Top 10 Family Board Games to Try This Holiday Season

Holidays always bring families together, and what better way to bond than over a board game? Our top 10 family board games offer a mix of strategy, creativity, and laughter, perfect for cozy evenings at home. 

From the strategic depths of tile-placement games to the hilarious challenges of word-guessing games, each selection promises to deliver hours of entertainment. These games have been chosen for their ability to engage players of all ages, combining easy-to-learn rules with elements that challenge the mind and tickle the funny bone. 

Best Family Board Games – Overview

Our ranking methodology considers factors like player interaction, educational value, and replayability, ensuring that each game on this list is not only fun but also enriches your family’s gaming experience.

Game Name	Description	Ratings
Holiday Fever	A board game capturing the essence of the holiday season with activities like shopping and decorating. Promotes family interaction and storytelling.	4.5/5
Hedbanz	A fast-paced guessing game where players figure out the card displayed on their headband. Encourages deductive reasoning and is family-friendly.	4.3/5
Throw Throw Burrito	A unique party game combining card game strategy with dodgeball action. Involves collecting cards and engaging in burrito battles.	4.3/5
Herd Mentality	A party game where players aim to match their answers with the group. Encourages group interaction and strategic thinking.	4/5
12 Days	A Christmas-themed card game based on the holiday song. Involves strategic hand management and scoring points by completing rows with tiles.	4/5
King of Tokyo	A dice-rolling game where players are giant monsters battling to become the King of Tokyo. Combines strategy, player interaction, and quick gameplay.	4/5
Poetry for Neanderthals	A word-guessing game where players give clues in single syllables. Encourages creative thinking and group interaction.	3.8/5
Wavelength	A social party game where teams compete to read each other’s minds. Involves guessing a target on a spectrum between two concepts.	3.5/5
Expeditions	A board game set in an alternate-history 1920s with mechs. Focuses on exploration and quest completion with strategic depth and replayability.	3.5/5
Azul	An abstract game where players compete to decorate palace walls with tiles. Offers a balance of strategy and accessibility with high-quality components.	3.5/5

Holiday Fever: A Family Tradition

Holiday Fever: A Family Tradition is a board game that captures the essence of the holiday season. Players navigate the game board, representing life during the holidays, engaging in activities like shopping, paying bills, decorating a Christmas tree, and earning Christmas spirit through various actions. 

The game ends when a player lands on Christmas, with the winner determined by the value of their gifts, tree, stocking, and Christmas spirit. The game encourages families to create lasting memories by sharing stories and experiences related to the game.

Why Try This Game?

• Engages the Holiday Spirit: The game’s theme is centered around the holiday season, making it an ideal choice for family gatherings during this time of year. It immerses players in the festive atmosphere through its gameplay.
• Promotes Family Interaction: Holiday Fever encourages players to share personal stories and memories, fostering deeper connections and meaningful interactions among family members.
• Customizable Experience: The inclusion of Naughty or Nice cards adds an element of unpredictability and strategy, allowing players to influence the game’s outcome in creative ways.

Pros:	Cons:
✅ Engaging Christmas Theme ✅ Strategic and Creative Play ✅ Suitable for Ages 8 and Up ✅ Supports up to 6 Players ✅ Easy-to-Learn Rules	❌ Commercially Focused Theme ❌ Complicated Return Process

Hedbanz

Hedbanz is a fast-paced, family-friendly guessing game that challenges players to figure out the card displayed on their headband. Each player wears a Blastoff Timer Headband and inserts a picture card without looking. The objective is to guess the card on your head before time runs out, using only one-word answers or sounds from your team. 

If you guess correctly before the card blasts off, you continue; if not, you start over with a new card. The game includes 100 picture cards and is designed for head-to-head competition, making it a lively addition to any family game night.

Why Try This Game?

• Engaging and Interactive: Hedbanz offers a high level of interaction among players, making it an excellent choice for family and friends to bond and have fun together.
• Replayability: With a variety of picture cards and the unpredictable nature of the guesses, the game offers high replay value, ensuring that it remains fresh and enjoyable over time.

Pros:	Cons:
✅ Encourages Critical Thinking ✅ Suitable for Ages 8 to 99 ✅ Quick, Exciting Rounds ✅ Easy-to-Play for Kids ✅ Educational and Fun	❌ Some Dated Characters ❌ Durability of Headbands

Throw Throw Burrito

Throw Throw Burrito is a unique party game that combines the elements of a card game with the action of dodgeball. Players aim to collect matching sets of cards while engaging in burrito battles, involving throwing soft foam burritos at each other. 

The game is designed for 2-6 players, suitable for ages 7 and up, and offers a playtime of around 15-20 minutes. It includes 120 playing cards, 2 foam burritos, burrito bruises, and a Fear Me Badge. The game is played over two rounds, with the winner determined by the most points scored while avoiding hits from the burritos.

Why Try This Game?

• Dodgeball Meets Card Game: Throw Throw Burrito stands out with its novel concept of blending a card game’s strategy with the physical excitement of dodgeball. The idea of throwing squishy burritos as part of the gameplay adds a unique twist that is not commonly found in other games.
• Interactive and Engaging: The game requires players to be alert and active, creating an interactive environment. It’s not just about sitting and playing cards; players need to be ready to jump, dodge, and throw at any moment, making for a highly engaging experience.
• Humorous and Light-hearted: The concept of throwing foam burritos adds a humorous element to the game. It’s designed to induce laughter and fun, making it an excellent choice for lightening the mood and enjoying some carefree moments.

Pros:	Cons:
✅ Engaging for All Ages ✅ Unique Physical Activity ✅ Easy to Learn, Fun to Play ✅ Safe Foam Burritos ✅ Exciting and Interactive	❌ Durability Concerns ❌ Novelty May Fade

Herd Mentality

Herd Mentality is a party game where the goal is to think like the majority. Players answer questions, aiming to match their answers with the group. If your answer aligns with the majority, you win cows, but if you’re the odd one out, you get the pink cow, making your herd worthless until you can pass it on. 

The first player to collect eight cows wins. Designed for 4-20 players and best played with 6-10, the game encourages discussion and understanding of each other’s perspectives, making it both fun and insightful.

Why Try This Game?

• Encourages Group Interaction: Herd Mentality is designed to get players talking, sharing opinions, and understanding each other, making it an excellent icebreaker and a tool for social interaction.
• Flexible Player Count: With the ability to accommodate up to 20 players, it’s versatile for various group sizes, making it ideal for parties and family gatherings.
• Educational for Younger Players: For families, it’s a great way to involve children in decision-making and opinion-sharing, helping them learn to express themselves and understand different viewpoints.

Pros:	Cons:
✅ Engages Large Groups ✅ Quick and Easy to Play ✅ Enhances Social Interaction ✅ Suitable for Ages 10 and Up ✅ Fun ‘Pink Cow’ Mechanic	❌ Limited Replay Value ❌ Too Simple for Some

12 Days

Based on the popular holiday song, 12 Days is a Christmas-themed card game. The game can be played over 12 rounds, with players trying to win each day by playing the lowest card. The deck features cards numbered from 1 to 12, representing the gifts from the song. Players also have to give a card to their neighbor each turn, adding a strategic element to hand management. 

The game ends after the twelfth day, with players scoring points from the Holiday Cards they collected and the cards left in their hands. 

Why Try This Game?

• Unique Twist on Trick-Taking: Unlike traditional trick-taking games where the highest card wins, in 12 Days, the lowest card wins each round, adding a unique twist to the gameplay.
• Strategic Hand Management: The requirement to gift a card each turn forces players to think strategically about which cards to keep and which to pass on, balancing the need to win rounds with the end-game scoring.
• End-Game Scoring Mechanism: The scoring system, where players earn points for the cards left in their hand, encourages players to collect certain numbers, adding depth and strategy to the game.

Pros:	Cons:
✅ Quick, Engaging Gameplay ✅ Suitable for Ages 8 and Up ✅ Beautiful Stained Glass Artwork ✅ Easy for Beginners ✅ Perfect for Holiday Gatherings	❌ Potential for Repetitive Play ❌ Concerns Over Card Durability

King of Tokyo

King of Tokyo is a thrilling board game where players become giant monsters, robots, and other monstrous creatures, battling to become the ruler of Tokyo. The game combines dice rolling, card drawing, and player elimination elements. Players roll dice to attack, heal, or gain energy, which can be used to buy power cards for special abilities. 

Why This Game:

• Dynamic Monster Battles: The core of King of Tokyo is its exciting monster battles, offering players the thrill of attacking and defending as iconic creatures.
• Power Cards for Customization: The game features power cards that players can purchase, allowing for customization of their monsters and strategic advantages.
• Family-Friendly Yet Competitive: While the game is easy to learn and play, making it suitable for families, it also offers a competitive edge that appeals to more experienced gamers.
• Replayability and Variety: With multiple monsters to choose from and different strategies to employ, King of Tokyo offers high replay value and varied gameplay experiences.

Pros:	Cons:
✅ Fun for All Ages ✅ Quick and Engaging Play ✅ Beautiful, Fresh Artwork ✅ Easy to Learn ✅ Perfect for Group Play	❌ Potentially Repetitive Gameplay ❌ Artwork May Not Suit All

Poetry for Neanderthals

Poetry for Neanderthals is a competitive word-guessing game where players can only give clues by speaking in single syllables. The game includes 220 cards, an inflatable NO! Stick, a sand timer, and point slates. Players take turns being the Poet, trying to get their teammates to guess the word on the card using only one-syllable words. If a player uses a multi-syllable word, they get bopped on the head with the NO! Stick and lose points.

Why Try This Game?

• Unique Communication Challenge: The single-syllable rule creates a unique and humorous challenge, making the game stand out from other word-guessing games.
• Engaging Group Play: With a large player range, it’s ideal for parties and group gatherings, encouraging interaction and teamwork.
• Fast-Paced and Fun: The 90-second timer for each turn adds urgency and excitement, keeping the game fast-paced and engaging.
• Humorous Physical Element: The inclusion of the inflatable NO! Stick adds a light-hearted, physical element to the game, increasing the fun and laughter.

Pros:	Cons:
✅ Creative and Hilarious Gameplay ✅ Suitable for All Ages ✅ Enhances Vocabulary Skills ✅ High-Quality Game Materials ✅ Easy to Learn and Play	❌ May Not Suit Strategic Gamers ❌ Durability of Inflatable Club

Wavelength

Wavelength is a social party game where teams compete to read each other’s minds. The game involves a dial set along a spectrum between two opposing concepts, and one player, acting as the Psychic, knows the target area on this spectrum. 

The Psychic gives a clue based on the spectrum, and their teammates discuss where to place the dial. Points are scored based on how close the dial is to the target area. The game encourages creative thinking and understanding how others interpret different concepts. It’s suitable for 2-12 players and offers a fun, engaging experience for groups and parties.

Why Try This Game?

• Unique Mind-Reading Mechanic: Wavelength stands out with its mind-reading concept, where players guess a target on a spectrum, offering a unique and engaging challenge.
• Encourages Creative Thinking: Players must think creatively to give and interpret clues, making the game not only fun but also a great exercise in lateral thinking and communication.
• Accessible to a Wide Audience: With simple rules and engaging gameplay, Wavelength is easy to learn and enjoyable for both casual and serious gamers.

Pros:	Cons:
✅ Engages Large Groups Easily ✅ Quick Setup and Learning ✅ Promotes Creative Thinking ✅ High-Quality, Durable Components ✅ Perfect Icebreaker for Parties	❌ Limited Appeal for Strategy Fans ❌ Possible Reduced Replay Value

Holiday Fluxx

Holiday Fluxx is a family-friendly card game that brings a festive twist to the classic Fluxx gameplay. Suitable for 2-5 players, the game revolves around changing rules and objectives. Players start with three cards and, on their turn, draw one card and play one. 

The game’s dynamic nature comes from the cards themselves, which can alter how many cards to draw, play, and hold, as well as how to win. Holiday Fluxx features holidays from New Year’s Day to Halloween to Hanukkah to Christmas, making it a versatile game for various holiday celebrations.

Why Try This Game?

• Ever-Changing Gameplay: The constantly evolving rules and objectives keep the game fresh and unpredictable, offering a unique experience every time it’s played.
• Family-Friendly Theme: The holiday-themed cards make it an ideal game for family gatherings, appealing to players of all ages with its festive spirit.
• Compact and Portable: Its small size makes it easy to bring to holiday gatherings, ensuring a fun and accessible game option for any festive occasion.

Pros:	Cons:
✅ Easy to Learn and Play ✅ Holiday-Themed Enjoyment ✅ Suitable for Ages 8 and Up ✅ Dynamic and Ever-Changing Rules ✅ Compact and Portable	❌ Limited Strategic Depth ❌ May Not Challenge Experienced Gamers

Azul

Azul is an abstract board game inspired by the azulejos, the colorful tiles of North Africa and Portugal. Players compete to decorate the walls of a palace with these tiles. The game includes sturdy playboards, cardboard discs, wooden cubes, and beautifully embossed plastic tiles. 

Players select tiles from factories or the center of the table, placing them on their board to fill rows. Completed rows allow transferring a tile to the wall, scoring points based on adjacency. 

The game ends when a player completes a row, with final scoring for completed rows, columns, or diagonals. Azul is suitable for 2-4 players and offers a playtime of about 30-45 minutes.

Why Try This Game?

• Elegant and Engaging Gameplay: Azul’s simple yet deep gameplay mechanics, where players select and place tiles, offer a balance of strategy and accessibility.
• High-Quality Components: The game’s components, especially the embossed plastic tiles, are visually appealing and satisfying to handle, enhancing the overall gaming experience.
• Strategic Depth: Players must carefully choose tiles and plan their placement, balancing the need to score points with the risk of taking penalty points for unused tiles.

Pros:	Cons:
✅ Engages Strategic Thinking ✅ High-Quality, Aesthetic Components ✅ Suitable for All Ages ✅ Easy to Learn, Hard to Master ✅ Adaptable to Different Player Counts	❌ May Be Slow-Paced for Some ❌ Requires Patience and Planning

Final thoughts

As we look ahead, think about picking board games like you’re crafting the perfect holiday menu. You want a little something for everyone. Choose games that are easy to dive into, so no one feels left out. Mix in a dash of strategy for thinkers in the room and a sprinkle of luck to keep things exciting. The best games are the ones that get everyone talking, laughing, and maybe even teaming up. 

As you gather around the table this holiday season, let these games be the secret ingredient to a memorable family feast of fun.