Games that fit between the pie and the coffee. Teach in under five minutes. Won't break when someone walks away to look at the turkey. Here is our list of family board games you can play on Thanksgiving and the holidays that follow.
Just One, Codenames, Wavelength, Telestrations, Magical Athlete, Sushi Go!, Kingdomino, The Mind and Bananagrams are some of our favorite games for family game night.
There is always that one hour after a holiday meal. The food is done; the dishes are not. Someone is on their phone, someone is watching the person on their phone, and a kid has discovered the staircase. A game solves this problem. A bad game makes the problem worse. Usually, because it comes with a board, 300 pieces and 40 pages of instructions.
We have compiled a list of 9 board games to play at your holiday dinner. Below is our list of games, a brief description of what each game is like to play, and any drawbacks. We have not included pricing, as it is subject to change. You can find prices on each game's page or ask at the counter.
What makes a game survive a holiday dinner table?
We gave each game 5 criteria to test against. Your game may not meet all 5 criteria, but it should pass the ones it doesn't meet for your family.
- Can you play it at your table? Hopefully you cleared your table of the meal you just had. If your game requires a board and bank of money and a hill made of cardboard, then you need a bigger table.
- Can you learn the rules in under 5 minutes? You want your rules to be easy enough to explain to everyone at the table. If you have to go over the rules twice, your family will have moved onto the couch by now.
- Will it tolerate interruptions? Someone will leave the table to check on their food. Make sure your game has shorter rounds so that someone walking away won't affect the game.
- Can everyone play at the same time? Many board games will kick players out of the game. If you want to play a family board game at your holiday table, you don't want someone sitting out after the first few rounds.
- Is it fun to lose? Your family will love a board game where the losing team is proud. Family board games that have you all working towards one common goal can also work. Everyone has beef with each other at these gatherings. Allow them 20 minutes to not have beef.
Which game should you start with?
Here are the games we think you can play at your family table.
- Just One. Your table: Six or seven people, everybody playing together. Players: 3 to 7. About how long: 20 minutes.
- Codenames. Your table: Eight people who like words. Players: 2 to 8. About how long: 15 to 30 minutes.
- Wavelength. Your table: A big table, mostly grown-ups. Players: 2 to 12. About how long: 30 to 45 minutes.
- Telestrations. Your table: A loud table that wants a laugh. Players: 4 to 8. About how long: 30 minutes.
- Magical Athlete. Your table: Five or six people and a kid who loves to race. Players: 2 to 6. About how long: 30 minutes.
- Sushi Go!. Your table: Twenty minutes before pie. Players: 2 to 5. About how long: 15 to 20 minutes.
- Kingdomino or The Mind. Your table: Two to four people and a quiet corner. Players: 2 to 4. About how long: 15 to 20 minutes.
- Bananagrams. Your table: Grandparents, parents and a seven-year-old. Players: 1 to 8. About how long: 15 to 30 minutes.
Which family board games work best for a crowded table?
Just One
3 to 7 players · about 20 minutes · cooperative
Each player except the guesser writes down one clue to a word. Remove duplicate clues before the guesser can see them. This means that if everyone thinks of the same clue, it will be removed. Great for families, as you are either all winning or all losing together. Won the Spiel des Jahres award for game of the year in Germany in 2019.
Drawback: Best played with 3 people but can be very fun with 6-7 people.
Codenames
2 to 8 players · 15 to 30 minutes · two teams
Two teams compete against each other on a 25-word grid. One player on each team is the spymaster and knows which words belong to their team. They give clues to their team meant to describe multiple words. If you guess the assassin card, your team loses instantly. We recommend teams of 3-4 players.
Drawback: Spymaster will want to take their time thinking of a clue. Don't allow them that.
Wavelength
2 to 12 players · 30 to 45 minutes · teams
One player sees a hidden number on a spectrum. The player will give clues to their team about where they think the number falls on the spectrum. Players will then use a dial to try and land on that number. The closer they are, the higher their score. This will lead to many arguments about where fantasy ends. Which can be fun with your in-laws. Up to 12 players.
Drawback: Listed as 14+. Keep this game at the adult end of your table.
Telestrations
4 to 8 players · about 30 minutes · everybody plays at once
Telephone but with drawings. Everyone gets a secret word to draw in a notebook. Pass the notebook to the next person. They guess what they see, and the next person draws their guess. Continue until the notebooks come around and see how your picture has transformed. Since everyone is drawing at the same time, there is no waiting for your turn. No artistic skills needed.
Drawback: Need at least 4 people to play. Listed as 12+.
Magical Athlete
2 to 6 players · about 30 minutes · racing
Grab a die and run. Magical Athlete is a simple game that will break all of your expectations. Everyone will draft players to race around the board. Each player comes with an ability that can affect the game. Banana will cause any player that passes it to trip. Centaur will bump any player they pass back 2 spaces. Players can trigger their abilities on other players' turns. Play 4 rounds and see who can score the most points arguing about the huge baby. Designed by Richard Garfield — yes, that Richard Garfield, the inventor of Magic: The Gathering. Ages 6 and up.
Drawback: You want a lot of players for this game. You can play with as few as 2 players, but it gets way more fun with 5-6. The first round of racing is for everyone to learn their players' powers, so there's no pressure. It’s a luck-based game, so learn to lose cheerfully!
Which short games fit between dinner and dessert?
Sushi Go!
2 to 5 players · 15 to 20 minutes · card drafting
Choose 1 card from your hand and pass the rest of your hand to the player to your right. Play 3 rounds of choosing cards that will make the best sushi at your table. Wasabi will increase your nigiri x3 points. Each round is fast, and the cards are small, so cleanup is minimal. If you want to play with more than 5 players, try Sushi Go Party!
Drawback: May take one round to understand how to score points. Play one practice round, and you should be good.
Kingdomino
2 to 4 players · about 15 minutes · tile laying
Think of dominoes, but you're building a kingdom. Choose a tile that matches your terrain and place it on your board. Collecting crowns will increase your score. Can be played with kids who can read. Ages 8+.
Drawback: Only allows 4 players.
The Mind
2 to 4 players · about 20 minutes · cooperative
Everyone will have a set of numbers in their hand. As a team, you must play your numbers in ascending order. Without communicating. How? By reading your fellow players. When will they play that 62? Some families love this game; others stare at each other for 20 minutes. Either way, your family will enjoy this game.
Drawback: This game is weird. Learn it by playing one round and not talking.
Bananagrams
1 to 8 players · 15 to 30 minutes · word game
144 letter tiles in a banana. No board, pencils or paper needed. Build your own crossword puzzle. When one person runs out of letters, everyone pulls a letter from the banana. You can even play by yourself in a corner. Ages 7+.
Drawback: If someone can complete the crosswords with a pen, they will beat you. Allow them. There are many ways to play this game if your family does not enjoy competing.
What should wait until the day after?
These are great games. But they will require you to clear your table and take up a decent amount of time. Add these to your list for a longer holiday. If you are unsure how long a game will take, ask at the counter.
How do you teach a new game at the table?
- Teach yourself before you play. Whether the night before or at our counter.
- Tell your family what you are trying to achieve. Then explain what you do on your turn. That should cover most of the rules. If your family runs into an exception, explain it to them.
- Play one practice round. No one will remember the points. Everyone will know the rules.
- Start setting up your board game before you are finished eating. Send someone to shuffle and distribute the cards. By the time you finish cleaning your table, you will be ready to play.
- Allow your family to join in between rounds. Try to find board games that allow you to add players at any time.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best board games for Thanksgiving?
Look for board games you can learn in less than 5 minutes. Playtime that lasts less than 30 minutes and allows people to step away from the table. Just One, Codenames, Sushi Go Party!, Telestrations, Magical Athlete and Bananagrams all fit these categories.
What are good games for a large family group?
Wavelength can be played by 2-12 players. Codenames can be played by 2-8 players. Sushi Go Party! and Bananagrams can be played by up to 8 players. Telestrations can be played by 4-8 players.
What games can kids and adults play together?
Just One, Kingdomino, Sushi Go! and Bananagrams are all listed as ages 7 and up. Wavelength and Telestrations will be higher. Be sure to check the box of the game youare buying.
How long should a holiday table game take?
Aim for a game that lasts about 20-30 minutes. That way, you can play a game after your holiday meal.
Where can I buy family board games in South Austin?
Bat City Games & Comics carries board games and card games. Come visit us at 5001 Highway 290. Open daily, 10 AM-10 PM. Check out our board games here or stop by our counter and let us know who is coming to your house.
Can someone teach me the rules?
Yes! Ask us at the counter, and we will teach you the rules.
Want to see the boxes before the relatives arrive?
Located at 5001 Highway 290. Austin, TX. Open daily from 10AM to 10PM. Stop by our counter and let us know who is coming to dinner.
Not enough room at your table? Book a table at Bat City Games & Comics and invite your family. Our swarm can accommodate your family.
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