Animals are a popular theme for children’s games, but they also show up in many games intended for an older audience as well.
Old games often get overlooked even though they still deserve plenty of love. Frank’s Zoo first released in 1999, and it’s been on my radar for a while.
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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.
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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?
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Umami is a fast, family-friendly set collection game with clever card play, light take that, and plenty of savory decisions.
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Cantankerous Cats does not take itself too seriously, and players shouldn’t either. Embrace the chaos, just like a cat that purrs for attention before taking a swipe with their suddenly unsheathed claws.
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In Leaf, players become the wind, strategically placing leaf tiles to grow mushrooms, help animals, and advance the season.
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At the end of every game of HUTAN, I have a miniature rainforest model right on my table, full of trees and a few animals.
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I think this is a great step up from traditional memory matching games. The storytelling aspect is a nice twist, and when everyone feels invested in the stories, it actually makes it easier to remember what item was placed where.
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Roll a die or flip a card, then use chopsticks to grab the right food in Octo Grabbo, a dexterity game that’s best for kids age 4-10.
EVERY kid under 12 years old that played this with me loved it and couldn’t get enough.
“The dual nature of the cards forced me to keep swapping back and forth and think of both aspects of every card – how it could be used for its scoring condition, and how it could contribute to the goals I’d already set out.”
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Oh My Pigeons! turns these sidewalk strutters into the ultimate flocking challenge as players compete to gather a full roost of birds. But be warned—these birds aren’t above a little chaos!
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A group of Aussie critters follows the mouthwatering aroma of sizzling sausages. One by one, they sneak in to grab a bite.
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I was surprised and impressed at how simple this game was while being simultaneously incredibly fun to play. This is the kind of game that you lose and then it’s pretty easy to convince yourself you can win the next go ’round.
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This is a gimmicky kids game. But I was honestly really surprised at how well Dodo works even for adults.
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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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