Family game night is a hot trend among kids and their parents these days. With so many available to purchase, however, it can be hard to decide on just the essentials. Some are more affordable (and more fun) than others. We picked out ten of the best cheap family games that all households should have on hand, ranging from the always-popular Monopoly to the strategic Battle Sheep.
Cheap Family Games for All Ages
It can be tough to find exciting games to play with the smallest of children, as they are just starting to master the concept of competition and strategy. These games rate high among the preschool all the way to the adult crowd. They are so much fun, everyone can play along!
Hi-Ho, Cherry-O (Hasbro)
Give the arrow and spin to see how many cherries you can pick. Be the first to get 10 of the little red plastic cherries in your basket, and you win! (Kids will giggle quite a bit during this quick game, as birds and dogs can cause you to lose everything in your basket.) This is a hot seller every holiday, as many retailers mark it down to under $5 on their Black Friday sale.
Who doesn’t remember this simple activity? Start with all the cards face-down, then reveal two at a time until all matches are made. Today’s version of the Matching game from Wonder Forge features characters kids will love, and it’s a truly cheap family game. Choose from Marvel, baby animals, Disney Princess, Curious George, Star Wars, and many more.
This game requires no board, as your head is the play space. Each player wear the special headband with a secret picture card attached. Everyone but the player can see it, and the player must ask yes or no questions to figure it out. This game is perfect for ages 6 and up, but anyone who can read or recognize basic pictures can play.
A quicker, simplified version of the original, Monopoly Jr. features kid-friendly property names and chunky toy-like game pieces. Since only one-dollar bills are used, it’s easier for them to count and transact, as well. This is the perfect way to introduce children to the more grown-up version.
Anyone with children has probably spent hours escorting their gingerbread playing piece past gumdrop and licorice sticks. This game is crazy popular with little ones, and is easy for even the smallest child to understand. Who wouldn’t want to play a game that reminds you of candy? This is another favorite that gets marked down to under $5 during the Christmas season.
Strategy and smarts will crown the winner in this chess-like game that pits one color of sheep against the other. Can you stack your sheep the highest and claim the field for yourself? The customizable board game creates a new play experience every time, and the high-quality sheep tokens will last for years.
This classic card game just gets better and better! The newest version of UNO includes customizable wild cards to bring even more excitement to the game. While designed for kids 7 and up, children who can recognize colors and numbers should be able to join in the fun. Past-paced action and a lot of shouting are common side-effects of this game that can easily accommodate a large family. (Up to 10 people can play at a time!)
This version of the original Monopoly game has the look of the classic design many Gen-Xer’s remember playing as a kid. Full-sized money, the thimble playing piece, and a banker’s money tray are just a few perks you’ll get with this throwback to the good ol’ days.
If you can count, you can play Rack-O, a fast-paced card game for up to 4 players. Players take turns organizing their cards with each turn; whoever gets them in numerical order first, wins! Game play takes 15 minutes or less, making this a cheap family game for when you don’t have much time.
There are many versions of this block game, but the classic edition offers the best value for your buck. Pull a single block from the stack, being careful not to topple the whole thing! It’s a fast game with more time spent on set up than play, but it’s equally engaging for kids as grownups.
The right game can provide hours of play and family bonding time without much money. The truly best cheap family games should offer great memories for no more than $20 out of pocket.
