Board games are classic toys. They have been around in one form or another for centuries, some dating as far back as ancient Egypt. In fact, the classic board games we all know, such as chess and checkers, are based on those ancient games. New games are being introduced all the time. Most department stores have entire aisles devoted to games, and that can complicate the decision making process when you are trying to choose a game for your children or for your whole family to play. In general, board games are divided by two main criteria- the age group for which the game is appropriate, and the type of game, i.e., card games, strategy games, quiz games, race games, roll and move games, war games, and educational games in addition to some games for younger children that are meant for sheer fun purposes.
10 Best Board Games 2012
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Featured Board Game Guides
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How to Pick the Right Board Game
Games for little kids – Lucky Ducks and Hungry Hungry Hippos are some good examples of a game aimed at younger children. These games help with hand eye coordination as well as teaching small children that you have to play by the rules.
Card games – There are card games for every age group. Go Fish is a popular game for the little kids. Crazy Eights is another popular one. Games like War and Gin Rummy are card games played with a simple set of regular playing cards.
Strategy games – There are classic strategy games such as chess and checkers, in which players plan their moves in order to try and take the other player’s pieces. Checkers is a good game for elementary school kids, and it can be a very elementary introduction to chess as well. Chess is a good game to teach kids to play, because it can teach them to plan and think ahead as well as to anticipate the actions of another person. This game is pretty complicated, however, and even some adults have problems playing it well.
Quiz games – Trivial Pursuit is one of the most popular quiz or trivia games. There are also movie and TV versions, as well as versions designed for kids.
Race games – Backgammon is a good example of a race game. Basically, the object is to move all your game pieces from one side of the board to the other, one turn at a time, but still do it faster than the other player.
Roll and move games – These are some of the most popular board games available. Candy Land and Shutes and Ladders are two classic games designed for children. Monopoly is another game in this category, and it can be played by the whole family. Beware, though: A game of Monopoly can last for hours.
War games – Stratego is a miniature, board game version of capture the flag. Each player has 40 pieces that represent different officers and soldiers, and the object is to use strategy to defeat the other player’s army. Risk is also considered a war game, as is Battleship.
Educational games – Scrabble is one of the many educational board games available. This game is good for spelling and vocabulary, and it also sometimes requires the use of a dictionary, an item all kids need to know how to use.
Puzzle games – Classic puzzle games like dominoes are fun for kids of all ages and also teach counting skills. Connect Four is a puzzle game for two players, and is basically a vertical version of Tic- Tac- Toe.
When choosing a board game for your kids or for your whole family, the box is a good place to start. Games have information on the boxes that state which age range the game was designed for, and also how many players can play at one time. This is very useful information, because you don’t want to accidentally buy a board game in which only two players can play at a time if you have three children. It is a good idea to keep a variety of board games in your home, as they are endless hours of fun and a very handy thing to have in your home on rainy days.
