We tapped the Game King and asked him to give us a list of the best new games for 2023. We know many of you are looking for games to play with young kids and the entire family.
The first guide focuses on games that can be played with younger kids. The second guide includes games for the entire family. Grab these now for the holidays!
1. Exit the Game Kids: Specially designed for younger kids as an “introduction to deduction.” Follow clues to figure which three animals to pick on your decoder spinning wheel and the turn it over to see if you got the code correct. Ages 4-6, could be played solo with adult guidance, or small group collaboration. (This is NOT like Exit The Game for adults. It is a simple deduction game.)
2. Butts on Things: Kids will love the cheeky nature of butts in so many incarnations. Play your cards in a grid to match the first and last cards to collect the row. Quick playing, ages 8+, 2-4 players.
3. Mantis: Make matching sets by trying to steal these colorful cards from opponents. Use clues to figure out who has the cards you want. Ages 7+, 2-6 players.
4. Boom Boom the Balancing Panda: Place the various pieces of “bamboo” on the panda without bamboo falling or tipping the panda over. Simple game for the youngest ones with balance and dexterity skills. High quality wooden pieces are great. Ages 3+, 1-4 players.
5. Deduckto: Clue meets Guess Who meets Sherlock Express. Fun and fast, you’ll make guesses and eliminate suspects in this funny disguised animal whodunnit. Ages 8+, 2-4 players.
6. Cake-N-Bake Challenge: Simple, easy and great for younger kids. Follow the color-coded layers on your “recipe” card to
build a matching slice of cake in a race against other players. You can even wear the included baker’s hat if you’re first. Ages 4+, 2-6 players.
7. Waffle Topple: This is a fun stacking game where you place waffles, syrup, bacon and more on top of a fork tower. Tricky rules dictate what can be touching or placed where, but don’t topple the waffle tower. Ages 5+, 2-4 players.
1. True Crime Stories: Escape room meets murder party. This is a full-on immersive experience with clues in your case file, but you’ll need to use your group powers (and cell phones) to solve your crime. This can take a while so be prepared. Ages 7+, good for a group game.
2. Butts on Things: Super simple concept that most ages can catch onto quickly. You’ll love the cheeky nature of butts in so many incarnations. Play your cards in a grid to match the first and last cards to collect the row. Ages 8+, 2-4 players.
3. Funky Fungi: Skull King meets Sushi Go. This is a trick taking game, with the added twist that each person gets to pick a card so pick what you might need, but sabotage the people after you. Ages 8+.
4. Deduckto: Clue meets Guess Who meets Sherlock Express. This plays quickly as you make guesses and eliminate suspects in this funny disguised animal whodunnit. Fun and clever graphics. Ages 8+, 2-4 players.
5. Block Party: Create an assigned object, but all you have is small colored blocks and a timer you’re racing against. Can the guesser figure out what you created? And watch for added challenges. Super simple concept everyone can grasp quickly. Ages 6+, 2+ players.
6. You Can't Say Ummm: Can you get your team to guess two random words as you describe them? Sounds easy enough? Oh yeah, you can’t say the word “ummm”. More challenging and funnier than you think, especially with a couple other twists that can get mixed in. All ages, At least 4 players.
7. Waffle Topple: This is a fun stacking game where you place waffles, syrup, bacon and more on top of a fork tower. Tricky rules dictate what can be touching or placed where, so you can get strategic making it harder for other player, but don’t topple the waffle tower.
Ages 5+, 2-4 players.
8. Toil and Troublez: My favorite Grandpa Beck’s card game in years. Push your luck to play cards in a sequence, but don’t get too greedy. Colorful graphics and a simple concept for the whole family. Ages 7+, 2-6 players.