Top 10 Family Board Games

This was the game of choice for our holiday gatherings. It's a twist on the classic UNO game. You still have to try to match colors or numbers to get rid of all your cards, but now you have this UNO machine spitting cards at you - you can go from one left, to suddenly holding 10 cards! Expect a lot of laughing and maybe even some screaming.

Ages: 7 and Up (My 5 year old was able to catch on easily)

Players: 2-10

Game Play: Deal 7 cards to each player and stack the rest inside the Card Launcher - this is your draw pile. Place one card on top of the Card Launcher to begin a Discard pile. The first player has to match the card in the Discard pile either by number, color or word. If you don't have anything that matches, hit the Launcher button. If cards shoot out, add these cards to your hand! Play moves to the next person. When you have one card left, yell "UNO!". Score points for cards left in your opponents' hands. First player to score 500 points wins!

Variations: Classic UNO, UNO Spin, UNO Flash, UNO Blitzo, Various Character Themed UNO Cards (Spongebob, Disney Princesses, Highschool Musical, etc.)

A classic game combining luck and strategy that never gets old! A great starter game for kids to learn about the terms "full house" and "straight". Growing up, I would even play the game by myself to see the highest score I could get.

Ages: 7 and Up (Younger ones could play with a little help.)

Players: 1 or more

Game Play: On your turn you get 3 shakes of the dice to try to get combinations like Full House, Large Straight and 3 or 4 of a kind. Score 5 of a kind for big points - that's a Yahtzee! Included score pad helps you keep track. The person with the most points at the end wins that round.

Variations: Yahtzee Free For All, Triple Yahtzee, Power Yahtzee, Yahtzee Turbo, Yahtzee Jr., Theme Yahtzee (Holiday, Animal, Disney, etc.)

A great game when you have a group of people! One person lays out an adjective, then you have to go through your cards of nouns and decide which one best fits to that adjective. The comparisons can get quite funny! For example, the adjective might be "Painful". And you could have to choose from Elvis, First Date, Marshmallows or Skateboarding. Laughter is surely part of the game!

Ages: 12 and Up (Jr. Version is 9+, Kids Version is 7+)

Players: At least 4 Players

Game Play: Players are dealt red cards which have a noun printed on them, and the judge (a different player in each turn) draws a green card on which an adjective is printed and places it for all players to see. Each player then chooses a red card they are holding that they think best describes the green card. The judge then decides which adjective she likes best. Expansion packs of cards available.

Variations: Apples to Apples Jr., Apples to Apples Kids, Apples to Apples Bible Edition, Apples to Apples Jewish Edition

Sorry! is a great game to teach kids good sportsmanship. It's also a game you don't have to "let" your kids win. You can go from winning one moment, then back to the beginning the next!

Ages: 6 and up

Players: 2-4

Game Play: It's a race and a chase around the board to get all your pieces "Home". Draw cards to find if you'll move forward or backward. If you're lucky you'll land on a "slide" spot and shoot forward. But your opponent is lurking to send you back to start! A classic game of luck, strategy and determination.

Variations: Sorry! Sliders, Sorry! Express, Sorry! Card Revenge, Theme Sorry! (Spongebob, Pokemon, Simpsons, etc.)

This is a great game for a couple or a group. The trick is to come up with answers no one else will

Ages: 12 and up

Players: 2-6

Game Play: Each player takes a category list with 12 categories (such as fruit, city, actor, things at school) and must write down the name of one item that fits into each category. The twist is each item has to begin with a specific letter that is determined when the 20-sided die is rolled. Earn points by giving a unique answer.

Variations: Scattergories Bible Edition

Another classic game that challenges the mind.

Ages: 12 and up (Jr. Version for ages 5-8)

Players: 2-4

Game Play: Use your seven letters to take turns building crosswords and use bonus spaces to add to your score!

Variations: Scrabble Jr., Scrabble Express, Scrabble Upwords, Super or Deluxe Scrabble

A great game with something for everyone!

Ages: 8 and Up

Players: (doesn't specify)

Game Play: Teams work together to race around the board by completing a mix of 14 hilarious activities, including performing wacky stunts, sculpting with Cranium Clay, sketching, acting, and more.

Variations: Cranium offers a large variety of games that appeal to all ages. Check them out at Hasbro.com

This one will make you squeal with laughter!

Ages: 7 and Up

Players: 2 or more

Game Play: Roll two cute pink piglets and gain or lose points depending on how the critters land. For example, if both land on all fours, called a "double trotter," you get 20 points; if they land lying opposite each other, called a "Pig Out," you gain no points and lose your turn.

Variations: Snout

It's like a modern version of "Where's Waldo". Surprising fun for kids and adults alike!

Ages: 8 and Up

Players: 2 or more

Game Play: Place the 9 game board tiles on the table in a 3 x 3 grid. Players than take turns rolling the dice, selecting a mission card and trying to find objects fast or first. Watch out, the game board can change on any turn -- special mission cards instruct players to turn over, rotate or switch one of the 9 game board tiles. You get the card if you find the object fast or first. Collect enough cards to win.

Variations: Game is also available to download and play online.

Although Monopoly surely deserves a spot on this top ten list, I put it at the bottom because I feel the game goes on too long! I do love the variety of theme boards you can get, and the pewter game pieces are so fun.

Ages: 8 and Up

Players: 2 or more

Game Play: Players compete to acquire wealth by buying, renting, and trading properties using play money, as players take turns moving around the board according to the roll of the dice. The object of the game is to own every piece of property and drive the other players into bankruptcy.

Variations: Monopoly Electronic Banking Edition, Monopoly Here and Now, Monopoly Jr., Monopoly Express, Theme Monopoly (Spongebob, Star Wars, The Wizard of Oz, Family Guy, etc.)

I hope you enjoyed reading about my favorite games. I'm always on the lookout for new ones, so I hope you share your favorites in my guest book.

Games are a great way to share quality time with your family, or share many laughs with your friends - and also make great gifts!