Escape rooms let your family cooperate in new and interesting ways. But do you prefer a physical, in-person escape room, a video game, or a board game experience?
The Podcast
Episode 417 – The Purge: How Do You Know You’re Done?
How do you know when you’re done with a game and it’s time to get rid of it? Your kids have aged out of it – are you sure?
Recent Reviews
Shallow Regrets
Shallow Regrets hit a sweet spot with my son. He’s 12 and a budding fisherman, so the fishing theme and simple gameplay lured him right in.
Games for Every Age
Top 10 Games for Teens
We’ve got a few games to recommend for teenagers that are easy to teach to newcomers, and encourage talking and being silly together.
Top 10 Games for Kids Age 7-10
Between the ages of 7-10, we struggled to get our kids to play games, unless they loved the theme. So, let’s focus on some popular themes your kid will love.
Top 10 Games for 6 Year Olds
Six year olds have strong opinions and a variety of interests. Our top ten games covers many different styles and themes: you’re sure to find one your child will love!
Top 10 Games for 5 Year Olds
Five year olds usually have more patience for rules and competition. Here are 10 games we recommend for five year olds.
Top 10 Games for 4 Year Olds
Our top recommended games for typical 4 year olds. Short, fun, and educational!
Top 10 Games for 3 Year Olds
Three years old encompasses a very wide range in a young child’s life. But here are our very favorite games that emphasize turn-taking, stacking, memory, and pattern matching.
Why I Hate Candy Land (and What to Play Instead)
Kids love the candy theme and the fun characters. But Candy Land is too hard, too long, and uninteresting.
So, what can we do about that?
» Read moreShallow Regrets
Shallow Regrets hit a sweet spot with my son. He’s 12 and a budding fisherman, so the fishing theme and simple gameplay lured him right in.
» Read moreLeviathan Wilds
If you remember the video game Shadow Of The Colossus, this is like that – but as a cooperative board game with a happier ending.
» Read moreShadow Ninjas – Phantoms for Fishes
Verdant Arizona – Cactus Arranging
Especially given its small size and ease of portability, I think we’ll be taking Verdant Arizona out for a spin fairly frequently. Just look out for those spines! Ouch!
» Read moreEpisode 418 – Escape Rooms
Escape rooms let your family cooperate in new and interesting ways. But do you prefer a physical, in-person escape room, a video game, or a board game experience?
» Read morePuppies or Poop
A peaceful walk quickly turns into a messy challenge when the dogs scatter into the leaves and leave surprises behind. Can you dodge the trouble and finish with spotless shoes?
» Read moreEmbers – Protect the Fire
We heat our home with a woodstove. After an unusually harsh winter, I appreciate the absolute necessity to keep the fire from going out.
» Read moreTwisted Trumpets
There are plenty of ways to gain points in Twisted Trumpets, so even the youngest players will feel like they’ve accomplished something.
» Read moreChip Theory Kids Independent Play Collection
Every once in a while, we find games that are so well suited to very young children that they’ll pull them out and play them alone, without an adult’s help.
» Read moreUp or Down?
Episode 417 – The Purge: How Do You Know You’re Done?
How do you know when you’re done with a game and it’s time to get rid of it? Your kids have aged out of it – are you sure?
» Read moreMarvel Dice Throne: X-Men – Two Boxes, Eight Heroes – Box 2
Fans of Dice Throne and fans of the X-Men will both bet getting something out of this box.
» Read moreMarvel Dice Throne: X-Men – Two Boxes, Eight Heroes – Box 1
In this box we were a little disappointed by the implementations of Wolverine and Psylocke, while we loved what was done with Storm and Iceman.
» Read moreEpisode 416 – Growing As a Family with Board Games
Andrew & Anitra talk about their experience growing a gaming family, from toddlers to teenagers. Every kid is going to be different!
» Read moreLogic & Lore – A Deductive Race
I enjoy logical deduction, and the beauty and simplicity of Logic & Lore hooked me from the very first time I played.
» Read moreEpisode 415 – Room to Grow: Card Games
How about some card games? We recommend one for beginners, two for intermediate, and three for advanced players.
» Read moreUmami: The Forest Food Fest
Umami is a fast, family-friendly set collection game with clever card play, light take that, and plenty of savory decisions.
» Read moreOutfox the Fox
People love lists. All you have to do is an internet search, and you can find a top five or top ten list for just about anything…
» Read moreMr. Postmouse’s Picnic
For most families, I think Mr. Postmouse’s Picnic is going to be frustrating – unless you modify it to make it easier. But for fans of the series, it can still be a fertile ground for imaginative play.
» Read moreEpisode 414 – Top Games of 2025
What games are the most popular among viewers and listeners who click our affiliate links? And what were our own favorite games this year?
» Read more