madness, also, but again, I think that would just be too much.

I have learned, though, that most games that are co-op, they do decent in. I think because I can help them play until they understand what is going on. Defenders of the Realm being the perfect example of that. Out of all my games, I think Defenders of the Realm and Thunder Road (not a co op, game, but still pretty simple) are their favorites, at least right now.
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Re: Board games to play with kids

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Papa Smurph wrote:Mystery of the Abbey is like a more grown up version of Clue. It's a nice deduction game that my daughter cannot get enough of. She rates it a 10 out of 10. They claim a playing time of 2 hours (I think it's less) but it's never been a problem because her mind is constantly engaged.
If she likes Mystery of the Abbey, she might like Mystery Express even more. Similarly Clue-inspired game, but it has some new twists. I like Mystery of the Abbey, but it never quite felt like the advanced deduction game that I wanted. Mystery Express does feel that way, and I much prefer it to Mystery of the Abbey.
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Re: Board games to play with kids

Post by Jag »

I'm intrigued by DungeonQuest and Defenders of the Realm. Which is more beginner friendly and fun?

I also like the concept of Galaxy Trucker. May give that a shot.
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Re: Board games to play with kids

Post by Chaz »

The rules for DungeonQuest are dead simple, except for maybe the combat mechanic, which is card-based and slightly complex. However, Fantasy Flight has also released the rules for the original combat mechanics as a variant, which makes the combat more rock paper scissors, and even more simple. This is kind of a good thing for a game that should be quick and dirty.
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Re: Board games to play with kids

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Jag wrote:I'm intrigued by DungeonQuest and Defenders of the Realm. Which is more beginner friendly and fun?

I also like the concept of Galaxy Trucker. May give that a shot.
DotR isn't what I would call a complicated game. It does suffer from a weak rulebook, but the developer has created an extensive FAQ for the game over on BGG, so that covers those bases. DotR is my current darling. I've got about 12 plays under my belt now, and I can't get enough of it. I haven't tried it with my kids, but I probably should, since it is a co-op and I could help them out with some of their decisions.

Oh, just remembered another game that my kids really liked... The Adventurers. Really approachable fun game that has a Raiders feel to it.
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Re: Board games to play with kids

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Boudreaux wrote:Micro Mutants: Evolution - this is basically tiddlywinks, with a competitive sci-fi bugs-fighting-bugs theme that works really, really well. It's all dexterity, so you're trying to flick your playing pieces across a cloth map to capture other bugs or enemy bases. The great thing is that the bugs all have different powers, so there's quite a bit of interesting strategy and tactics. There is also a basic game plus some advanced rules to throw in that make for different levels of gameplay. Another huge hit with my kids.
I would echo this recommendation from Boudreaux. I picked this game up cheaply during one of FFG's Christmas sales, and it is highly underrated. It's the type of game that will have you whooping with joy as you land a shot from clear across the map, or howling with utter frustration when you miss a shot from close range. Awesomely entertaining, regardless of the age group you are playing with.

Tales of the Arabian Nights: A unique storytelling game, set in the days of Sinbad the Sailor and Ali Baba. Think of it as a light roleplaying game, that plays something like a cross between a tabletop roleplaying game and the mother of all Choose Your Own Adventure books (since the gameplay revolves around a hefty book, known as The Book of Tales, that describes the encounters the players have). Having said that, this couldn't be further from being a tactical or strategic game. It's the sort of game you play because you want to experience the story, rather than have a battle of wits (rest assured, it can be every bit as much fun to "lose" as it is to "win"). If you enjoy games with a theme, this one has it in spades.

Sorry! Sliders: Don't let the Sorry! title dissuade you from this gem of a dexterity game. Think of this as a very affordable gateway game for Crokinole. Ridiculously fun to play, especially with children.

Dominion: Since space is an issue, this seems like a no-brainer to me. While there are now several other games that allow you to build/develop a CCG-style deck of cards while you play, this will always be the original. Easy to learn, and highly replayable. Should you get hooked, there are also numerous expansions available for your family to enjoy.

PS. Beware, you will get hooked on Dominion.
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Re: Board games to play with kids

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Stop guys, my BGG wishlist is becoming unmanageable!
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Re: Board games to play with kids

Post by MythicalMino »

I keep switching between Defenders of the Realm (my current personal favorite) and A Touch of Evil.

Both of those games are pretty good.
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Re: Board games to play with kids

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Yeah, my wish list is bursting too.
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Re: Board games to play with kids

Post by Papa Smurph »

Since Blackhawk has called mercy, I'll just mini-hijack this thread. :lol:
Boudreaux wrote:
Papa Smurph wrote:Mystery of the Abbey is like a more grown up version of Clue. It's a nice deduction game that my daughter cannot get enough of. She rates it a 10 out of 10. They claim a playing time of 2 hours (I think it's less) but it's never been a problem because her mind is constantly engaged.
If she likes Mystery of the Abbey, she might like Mystery Express even more. Similarly Clue-inspired game, but it has some new twists. I like Mystery of the Abbey, but it never quite felt like the advanced deduction game that I wanted. Mystery Express does feel that way, and I much prefer it to Mystery of the Abbey.
She was quite interested, but I was concerned by the rating and some of the reviews on BGG. I'll put Mystery Express back on the wishlist since you recommend it, but it might have to wait. I just got Mr. Jack in New York last night, and she wants to play it today so we'll see how that one goes...
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Re: Board games to play with kids

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Papa Smurph wrote:She was quite interested, but I was concerned by the rating and some of the reviews on BGG.
Out of curiosity, what was it that you heard that was so negative?
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Re: Board games to play with kids

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hentzau wrote: A base set of Heroscapecould give you a bunch of fun, too, but it sounds like you would be space constrained for that one. The fun thing for the kids with that would be setting up their own battlefields.
I have mixed feelings about the D&D Heroscape adaptation. It's sort of fun, but I have a problem parsing the D&D rules with the Heroscape mechanics. Could just be me.

I would, however, recommend the Marvel Heroscape set. There's enough tiles for variety as well as the always-popular destructible wall. What I like is that it's small enough to be manageable. My other Heroscape sets take up way too much room (storage). I can set this up rather quickly and it would probably be half a card table worth of space. My 5 year old loves the basic rules (though she has absolutely zero grasp on strategy). The advanced rules would be perfect for older kids.
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Re: Board games to play with kids

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Smoove_B wrote:
hentzau wrote: A base set of Heroscapecould give you a bunch of fun, too, but it sounds like you would be space constrained for that one. The fun thing for the kids with that would be setting up their own battlefields.
I have mixed feelings about the D&D Heroscape adaptation. It's sort of fun, but I have a problem parsing the D&D rules with the Heroscape mechanics. Could just be me.

I would, however, recommend the Marvel Heroscape set. There's enough tiles for variety as well as the always-popular destructible wall. What I like is that it's small enough to be manageable. My other Heroscape sets take up way too much room (storage). I can set this up rather quickly and it would probably be half a card table worth of space. My 5 year old loves the basic rules (though she has absolutely zero grasp on strategy). The advanced rules would be perfect for older kids.
Did they actually change the base Heroscape rules to match up with the D&D mechanic? I was unaware of that. I never actually bought the D&D Heroscape base set, I just pointed him in that direction since the D&D base set is about half the price of the Swarm of the Marro base set.
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Re: Board games to play with kids

Post by Smoove_B »

No, not really. They added "traps" and "treasure" glyphs to the maps but with the special powers given to the characters or monsters, it's like playing a mash-up of the two games. Part of the draw (for me) with Heroscape is the INSANE ability you have to combine different themes and monsters. With the D&D Heroscape...you're playing a D&D themed game and Castle Ravenloft (or Wrath of Ashardalon) do it so much better (IMHO).

We tried playing a a few scenarios from the Underdark D&D Heroscape set and it was very, very difficult - as players we seemed to have a huge disadvantage. Ravenloft and Ashardalon are also hard, but they are balanced better. That's my .02, anyway.
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Re: Board games to play with kids

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I remember playing Pass Out with Redwarlord when we were kids...

...in hindsight, my parents probably should've locked the friggin' cabinet in the living room. However, we were so young we played it with water. Instead of passing out, we ended up incontinent.
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Re: Board games to play with kids

Post by ChaoZ »

Nobody's mentioned Settlers of Catan yet? It's listed as 10 and up, but I think the mechanics are simple enough for children of the ages mentioned.
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Re: Board games to play with kids

Post by Anonymous Bosch »

ChaoZ wrote:Nobody's mentioned Settlers of Catan yet? It's listed as 10 and up, but I think the mechanics are simple enough for children of the ages mentioned.
Good call, I forgot about the Catan series. Starfarers of Catan has always been my favourite iteration of the Catan family, with its space-faring twist (the components are pretty slick too, as long as you have the replacement rocket booster rings and collar). Unfortunately it's been out of print for quite some time, and tends to be somewhat difficult to acquire nowadays.
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Papa Smurph
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Re: Board games to play with kids

Post by Papa Smurph »

Boudreaux wrote:
Papa Smurph wrote:She was quite interested, but I was concerned by the rating and some of the reviews on BGG.
Out of curiosity, what was it that you heard that was so negative?
I don't think I would say "so bad", just not generally positive enough to want to add to my game collection (storage space is becoming an issue, as is money). I think the memory aspect of the time clue was part of it. The playing time of 75 minutes was also a bit concerning, since she generally will like shorter games better than long. Although that's certainly a general statement that she violates frequently. So, nothing specific, just a concern that it might not be for us.
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Chaosraven
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Re: Board games to play with kids

Post by Chaosraven »

My kids are enjoying: Bohnanza, Munchkin, Talisman, and Small World
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Re: Board games to play with kids

Post by Isgrimnur »

Bohnanza is much more fun that it looks at first glance.
It's almost as if people are the problem.
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GreenGoo
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Re: Board games to play with kids

Post by GreenGoo »

My kids are younger (nearly 6, 5 and nearly 4). I'm not much of a board gamer myself, but it's rainy here, and they are all being punished with no "screen" time, meaning they are in doors but no tv, movies, computer, dsi or wii. Ugh. Thanks honey.

Oh, and they all need to be kept quiet while my wife sleeps in anticipation of working tonight.

No, really, thanks Honey. Talk about being set up for failure.

In any case, I'm going to drag them all to the toy store and see if we can pick out something we can struggle through. I like the idea of more complex games (not adult complex, but not candyland either) but they just don't have the attention span and focus.

Wish me luck.

Castle Panic sounds like something to pick up in anticipation of them growing a year or two more.
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Re: Board games to play with kids

Post by hentzau »

GreenGoo wrote:My kids are younger (nearly 6, 5 and nearly 4). I'm not much of a board gamer myself, but it's rainy here, and they are all being punished with no "screen" time, meaning they are in doors but no tv, movies, computer, dsi or wii. Ugh. Thanks honey.

Oh, and they all need to be kept quiet while my wife sleeps in anticipation of working tonight.

No, really, thanks Honey. Talk about being set up for failure.

In any case, I'm going to drag them all to the toy store and see if we can pick out something we can struggle through. I like the idea of more complex games (not adult complex, but not candyland either) but they just don't have the attention span and focus.

Wish me luck.

Castle Panic sounds like something to pick up in anticipation of them growing a year or two more.
Someone has already mentioned Sorry Sliders in this list, but I'll second that as being a great choice for kids that age.
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Re: Board games to play with kids

Post by GreenGoo »

Ended up with stratego. I made the mistake of pointing it out as something I liked to play as a kid and my oldest wouldn't let it go after that. I tried to turn him back to Sorry Sliders but he just wouldn't be deterred.

The two youngest got puzzles until my daughter, the youngest, threw a fit because she didn't like the line we were standing in. She eventually lost her puzzle after she went into full blown tantrum mode.

I'm looking forward to stratego but I think it may be just a little beyond my oldest. We'll see. Didn't get to it today as the sun came out and we made a dash over to the park to get some exercise. More rain for tomorrow though.
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Re: Board games to play with kids

Post by mowbray6 »

Had fun with Munchkin and Zooloretto this weekend with a 7 and 9 year old. I'm really starting to like Zooloretto and it's great for kids who like animals.
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Re: Board games to play with kids

Post by El Guapo »

GreenGoo wrote:The two youngest got puzzles until my daughter, the youngest, threw a fit because she didn't like the line we were standing in. She eventually lost her puzzle after she went into full blown tantrum mode.
Didn't like the *line* you were in? Awesome - I can't wait for that mode to kick in a year or two or from now.
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