Having money feels fantastic, but it might not be the most important thing in your life. Three in five Americans say that family is the most important thing. However, it’s easy to forget how important it is to spend time with them – especially as a working adult. You should check out these family game night ideas for your next bonding night!
How do you organize a family game night?
To organize a family game night, you must ensure that everyone is available for one evening. So set a date, put the date on everyone’s calendar, and make sure no conflicts arise. Game nights are a lot of fun, so hopefully, that should be enough to get everyone to free up their schedule.
You may also want to order or cook some great food to motivate everyone to go. Check out my article for some affordable options for some good eats.
Above all else, the games should be fun for everyone! Here are some popular and affordable family game night ideas:
Family game night ideas that young children love
Young children have a lot of energy and love to play games. Plus, playing games is how they learn. Here are five family game night ideas that young children will love:
Pictionary
Pictionary is a classic board game and is one of the most popular family game night ideas. Everyone takes turns drawing a random word, and the other players have to try and guess what it is. The drawing cannot contain any words or numbers. Kids love this game because it lets them express their artistic side!
What you’ll need:
While Pictionary started as a board game, you don’t need to buy the official set. All you need is a pen, some paper, and a random word generator to give you a word to draw.
Jenga
Jenga is another of the most popular family game night ideas. To play, you first have to make a tower of wooden blocks. Then, pull one of the blocks without making the tower fall. If someone pulls a block and the tower falls, it’s game over!
What you’ll need:
To play Jenga, you’ll have to buy a set of wooden blocks. Hasbro still sells classic Jenga sets for about $15, but more affordable alternatives exist.
Build a pillow fort
Thankfully, you won’t have to buy much for this family game night idea. All you have to do is build a pillow fort in the bedroom or living room! It can be a lot of fun, especially if everyone brings their own pillows and blankets.
What you’ll need:
A lot of pillows and blankets, and a willingness to be present and have fun. Put away those screens!
Minute to Win It
You’ve heard of Minute to Win It, right? It’s a popular game show where contestants compete, doing random activities to win money. The catch? All of the games can be done with household items, and they’re only given, well, a minute to win it!
One of the funniest Minute to Win It challenges is to eat a cookie on your face without using your hands!
What you’ll need:
The listed challenge just needs a cookie, but what you need will vary depending on the game.
Separation Anxiety
This is one of the simplest family game night ideas. Have everyone try to separate a pack of candies by color, but only give them 45 to 60 seconds to do so! The time pressure will make people panic and be fun to watch.
What you’ll need:
All this game needs is a pack of M&Ms/Skittles per contestant.
Family game night ideas that are fun for all ages
Some family game night ideas just aren’t engaging enough for older players. Here are some that are fun for all ages:
Heads Up!
This game goes by many names and has many variations, like Taboo. To play this game, just have someone hold up a piece of paper with a word on their head. The other players then describe the word to the player to coach them into guessing the word correctly. However, the other players can’t say the word themselves.
What you’ll need:
This game doesn’t require too many tools. A pen and paper are more than enough to play this game.
Two Truths and One Lie
Two Truths and One Lie is a great game to get to know your family better. To play, everyone has to take turns giving two truths and one lie about themselves. You’ll definitely find something new about your family members if you choose to play this game.
What you’ll need:
This game doesn’t need anything besides players, making it easy on the wallet.
Charades
This game is one of the most popular party games and is a family game night staple. To play, one player is given a word or phrase to act out while the others guess it. The actor can’t say a single word, though, so it’s up to them to let the others guess the word.
What you’ll need:
A random word generator can make things unpredictable and much more fun.
Among Us
If you have teenagers or kids in your household, they have probably already heard of Among Us. It’s a game where everyone plays an astronaut trying to do random tasks to get home from an expedition. However, an impostor is hidden among the other players and trying to prevent this from happening. The game can get pretty intense and will have your family pointing fingers and laughing in no time!
What you’ll need:
Everyone has to download the game on their phone. Thankfully, it’s completely free on both iOS and Android!
Monopoly
It is another classic board game that many households turn to when they need family game night ideas. To win the game, you need to manage your money effectively and bring every other player to $0. It’s a lot of fun, but the rules can be complicated, so it’s best for older players.
What you’ll need:
You’ll need a Monopoly board for all the pieces to play the game. It’s about $20, but variations are available if you’re willing to spend a bit more.
Family game night ideas for big families
Some families are just too large to be able to enjoy specific family game night ideas, and that’s okay. Here are a few ideas that are perfect for big families:
Trivia Night
Split the family into two teams, and host yourselves a trivia night. You have to prepare a certain number of trivia questions to have your family answer. The team that answers the most questions wins!
What you’ll need:
All you need to have a trivia night is a set of trivia questions. Having a prize also helps keep your family engaged.
Family Quiz
This is a trivia night, but with a family twist. All questions have to be about family members, even ones that aren’t playing the game. This kind of game will make people realize how much (or how little) they actually know about their families.
What you’ll need:
To play this game, you need to prepare a list of trivia questions about your family members. Be sure to talk to your extended family to find some hidden trivia about them.
Skribbl
Some big families have members who don’t even live in the same household anymore but still want to be involved. Skribbl is a game like Pictionary, but it can be played online and for free!
What you’ll need:
Your players just need to play on the skribbl website. The game is completely free, and players don’t even need to make an account!
What’s in the Box?
To play this game, have your family members split into two teams. Then, the host has to provide a box that contains a random item. The teams then have to try to guess what it is, but they can’t look inside the box. The players can only figure out what’s inside the box by reaching inside and touching it. Each team that makes a correct guess earns a point, and the team with the most points wins!
What you’ll need:
You just need a box and some household items to put inside it for this game.
Musical Chairs
A classic in both children’s parties and family game nights, most people should know how to play Musical Chairs. That’s why you should mix things up by making players play blindfolded!
What you’ll need:
To play, you’ll need blindfolds for everyone, almost enough chairs for all the players, and music.
Alternative family game night ideas
You might forget that the point of family game nights is to spend time with family. Other times, the working adults may be too exhausted from work and may not want to do something too crazy. If you end up not actually wanting to play a game, here are some alternative activities:
Watch a movie
For families that don’t have the energy to play games, movies can also be a great bonding activity. Watching movies together gives families something to talk about and bond over.
What you’ll need:
For a movie night, you’ll need to choose a movie. Some movies are better suited for families than others. Pixar movies, especially the recent Encanto and the classic The Incredibles, are perfect for family movie nights. Depending on the film you choose to watch, you’ll need to subscribe to the appropriate streaming service.
Storytime
This is a simple activity that can be done in the living room or any common area in the house. Everyone just has to tell a story about their lives. You never know what actually goes on with your family unless they tell you these stories.
What you’ll need:
All you need for this is a story to tell and family members willing to hear it.
Baking
Baking can be an engaging bonding activity for families. Many families will be more than happy to bake with each other. This is especially true if they get to eat once everything’s done.
What you’ll need:
If you are baking with your family, you need the right ingredients. Find out the best recipe to make with them and buy what you need but don’t already have. If you want to save some money while grocery shopping, here’s my article on coupon sites you can use.
Make a TikTok
TikTok’s are everywhere these days and are fun to make. There are a lot of dances that are fun to do and easy to learn. If your family is willing, get them to make a TikTok with you to show your extended family and friends!
What you’ll need:
To make a TikTok, you will need to download the free app on your phone and a working phone camera.
Just talking
Sometimes, your family will only have the energy to talk and catch up–and that’s okay! Chatting can be fun and engaging, too. The whole point of these family game night ideas is to get to know each other better. If they want to talk and open up to each other, you know the game nights are working!
What you’ll need:
The only things you’ll need to talk to your family are an open mind and an ear willing to listen.
After you have an amazing time with your family at family game night, you may want to arrange a stay-at-home date night. You can find some tips in my article.
You don’t need to spend money to have great family game nights. If you liked this list and want some more ideas on how to save money, sign up for the financial fam! As a member, you’ll receive personal finance tips and insider information from me. Occasionally, I’ll even send a freebie or two! Signing up takes no time and is 100% free, so what’re you waiting for? Join today!
