Family Board Games

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Kurth
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Family Board Games

Post by Kurth »

Was going to buy some games for the family for Valentine's Day. Kids are 10, 8 and 6. Would you recommend any of the following:

Spy Alley
City Square Off
Forbidden Desert (or Island)
Pastiche (thinking my art history wife may enjoy)
Hive

Of maybe something else? Let me know what you think. Thanks!
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AWS260
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Re: Family Board Games

Post by AWS260 »

Forbidden Island is great and very family-friendly.

Hive is an abstract strategy game, like chess. It's very good, but whether or not it's family-friendly depends on your family.

I can't speak to the others.
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hentzau
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Re: Family Board Games

Post by hentzau »

I wouldn't recommend pastiche. It's a fun concept, but I found it very dry so I can't see little kids enjoying it.

Forbidden Island is good, and I've only gotten one game of Forbidden Desert in, but it was fun the one time we played.

My go-to family board game recommendation though is Castle Panic. A fun co-op family tower defense game.
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Blackhawk
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Re: Family Board Games

Post by Blackhawk »

I agree with Castle Panic. Great family game.

Forbidden Island over Forbidden Desert. They're similar, but Forbidden Desert is a much harder game to win, which can be frustrating for kids.
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Anonymous Bosch
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Re: Family Board Games

Post by Anonymous Bosch »

I'd agree with hentzau's recommendation of Castle Panic -- definitely a top-notch family game.

Ticket to Ride also makes for a great family game in my experience. There's something about trains that always seems to resonate with children in particular, and Ticket to Ride is renowned as a great gateway game for a reason.
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Kurth
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Re: Family Board Games

Post by Kurth »

hentzau wrote:I wouldn't recommend pastiche. It's a fun concept, but I found it very dry so I can't see little kids enjoying it.

Forbidden Island is good, and I've only gotten one game of Forbidden Desert in, but it was fun the one time we played.

My go-to family board game recommendation though is Castle Panic. A fun co-op family tower defense game.
hentzau wrote:I wouldn't recommend pastiche. It's a fun concept, but I found it very dry so I can't see little kids enjoying it.

Forbidden Island is good, and I've only gotten one game of Forbidden Desert in, but it was fun the one time we played.

My go-to family board game recommendation though is Castle Panic. A fun co-op family tower defense game.
I actually had Pastiche in my hands today at the game store and thought better of it. First, it was $60. Second, it did look kind of dry.

I ended up going with Forbidden Desert, City Square Off, Hive and Spy Alley.

Just played our first game of Spy Alley. A huge hit. The tension was through the roof when the field was down to my 8 year old daughter facing off against my 10 year old son. He had been diligently working to fill out his card with Russian equipment. She and I were sure he was a Ruskie. We guessed. We were wrong. He won!!! Awesome fun.
Just 'cause you feel it, doesn't mean it's there -- Radiohead
Do you believe me? Do you trust me? Do you like me? 😳
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