Board games make a great activity for a family night or when friends come over, not to mention a great educational toy that kids won’t think is educational. Personally, I’m a fan of the classic, simple games that don’t require batteries and a seven page instruction booklet. Here are a few games that I highly recommend to keep around!
Aggravation is one of the many variations of the game Pachisi. Up to 6 players can compete to get all of their marbles into their home section of the board. The game’s name comes from the action of capturing an opponent’s piece by landing on its space, which is known as “aggravating.” A great game for the whole family.
[Aggravation; $12.95 at Arsa Toys]
Pentago is a fast and fun strategy game that is both simple and sophisitcated at the same time; as their slogan states, “30 Seconds to learn; a lifetime to master”. The object of the game is to create a row of five marbles, in any direction. But the mind twisting part is that you will also twist one of the four game blocks as part of your move.
[Pentago; $18.13 at Arsa Toys]
And Tic Tac Toe is always a simple, fun game to bring out on a rainy day. Save paper and avoid inky hands with this adorable hand-crafted wooden set. There are other themes, such as safari, penguins, construction and monkeys so you can find the perfect set for the children in your life.
[Nifty Nature Tic Tac Toe; $11.70 at Arsa Toys]
For younger game players, there are a lot of pre-school games with simple concepts and lots of fun. This simple Honey Bee Tree game teaches counting by pulling out the leaves in the tree without letting out the bees. Perfect for curious pre-schoolers! Unlike most “spill” games (I’m looking at you, Jenga), the base keeps all of the mess contained, making putting it away super easy.
[Honey Bee Tree Action Game; $11.99 at Arsa Toys]
