Play Hard or Start Crying

I love to compete.

And I LOVE TO WIN. And in no arena of elite competition do I like to test myself more than: beating my family at something.

Because there’s nothing quite as salty as the tears of an 8-year-old as you watch them tumble once more down that big snake on a Snakes and Ladders board.

Or the warm fuzzy feeling you get from holding a cup of tea, grinning out of the kitchen window as your significant other burns with fury, pacing the back garden in pouring rain because they flopped it in Dobble.

Glorious.

So I thought I’d take you all on a tour of the best games you can play with the ones you love most. Fun, right? Well…

Board games

Monopoly

The ultimate test of family cohesion.

Do you trust your eldest child with make believe money?
Will your partner actually pay up for landing on your Mayfair hotel portfolio?
Why does everyone insist you be the Boot?

If you can get through this without someone packing their bags and moving out, well I’d say that means you’ve not been playing it right.

@afvofficial I feel you kid, taxes aren’t fun 😔😂 #afv #taxday ♬ original sound – AFVofficial

Cluedo

The best way to avoid actual murder during family board game time is to play a game about an imaginary murder instead.

A fictional Colonel Mustard with a spanner in the conservatory beats a real Grandad threatening your brother-in-law with a rolling pin on the driveway, put it that way.

Yes, Cluedo is your friend. You can even add fancy dress to this one, glam it up and ham it up.

@bbc That’s definitely not the answer, Jayde 😂 @thejaydeadams #TheWeakestLink #iPlayer ♬ original sound – BBC

Chess

Ok, it’s not a board game. But it is a game, on a board. One for those quiet, rainy Sundays perhaps?

It tests your brain power, your temper, your depth of love for your kids. It pits adults against mini-geniuses who genuinely know what “castling” is.

Nerds, assemble!

Card games

Whether it’s quietly bankrupting a sleepy Nanna at Christmas time, or whipping out a few spare aces you stuffed up your sleeve to stop that random cousin you see once every five years from snaffling the poker pot, cards are a great way to bond with – and beat – your family.

There are many options open to you. Uno, Snap! and Spoons all spring to mind.

There’s also Bridge if you’ve got several aunties from the Home Counties who like to come together for sherry and a spirited discussion about the physical merits of TV’s Nick Knowles.

And if those ideas don’t work, you could always promise your kids they can buy anything they want by trapping your credit cards with their heads. I mean, it is a card game, right?

@overtime This was a dumb idea 🤦‍♂️ #fail #game #dad #son #creditcard ♬ original sound – Overtime

Video games

Bringing the digital vibes into a family gaming moment can be a smart move. You need to meet the kids where they are, right?

And maybe that’s joining them online at 3am, alongside anonymous gamers with names like TurkeyBlaster0808, spending your time chasing things called “Iron Golems” in Minecraft.

Or linking up headsets and putting on the camo paint to team up with your daughter as you get sent behind enemy lines to eliminate terminally online bedroom warriors in Call of Duty.

@espnw The #baby didn’t even move 👏 (via rogue__jv/IG) #mom #momsoftiktok #gamergirl #gamer #videogames ♬ original sound – espnW

If you’re more on the analogue end of your digital journey, as it were, then what could be better than elbowing a crestfallen teenager out of the way as you cross the finishing line on Mario Kart. A classic.

Oh yes, there’s a whole wide world out there.

And don’t rule out virtual reality, headsets ‘n all. A truly integrated, family experience is possible. Upside as well: you can leave the house for this one, so maybe pop out and hire the gear you need and embarrass yourselves in public?

@digitaltrends VR fails never get old. Here’s a compilation to add some chaos to your Christmas scrolling. #vr #vrgaming #vrfail ♬ original sound – Digital Trends