Five fun board games for the whole family
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Fun board games: All family members have fun
Family games are a dime a dozen, but really funny board games that make young and old laugh are rare. Many classics are entertaining, but not necessarily hilarious. Especially when children and adults play together, they are often looking for a mixture of fun, silliness and a bit of a challenge, with a pinch of chaos thrown in for good measure.
The good news is that these games do exist. They are loud, crazy, often completely pointless, but that is precisely why they are so entertaining. Laughing together strengthens the sense of togetherness. And what could be nicer than sitting around the table together after a long day, laughing tears and wrestling for victory with squeaky voices?
Here we present five games that are sure to achieve this. None of them require top strategic performance, all of them rely on what is often neglected in everyday life: shared giggles, promises, nonsense and fun.
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Pencil Nose von Piatnik
"What is that supposed to be? A giraffe? A washing machine? A pizza topping?" Questions like these buzz through the living room when Pencil Nose lands on the table. And by the time Dad puts on a pair of plastic glasses with a felt-tip pen on the tip of his nose, it's clear that this game doesn't take itself too seriously.
The idea is as simple as it is ingenious: you draw, but not with your hand, but with your nose. There is a transparent drawing wall, special glasses and lots of words to draw. The person whose turn it is straps on the glasses, puts the pencil in the front and then tries to draw the word on the card as clearly as possible. The others guess what could be meant and tears of laughter are guaranteed when the artwork of a tulip looks more like an accidental octopus.
What makes Pencil Nose so entertaining is not just the silly feeling of drawing with your face on the glass. It's the quirky results, the desperate attempts at guesswork and the recurring realization: drawing with your nose is harder than you thought, but it's wonderfully funny.
Who is it for?
Children aged 6 and over will get on well, as will adults. Ideal for families of at least 4 people.
What makes it special?
Creativity, coordination and lots of nonsense come together here. A perfect mix for exuberant fun.
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Last One Laughing - The party game for the show by Ravensburger
A game where you're not allowed to laugh? That sounds paradoxical at first. But that's exactly what Last One Laughing is all about. And as is so often the case, the forbidden is particularly tempting, especially when everyone around you is making faces, talking nonsense or bursting out laughing.
The concept: everyone in turn tries to make the others laugh. This can be done with jokes, silly noises, completely absurd interludes... everything is allowed as long as it doesn't break the rules of the game. But if you laugh yourself, you're out. Or at least gets a point deducted. And that's exactly the trick: inhibiting laughter becomes a challenge. The more serious you want to remain, the more difficult it becomes, because the others naturally take advantage of this.
The game thrives on the dynamics of the group. Anyone who likes to make a fool of themselves has a clear advantage. Anyone who thinks they can stifle a grin will soon be proven wrong.
Who is it for?
Suitable for ages 8 and up, but also a highlight for teenagers and adults. Ideal for 3 or more people.
What makes it special?
It's not a game, it's a fight against your own laughing muscles. It creates a unique atmosphere between discipline and silliness that no other game can match.
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Tongue twisters from DENKRIESEN
Tongue twisters, those who love them will idolize this game. Those who hate them will learn to love them. Because Zungenbrecher by DENKRIESEN is exactly what the title promises: a game about the wildest word twisters, linguistic contortions and sentences gone wrong that the German language has to offer.
The rules are simple: each person in turn reads out a tongue twister from a card. And as flawlessly as possible. Sounds easy? Think again! Because the cards get faster in turn, the challenges get trickier and the laughter gets bigger when "Zehn zahme Ziegen" suddenly becomes "Zähe Zähne".
Particularly charming is the fact that most tongue twisters start out harmless, but very quickly turn into linguistic stumbling blocks in the mouth. Even experienced speakers stumble over the avalanches of letters, and there is great glee when even the most eloquent get into trouble.
For whom?
Suitable for ages 8 and up. Especially fun in larger groups, e.g. at family parties or children's birthday parties.
What makes it special?
Language becomes a playground here. Children train their pronunciation, adults train their patience and everyone trains their sense of humor.
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Blackout Family Edition von more is more
This game brings light into the darkness, or rather: leaves the light out. In Blackout (Family Edition), you play in complete darkness, with glowing cards, secret actions and a UV flashlight as your only aid. One player is given a term and must either pantomime it or describe it verbally, but all in the glow of the black light lamp, while the others have to guess what it is about as quickly as possible.
The exciting thing: There is a lack of orientation, perspectives become blurred and even simple terms become a challenge. When someone suddenly tries to recreate a dinosaur in the dark, chaos (and laughter) is inevitable.
Who is it for?
Playable from around 8 years of age, but can also be adapted for younger children with a little patience. Ideal for families who enjoy movement and unusual game concepts.
What makes it special?
The combination of darkness, light effects and pantomime communication is unique and creates a very special atmosphere, somewhere between hide-and-seek, improvisational theater and party game.
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Blitzdings from KOSMOS
Speed, language, chaos - Blitzdings is a game for quick minds and loose tongues. You are given a concept card which you have to describe as quickly as possible without using certain words, with restrictions or under pressure. Sounds doable? Yes, until the time runs out and your nerves flutter.
The trick is in the pace: rounds are short, the tasks change quickly, nobody can sit back and relax. The terms are sometimes harmless, sometimes really mean and those who laugh often lose the thread. All the better for the atmosphere. Chaos is not only allowed, but expressly encouraged.
For whom?
Recommended for ages 10 and up, but also works well with younger children with good language skills. Ideal for groups of 4 or more, where things can get loud.
What makes it special?
It combines classic party game elements with clever wordplay and fast-paced action, making for plenty of laugh-out-loud moments.
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