2020 was THE year of family game nights, and families have gotten used to the fun. If you’re ready for something new, why not try a brand-new family game? Even though it’s still early in the year, 2021 has some fun, fabulous new games that are great for all ages. Keep reading to see them all.
Pusheen Purrfect Pick
This double-sided game is perfect for cat lovers! Adorable illustrations abound in this game that helps your plan a fun weekend. Pick which side of the board you want to play on (Pusheen’s house or the park), collect friends and items, then take snapshots of your weekend fun. When you get 10 stars, you win! It's the purrfect family fun night game.
Ages: 8+
Buy it here, $19.99
Tacocat Spelled Backwards
This easy-to-transport games is great for quick 2-player fun. The box doubles as the game board, where a cat (who is also a taco) is on the line in a match of strategy and instinct. Everyone is in for some fun when playing with the silly illustrated palindrome cards and tiles!
Ages: 7+
Buy it here, $14.99
Raya’s Journey: An Enchanted Forest Game
It's a game of hide and seek in Kumandra for Tuk Tuk, Sisu, Boun, Tong, Little Noi and Ongi. Simple instructions and a colorful game board make this adventure of collecting game cards fun for young kiddos, but still entertaining for adults, too.
Ages: 6+
Buy it here, $29.99
A Little Wordy
Great for families with older kids, A Little Wordy is a fun unscrambling game. The goal? To guess your opponents secret word through a series of hints and questions. Enjoy beautifully illustrated cards, and expand your vocab at the same time!
Ages: 10+
Buy it here, $14.99
Ascension Eternal
This introductory to Ascension game play is perfect for older kids looking for a two-play sesh. Designed as a deck-building game, spend Runes to snag more powerful cards for their deck. Players will add to the deck by purchasing from a central deck, where strategy and complex tactics are key!
Ages: 10+
Buy it here, $19.13
Catch our favorite games from 2020:
Preschool Games
What's for Lunch?
There are four ways to play this adorable new game from Skip Hop. Roll the dice and pack yummy lunches with ingredients like sandwiches, fruits and more! This beginner game encourages matching and memory skills, plus there are different levels for varying ages. For one to four players, there are 25 durable pieces included: four lunch bag game boards, four menu cards, 16 food pieces and dice.
Ages: 3 & up.
Buy it here, $20.
Rattlesnake Jake
A fun game for preschoolers, Jake the Snake has stolen all the gold! Will you get it back before he strikes? Players need to carefully sneak their hands under Jake’s head to grab a piece of gold, and the person with the most gold when it’s gone is the winner!
Ages: 4 & up.
Buy it here, $19.99.
Barnyard Bunch
HABA is known for making high-quality fun games for younger kids, and Barnyard Bunch is one of their newest releases. Players work together to corral the runaway animals of Fridolin’s farm, and if you get them home before the sun sets, you win the round!
Ages: 4 & up
Buy it here, $14.99.
Grouch Couch
When it comes to things being lost between the cushions of the couch, the struggle is real. In this fun and easy game, players feed the grumpy-looking couch little treasures, and when he’s had enough, press the remote control, and he’ll make a funny noise (grumbling, chomping and more) and spit everything out. Be ready to pick up as much as you can; the player with the most little treasures wins!
Ages: 4 & up.
Buy it here, $19.82
Gradeschool Games
Buildzi
This new game contains colorful building blocks and a card deck that consists of tower cards and block cards. Each player flips a card, and the first person to complete their tower wins. Creativity and quick-thinking skills is where it's at!
Ages: 6 & up.
Buy it here, $24.95.
Flip Over Frog
In this compact memory game, you'll need to plan ahead, place frogs on the board to flip adjacent tiles, revealing some frogs and covering others. Be sure to avoid the snakes as you flip your way to victory!
Ages: 6 & up.
Buy it here, $14.99.
IQ Arrows
This compact travel game comes with 120 challenges. You’ll need to adjust the arrows to fit the pattern. Perfect for screen-free time or a road trip.
Ages: 7 & up.
Buy it here, $9.99.
Carmen Sandiego: ACME’s Most Wanted
Based on the newer Netflix version of the iconic character, you’ll play as Carmen Sandiego and travel around the world trying to track down stolen loot and figure out which V.I.L.E henchman is responsible!
Ages: 7 & up.
Buy it here, $17.97.
Disney Hocus Pocus: The Game
Players work together to ruin the potions concocted by the legendary Sanderson sisters to save the lives of Salem’s children before the sun rises. Fans of the movie will recognize favorite spells, appearances by characters like Binx the cat and Billy Butcherson, and for an extra bonus, the game box is designed to look like none other than “Book.” The game includes plenty of other creepy details you love about the film, but the fantastical illustrations are tame enough for even your youngest gamers.
Ages: 8 & up.
Buy it here, $19.97.
Sketchy Tales
Imagine the game of Telephone but with sketches! Draw hilarious pictures of some of Disney’s classic characters and let other players guess what they think it is. After everyone is done drawing and guessing, lay the whole story about and get ready for serious giggling!
Ages: 8 & up.
Buy it here, $19.99.
Upside Down Challenge Game
Get ready for crazy! This fun new game requires players to complete challenges while wearing a pair of goggles that’ll filp your vision upside down. Simple things like drinking a glass of water, writing your name and even giving a high-five just got a lot harder!
Ages: 8 & up.
Buy it here, $19.99.
Break In Alcatraz
This relatively challenging game is full of puzzles and clues to solve in order to break in to island prison of Alcatraz. Great for ages 10 & up and younger kids with some assistance. Can be played by as few as 1 player and as many as 6, too, which makes it a versatile gift.
Ages: 10 & Up
Shop here, $14.99
Betrayal at Mystery Mansion
This Scooby-Do game is not only illustrated in the classic animation style of the iconic cartoon, but it’s a lot of fun to play too. Collect enough clues around the mansion to figure out what’s really going on, and then, when the Haunt starts, one player turns into a monster!
Ages: 8 & up.
Buy it here, $26.
P for Pizza
In this fast-paced family game, the idea is to shout out a word that links to the letter on the card drawn. The first person to create a slice of pizza wins!
Ages: 8 & up.
Buy it here, $15.
Jungle Cruise
Based on the iconic Disneyland ride, players use their riverboats to transport passengers and cargo safely through the jungle. You’ll need to figure out which family will be your new boss as overseers of the Jungle Navigation Company (that’s the family you want to drop at the destination) and how to store your precious cargo, all the while trying to avoid damage from hippos, baboons, waterfalls and more! Fans of the ride will recognize the boat captain’s punny jokes and the ride’s famous landmarks.
Ages: 8 & up.
Buy it here, $35
Monopoly: Disney Villain Edition
It's Monopoly but filled with your favorite Disney villains. Players will choose to be characters like Jafar, the Evil Queen, Captain Hook, and of course, Maleficent. Instead of trading property, you'll sell villain contracts and use poison apple cards to your advantage.
Ages: 8 & up.
Buy it here, $29.99.
You’re Pulling My Leg! Junior
Try to fool your friends and family with stories about your life. After reading a question from a card, the secret flip of the coin will tell you if you need to make something up or tell the truth. Players will vote on each story (true or false), and the player with the most points wins!
Ages: 9 & up.
Buy it here, $12.99.
5 Second Rule 10th Anniversary Edition
It's not often you find a game that can easily be played by young and old alike. The 10th Anniversary edition of this easy-to-learn game includes new cards updated for 2020. The object is simple: name three things before the five-second timer ends. Each card contains a three-things prompt (Name three kinds of sushi; three canceled television shows; three types of Girl Scout cookies) but it only gets harder from there. The recommended age is 10 and up but we think if you remove the timer and occasionally swap out a confusing card, you can let younger kids enjoy this game, too! Teens and tweens will love it.
Find it here, $27.50
—Gabby Cullen
All images courtesy retailers.
Editor’s Note: At the time of publication, all items were available for purchase.
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