Animals are a popular theme for children’s games, but they also show up in many games intended for an older audience as well.
Mutton Bustin is a speedy dice-rolling game for 2-4 players, ages 8 and up. Those folks would be too old to ride real sheep.
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Sheep in Disguise is a light family game with just a little bit of take-that. We did have some hurt feelings when players would “expose” another player’s sheep, which meant they were abducted when an attack card was played – but the game is light and moves quickly enough that we could pretty much get past that.
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It’s a fun simple game for pet lovers who like this really adorable style, but it’s definitely not a game for your hobby group. I’d stick with playing this with kids, probably around ages 6-10, or young teens or preteens that really lean into the cuteness factor.
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We love Regroup! Chicken Army and play it often. If your family enjoys easy-to-learn, tactical, card placement games, this could make a great addition to the game shelf.
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Who ever thought that a game about surviving a shark attack could be family-friendly? It is when the shark is a bath toy!
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10 Gallon Tank is a simple and fun drafting game that offers fans of “I-Split-You-Choose” an opportunity to use a favorite mechanism that is often overlooked in games.
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It’s rare that a game can move as quickly as Redwood does while allowing players to interact in a non-destructive way. It combines point-of-view with a photography theme in a way that’s fresh and easy to understand.
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Harvest Hoppers is Snowbright Studio’s new “cute but cutthroat” board game, delivering heartwarming fun for 2 to 6 players over 30 to 60 minutes. This strategy game with area control components comes with dozens of produce tokens, uniquely configured neighborhood maps, and a heapin’ handful of adorable Hoptop bicycle delivery antics.
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In this polyomino shape placement game from Thinkfun, players ages 8 and up fill the belly of their goats with food, clothing, sports equipment, and school supplies. The player who most strategically arranges the shapes in their goat’s stomach after three rounds wins the game.
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Scram! is a hit for our crew because it’s light, strategic, and without any mental overload. Turns go quick and kids will stay engaged. While we only were able to get four players to the table, it would be a hoot at six.
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Purrfect Match is a tableau building game – your goal is to have at least two of each type of cat in your cafe, and there are six types of cat.
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Play your cards following almost-standard trick-taking rules, and try to “eat” (score) other players’ animals or kale, in FORK, a family-friendly card game.
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When I originally reviewed Prehistories, I noted it was very family friendly and would appeal to folks who enjoy tile placement games. This is still true, but I enjoyed it even more with the addition of the Evolution modules!
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I love fantasy animals and mythology. How about a game that is all about saving the animals and providing them a safe home?
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Miller Zoo is a great introduction to cooperative resource-management games and legacy games. The challenges will encourage players to try new strategies, while tempting them with more stickers to show their progress.
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Velonimo is a bicycle-themed game where players race to the top-most summit of a mountain, scoring points by shedding cards from their hand in each round. The prize for winning this grueling race is the coveted Leader of the Pack Jersey!
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In Hickory Dickory you’re the mice running up the clock! Ride the minute hand, jump off, and gather items. Deliver items to score points!
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Collect sets of Australian birds by using their special powers to get more in this family card game by Phil Walker-Harding.
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Betta is an enjoyable game that will remain in our library. It only takes about a minute to explain the rules and players will be off swimmingly.
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