Playing Games with the Family

02 Dec Playing Games with the Family

Finding games to play with everyone in the family can be difficult, especially when it is an intergenerational affair. Most families are not comprised of hardcore gamers, but the holidays usually create opportunities for the family to be together and do something with one another: a perfect opportunity to pull out some games everyone can enjoy. Obviously, the holidays will be very different this year with the state of the pandemic and I imagine many of the gatherings will be much smaller. With smaller groups, there tends to be more options when it comes to picking a game.

For myself, this can be somewhat anxiety inducing. Many of my games have a wide appeal and could fall into the category of a game that could be played with family. As I look over my games, finding the perfect one can be a challenge. (In all actuality there is no perfect game and the point is to spend time with loved ones, but please… entertain me on this one). So, we’re searching for the perfect game, but there are far too many choices. How could we ever figure out what everyone will engage in the most?

In an attempt to avoid this anxiety, I have come up with a few methods to streamline the process. To begin with, instead of selecting the one game, I select 3 or 4 games. There is no need to stress out picking one game that is going to meet the needs of everyone at the table. This also gives your family a choice in the matter. Simply bring the 3 or 4 games to the table and provide a brief description of each. From there, let them choose what sounds the most intriguing. They will typically have more buy in if they get to play the game they choose.

But maybe finding the 3 or 4 games that will work best with your family is still too difficult. Sure, it’s better than one, but picking just 3 or 4 can also be hard. Where do we begin? The first step is to identify if there are any members of your family you have played games with. What games have they liked in the past. Maybe you’re like me and grew up playing Hearts with your folks, a classic trick-taking game. Because this is a staple in the Pioch household, I generally grab a trick-taking game from my shelf. Or maybe you have a sibling that loves to play Scrabble. Look on your shelf for a word game of some sort. Maybe a niece of yours loves Clue. Have any deduction games for that will work for her age group? Listing out the tastes of those you will be playing with can make picking 3 or 4 games so much easier.

Now what if you are getting together with your significant other’s family who you have never played games with. How are you going to know what to select? Here is where developing a selection of approachable games is key. Personally, I have a wooden box I crafted to hold four or five card games that I am confident I can pull out with anyone. For our family, those games are No Thanks, Love Letter, Hanabi, Fox in the Forest, and Red 7. I also know that Splendor and Azul seem to almost always be winners when they get to the table. I keep these in my back pocket if I don’t have the time to cultivate a group of games for the people I am playing with. This has worked surprisingly well for me throughout my years of gaming.

So that’s it! If you are looking to game with the family over the holidays, find a couple games that the people you are playing with would enjoy. Let them choose the game they want from the small, not-overwhelming group of games you have presented. In the event that you can’t create a nice bundle based on their tastes, have a go to list of games that everyone typically loves. These are the steps I follow to reduce my stress around the holidays and I hope it helps you too!

Thanks for reading and keep on gaming,

Matt Pioch
The Neoprene PlayMatt