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Monopoly is too long, and only appeals to competive deal makers. Scrabble is too hard, and appeals to smarty pants.
The perfect game is Cranium. My family played it for the first time, and everyone was able to participate - including my mother and pre-teen cousin.
To win Cranium you must answer questions, and perform stunts. it's a lot of fun.
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Source(s):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carcassonne_(board_game)
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with my family (especially my cousins who are a little younger) Monopoly is our usual goto game.
Another fun one my family likes when we have a big enough group to play is Pit.
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If you have a family full of people with lots of knowledge on varying topics, Trivial Pursuit is always a great option. Other games that would be good could be Shout About. It's a blast to do with a few friends or family members. Scattegories and similar games are also lots of fun.
I would personally avoid games that inspire domination such as Monopoly. I've yet to actually experience a game of Monopoly that ended graciously! lol :)
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With younger children i find uno to be lots of fun. It is very flexible in the amount of people who can play at once instead of being limited like jenga or some board game.
It's also very easy to learn how to play. Equally fun for adults. But if you had a group that wanted more of a challenge then cranium is loads of fun. It is very diverse in the challenges it presents in order to win the game and has a very social element to the game.
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And Cranium Family Edition is great because everyone can play at their level together.
Source(s):
http://www.hasbro.com/games/cranium/browse.cfm?page=&product_id=23194
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http://www.hasbro.com/games/cranium/browse.cfm?page=&product_id=21402
It's fun for teen and up. It's a lot of different games in one.
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Cranium is multi-modal—charades, drawing, acting, spelling, trivia, so there's something everyone at the table could be good at (in theory).
You have to be a family that likes trivia, though.
They do have a version more tuned to kids questions if there's a lot of young ones in the gaming group.
Apples to Apples is taking a noun, then having everybody at the table supply an adjective that best describes the noun. This is done using pre-packaged "red apple" and "green apple" cards. Even if you're not a huge wordsmith, it's a lot of fun and an easy-to-play game anyone can enjoy.
Again, a version for the kiddies exists, too.
Source(s):
http://thefuntimesguide.com/2007/01/cranium_board_game.php
http://www.joeschmidt.com/archives/2005/12/gadget_of_the_w_1.php
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hatebear
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apples_to_Apples
Monopoly? Really?
Source(s):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apples_to_Apples
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My second favorite is Mad Gab. Take a second to read this brief explenation. It says it all. This game produces a lot of fun laughs. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mad_Gab
Source(s):
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=scene+it+board+game&aq=9&o...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mad_Gab
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It's one of those games that's pretty simple to learn, but has a very deep level of strategy.
The playing board is random at the start of every game, so every game is different. Games tend to last between 45 mins and an hour, so it's not too much of an investement as Monopoly or Risk would be.
Source(s):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Settlers_of_Catan
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But the ultimate horror is when someone drags out the Monopoly board and I am coerced into playing. They have twisted the rules to the point where it drives me insane. They begin whispering to each other once the game gets going and start cutting "deals" behind the scenes. Oh, if you land on boardwalk if you give it to me for X amount of dollars, I won't charge you rent. *snickers* Say WHAT!? It is not supposed to be played that way!!!
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Flux (card game): http://www.wunderland.com/LooneyLabs/Fluxx/
Deadwood (board game): http://www.cheapass.com/
Cheapass also has a number of other board/card games that are really fun and... cheap.
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Source(s):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Risk_game
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Catch Phrase, Wits & Wagers, Apples to Apples, Mad Gab. The fun part with most of these is the rules are easy and there aren't a bunch of markers to keep track of.
Source(s):
Personal experience.
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I have to even more highly DISAGREE with all of these crazy suggestions of Monopoly. I don't know if all of these people answering are joking around or if this place is really full of a bunch of masochists who enjoy suffering through long and boring gaming sessions. Ahhh!
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I suggest games where creativity is the focus. Cranium Family Edition is terrific for this kind activity. There are several different activities involved.. There is also an element of teamwork.
Another great choice is Apples to Apples. It's not a board game, but a card game, which means you aren't as limited as to seating arrangements and number that can play. It is the only game I know of where you might be picking between Madonna, an avalanche, and rust as to which is most "edible". Or the 60's, an atom bomb, and the sun as to which was most "brilliant". Our group of friends plays other games, but almost always comes back to this.
Other good ones: Mad Gab, Pictionary, Pictureka, Taboo, Catch Phrase, and Partini. Or if your friends are particularly imaginative, Guillotine, Flux, and Unexploded Cow (from Cheapass Games, http://www.cheapass.com/ ) are fun and often hilarious.
Source(s):
www.amazon.com, www.target.com
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Source(s):
http://www.hasbro.com/games/cranium/home.cfm
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Answered Question
Best Answer Chosen by Asker
| December 16, 2008 08:18 PM |
The perfect game is Cranium. My family played it for the first time, and everyone was able to participate - including my mother and pre-teen cousin.
To win Cranium you must answer questions, and perform stunts. it's a lot of fun.
| Asker's Rating: |
• Lots of answers here, but I appreciate the video example, thanks!
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Other Answers (42)
December 16, 2008 07:28 PM
Carcassonne!
Source(s):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carcassonne_(board_game)
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December 16, 2008 07:30 PM
Definitely depends on age group, but with my friends I love a good game of risk with my family (especially my cousins who are a little younger) Monopoly is our usual goto game.
Another fun one my family likes when we have a big enough group to play is Pit.
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December 16, 2008 07:31 PM
Hmm. Well, there are some great board games to play with friends/family. If you have a family full of people with lots of knowledge on varying topics, Trivial Pursuit is always a great option. Other games that would be good could be Shout About. It's a blast to do with a few friends or family members. Scattegories and similar games are also lots of fun.
I would personally avoid games that inspire domination such as Monopoly. I've yet to actually experience a game of Monopoly that ended graciously! lol :)
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December 16, 2008 07:31 PM
It would depend on the age group. With younger children i find uno to be lots of fun. It is very flexible in the amount of people who can play at once instead of being limited like jenga or some board game.
It's also very easy to learn how to play. Equally fun for adults. But if you had a group that wanted more of a challenge then cranium is loads of fun. It is very diverse in the challenges it presents in order to win the game and has a very social element to the game.
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December 16, 2008 07:34 PM
I HATE Monopoly. It just gets boring after a while. My family really enjoys the Cranium games. And Cranium Family Edition is great because everyone can play at their level together.
Source(s):
http://www.hasbro.com/games/cranium/browse.cfm?page=&product_id=23194
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December 16, 2008 07:34 PM
Cranium. http://www.hasbro.com/games/cranium/browse.cfm?page=&product_id=21402
It's fun for teen and up. It's a lot of different games in one.
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December 16, 2008 07:35 PM
I like to play Cranium and Apples to Apples with friends and family members. Cranium is multi-modal—charades, drawing, acting, spelling, trivia, so there's something everyone at the table could be good at (in theory).
You have to be a family that likes trivia, though.
They do have a version more tuned to kids questions if there's a lot of young ones in the gaming group.
Apples to Apples is taking a noun, then having everybody at the table supply an adjective that best describes the noun. This is done using pre-packaged "red apple" and "green apple" cards. Even if you're not a huge wordsmith, it's a lot of fun and an easy-to-play game anyone can enjoy.
Again, a version for the kiddies exists, too.
Source(s):
http://thefuntimesguide.com/2007/01/cranium_board_game.php
http://www.joeschmidt.com/archives/2005/12/gadget_of_the_w_1.php
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hatebear
December 16, 2008 08:05 PM
Cranium isn't a bad choice at all though for whatever reason people sometimes get sick of playing it mid-game at my house. Apples To Apples is a good one too though, at any given game night at least one person will usually ask to play it.
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December 16, 2008 07:36 PM
Apples to Apples. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apples_to_Apples
Monopoly? Really?
Source(s):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apples_to_Apples
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December 16, 2008 07:37 PM
"Scene it." You take turns rolling dice and moving around a board. You can land on different things like "my play" or "all play" and you have a dvd in the dvd player and it will play scenes from tv shows or movies. Or you could land on a space that makes you answer a question off a card. There are different genras of games. There is Seinfeld, SCI, HBO series, movies, kids movies, etc, etc, etc. It's fairly cheap and verly fun. Here is a link for you to check out the game. I have never seen someone not like this game. My second favorite is Mad Gab. Take a second to read this brief explenation. It says it all. This game produces a lot of fun laughs. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mad_Gab
Source(s):
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=scene+it+board+game&aq=9&o...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mad_Gab
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December 16, 2008 07:37 PM
I'm a huge fan of the Settlers of Catan. It's a German game ported over to the US, and has won numerous game of the year awards when it came out. It's one of those games that's pretty simple to learn, but has a very deep level of strategy.
The playing board is random at the start of every game, so every game is different. Games tend to last between 45 mins and an hour, so it's not too much of an investement as Monopoly or Risk would be.
Source(s):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Settlers_of_Catan
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December 16, 2008 07:46 PM
Catan is a blast, but it can be difficult for younger players which is why I never mentioned it.
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December 16, 2008 07:49 PM
The question mentioned young adults, and I've played this game quite well with 10 year-olds.
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December 16, 2008 08:01 PM
Settlers of Catan is a great one. It looks much more complicated than it is. Just give a good run through of the rules/gameplay and everyone should have fun with it. Yup, great game.
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December 16, 2008 07:38 PM
We play a lot of games such as Boggle and Pictionary. But the ultimate horror is when someone drags out the Monopoly board and I am coerced into playing. They have twisted the rules to the point where it drives me insane. They begin whispering to each other once the game gets going and start cutting "deals" behind the scenes. Oh, if you land on boardwalk if you give it to me for X amount of dollars, I won't charge you rent. *snickers* Say WHAT!? It is not supposed to be played that way!!!
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Reply
December 16, 2008 07:41 PM
My family has had fun with: Flux (card game): http://www.wunderland.com/LooneyLabs/Fluxx/
Deadwood (board game): http://www.cheapass.com/
Cheapass also has a number of other board/card games that are really fun and... cheap.
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December 16, 2008 07:44 PM
Risk, a fantastic strategic board game, created by Parker Brothers.
Source(s):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Risk_game
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December 16, 2008 07:50 PM
Great Game.... but one game can go on for days.
Ukraine is not weak!
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Ukraine is not weak!
December 16, 2008 07:55 PM
We've been playing a couple of different ones lately: Catch Phrase, Wits & Wagers, Apples to Apples, Mad Gab. The fun part with most of these is the rules are easy and there aren't a bunch of markers to keep track of.
Source(s):
Personal experience.
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Reply
December 16, 2008 09:13 PM
Life + Big book of famous people
When you get a spouse/kid, you have to randomly select a famous person. They then become your spouse/kid. Makes for funny!
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When you get a spouse/kid, you have to randomly select a famous person. They then become your spouse/kid. Makes for funny!
December 16, 2008 08:10 PM
Nothing new to add as far as what games you SHOULD play. I have to highly agree with the previous suggestions of Apples To Apples and Settlers Of Catan. I have to even more highly DISAGREE with all of these crazy suggestions of Monopoly. I don't know if all of these people answering are joking around or if this place is really full of a bunch of masochists who enjoy suffering through long and boring gaming sessions. Ahhh!
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December 16, 2008 08:18 PM
I would say Cranium, or Catch Phrase, or if you have really small ones who want to play, Candyland. Cranium and Catch Phrase is always a fun game, with a lot of laughs involved, my family is usually pretty competitive and things can turn sour fast, but with Cranium and Catch Phrase, things never do.
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December 16, 2008 08:21 PM
I think something fun and not terribly competitive is best. When it's all one gender (young guys in particular) competition can be fun. But when it's not, competition can put some people at a disadvantage, and then it's not as fun for everyone. I suggest games where creativity is the focus. Cranium Family Edition is terrific for this kind activity. There are several different activities involved.. There is also an element of teamwork.
Another great choice is Apples to Apples. It's not a board game, but a card game, which means you aren't as limited as to seating arrangements and number that can play. It is the only game I know of where you might be picking between Madonna, an avalanche, and rust as to which is most "edible". Or the 60's, an atom bomb, and the sun as to which was most "brilliant". Our group of friends plays other games, but almost always comes back to this.
Other good ones: Mad Gab, Pictionary, Pictureka, Taboo, Catch Phrase, and Partini. Or if your friends are particularly imaginative, Guillotine, Flux, and Unexploded Cow (from Cheapass Games, http://www.cheapass.com/ ) are fun and often hilarious.
Source(s):
www.amazon.com, www.target.com
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December 16, 2008 08:30 PM
I've become a big fan of cranium. It's a pretty crazy game that mixes charades, pictionary, even playing with clay. I've played it with fellow college students and it's pretty fun. It's definitely a game that even a four year old can participate in.
Source(s):
http://www.hasbro.com/games/cranium/home.cfm
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