10 Fun Games You Can Play with Your Family

Jayla DiNolfi, Staff Writer

The coronavirus has put everything we are used to doing on pause. Although this stinks, it does give us way more time to focus on new things to try and spending time with your family. So there’s never enough games to play while being with your family. Here is a list of games I’ve played with my family so far, and I hope it occupies you just as well.

  1. War

This is a well known 2 player game and is very simple using a standard 52-card deck. Each player gets the same amount of cards and flips the top card at the same time. You then look at the values and who’s ever card has a higher value wins both cards. If you flip over the same card it is War. Each player then puts 3 cards face down (WAR) and flips over another card and then the player whose card has the higher value wins 10 cards.

2. UNO

For this game,  you have two options. You can go to the store to purchase UNO cards or download UNO!™ by Mattel163 Limited. You may play with 2 to 10 players. Each player is dealt 7 cards and one card is placed next to the remainder of the deck. As each player goes around placing a card down that either matches the suit, the number, or a wild card the person who has no cards left wins, but you must say UNO when you have 1 card left.

3. Spoons

This is another fun game using a standard card deck and spoons. Each player is dealt 4 cards and the dealer puts the deck next to them. When everyone is ready the dealer takes the top card and adds it to their hand, making them have five and removes one passing it to the person to their left. The goal of the game is to be the first player with 4 of a kind in their hand and to not be the last one to grab a spoon.

4. LIFE

This is a classic game, but you also have 2 options: mobile or a board game. On the App Store, it is called The Game of Life by Hasbro’s classic board game. This can be played with 2 to 6 players and a fun game to play when just wanting to spend time with your family. The object of this game is to collect money and “LIFE tiles”, and have the highest amount of money at the end. You get to pick a career, get married, and have kids!

5. Heads Up!

This game was invented by Ellen DeGeneres, and she plays it on her show. It’s sort of like Hedbanz if you’ve ever heard of or played that before. There is an App Store version Heads Up! By: Warner Bros. and a board game version.  The object of this game is to guess as many cards as possible given in the 2 minute time spree, with the help from the other players yelling out clues. And the player with the most correct guesses wins. 

6. Mario Kart Tour

This is another fun game that you can download free on the App Store. You can play with friends or family and they don’t necessarily have to be in the same household as you. You race against 7 other people to see who crosses the finish line first. Throughout the game, you are given different power-ups and items to throw to slow the other racers down. For more information, be sure to check out our full Wingspan review of the game.

7. Call Of Duty Mobile

This game is a free game to play on the App Store. This is a great game for anyone because of the realistic graphics, it makes you feel like you are actually there in real life. Which makes it 100 times more interesting. It is for both iOS and Android. There are different modes in this game such as Battle Royale and a Capture The Flag. You can play with up to 3 other people. I’ve played with my brothers before and we all enjoyed it. 

8. Crazy Eights

This is another card game, but you can play it with up to seven people. The  object of this game is to be  the first player to get rid of all their cards. Each player is dealt 5 unless you are playing with two people then each player is dealt 7. It is pretty similar to UNO, another fun and easy game to start up. Each player takes a turn putting a card down that either matches the suit or the number on the card. The twist to this game is that if you put down an 8 you get to change the suit

9.  NBA 2k

If you have a PS4 or a XBOX and like basketball, you probably already have this, but you don’t necessarily even have to be a basketball player or a NBA fan to be interested in this game. There is a game for every year so it doesn’t really matter which one you purchase (In my opinion, 2k19 is the best).This is a big part in how me and my brothers bond because we love to play basketball and we all are very competitive.  This game has a lot of different modes whether you wanna play by yourself or play with family/friends. 

10. Monopoly 

Yes, this is an old game that I’m sure everyone has played or has at least heard of, but it’s still a great game to play with your family. What makes monopoly so unique and fun,is that you can make up your own rules while playing. For instance, when it comes to trading properties with someone, it’s all up to you and the other person how you choose to trade. There are many different versions of monopoly, you can choose which one fits your interest the most. Yes, there is even a Norristown Monopoly.  

Your quarantine should be a blast with all of these game options. You’re not going to get times like this with your family a lot, so while you have it, make the most of it!