Looking for fun games with family and friends?

[caracarn]

We were introduced to the Jackbox Party Pack 2 on New Year's Eve as a friends.  The game runs on a computer (they also offer versions for major consoles and FireTV etc.) and players use their devices (phone, tablets, etc.) as their controller.  You simply use your web browser to go to jackbox.tv and enter the room code on he screen and voila, instant game!  The pack comes with 5 different games.  We actually found Steam running a winter special (it has ended now) that let us purchase Jackbox Party Pack 2 and Jackbox Party Pack (which has 5 other games) for less than the cost of the single Party Pack (paid $22.91 total).  It has been a ton of fun for the whole family and the kids keep asking if we can play.  It has only been a couple weeks, but so far so good.  I'd recommend you check it out and maybe keep an eye out for another big sale!

[HipGnosis]

What do you mean by "found Steam running a winter special"?

[KMMK]

We bought these as well. Definitely good value if you hang with people who all have cell phones.

[caracarn]

What do you mean by "found Steam running a winter special"?

For the PC, you buy the product and run it from Steam, which is a gaming service.  That site had a winter special listed the first week of January when we purchased it, but when I looked just before posting, it was gone and just offering 10% off.  Even at the full price of $24.99 for five games it is not too bad.  Our family has found we like 4 of the 5 (Bidiots game is really not fun at all, almost tedious).  In the first Pack, which also has 5 games, we have enjoyed all of those, but have played less.  That one has a drawing game as well and it was much better than Bidiots.

[hidetheloot]

Abstract strategy games ( really great for kids 8+ should all really enjoy these ) - (santorini is pricy, but will likely be nominated best abstract strategy game of 2016/2017. It's fantastic). I use quoridor all the time for mentoring at a local elementary school, and also sub in tsuro and blockus. Abstracts are not just for kids, however, they tend to have spacial or geometric elements that kids easily pick up.

2-8p (abstract) Tsuro: http://amzn.to/2jv5qVm
2-4p (abstract) Blokus: http://amzn.to/2izF84R
2-4p (abstract) Quoridor: http://amzn.to/2iGmT8V
2-3p (abstract) Santorini: http://amzn.to/2jXgXJN

For the 10+ crowd:
2-6p (competetive) (dice) King of Tokyo: http://amzn.to/2jXlA6T
2-4p (cooperative) Forbidden Island: http://amzn.to/2j7IKqZ
1-4p (cooperative) (dice) Escape The Curse of the Temple: http://amzn.to/2j7GD6J

For the 12+ crowd:
2-5p (competetive) (strategy) Ticket to Ride: http://amzn.to/2jXvVzv
1-4p (cooperative) (strategy) Pandemic: http://amzn.to/2jXhBH8
3-8p (competetive) (drafting) Sushi Go Party!: http://amzn.to/2jXvW6xa
2-4p (competetive) (dice) Steam Park: http://amzn.to/2iGcNoG
3-8p (team) (dice) (bluffing) Bang! the Dice Game (best w/ 6+ terrible w/ less than 5): http://amzn.to/2izH9Ou

For the 14+ crowd:
2-4p (competetive) (engine building) Splendor: http://amzn.to/2j7B48i
2-4p (competetive) Isle of Trains: http://amzn.to/2izyJXj
6p (8 w/ expansion) (competetive) (programming) Colt Express: http://amzn.to/2jXwnhb
3-7p (competetive) (team) (drafting) Between Two Cities: http://amzn.to/2izzkID
1-5p (competetive) Tiny Epic Galaxies: http://amzn.to/2jXxZHP

The above list has, player count, what I would consider to be the core mechanics of the game, the name of the game, and a link to that game. All of these are great, and I own all but two on the list. The ages I listed are what I feel the age group would be, that would most enjoy the game. Different kids, different interests, different intellects, etc. You should check them out, and see which one's you think your family would enjoy the most.

There are play through youtube videos for almost all of these games. Good reviewers are (Tabletop, Rahdo, Man vs Meeple, Watch it Played)

For large groups 6, 7, 8 people ( Colt Express, Between Two Cities, Sushi Go! Party, and Bang! the Dice Game ) are my favorites.

If I had to pick you out a starter set that would give you a good blend of genres and play styles, it'd probably be:
Bang!, (Sushi Go! Party or Between Two Cities), Colt Express, Splendor, (Isle of Trains or Tiny Epic Galaxies), (Pandemic or Forbidden Island or Forbidden Desert)

Bang! and Isle of Trains are both about 10 bucks. Most of the others are 20-30. Amazon has sales every now and again, and games tend to drop a couple bucks. The site miniaturemarket.com 'usually' has games cheaper, but you need to order 100.00 to get free shipping.

[Writology]

Do you think it`s a good idea to play computer games with a family? I think, watching a good film or walking together in the park is a better one.)

[KMMK]

Do you think it`s a good idea to play computer games with a family? I think, watching a good film or walking together in the park is a better one.)

I won't argue with the walking, but IMO watching a film with anyone is pretty pointless. The Jackbox games are really fun - and much more interactive than watching something.