If you’re a child of the early 2000s, you’ll remember the era when classic board games like Monopoly, Scrabble and Cluedo ruled the gaming world. While some children (and adults) write off board games as old fashioned and time-consuming, there are many benefits to playing traditional game nights with your family.
‘Playing board games helps develop communication skills, social skills, resilience and problem-solving, all of which are important for school and life. It also teaches children how to work with others and to be a good sport,’ says Ellie Dix, teacher and educationalist.
One of the best new party board games that aims to bring back classics from the early 2000s is Codenames. This game is insanely fun and helps kids build their vocabulary, while also being a great way for families to get together and bond. It’s a great addition to your modern board games collection and is perfect for any age group.
Another of our top picks is Twilight Struggle. This game is a two-player strategy game that simulates the Cold War, and has been a huge hit with gamers and non-gamers alike. It’s an excellent game for any history buff and can help spark discussions on important world events.
There’s also Candy Land, which had every kid daydreaming about walking through Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory, or Screwball Scramble, where you would try to spin a disc around using a series of buttons and flippers. More recently, interactive games like Cranium have started to catch on – with this fast-paced game, players have to act, spell or draw while other players guess what they are doing. This teaches kids to pay attention, listen to instructions and follow directions.