Maritess De Ocampo

Mom and Kids playing Pexels Photo by Alex Green

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<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:958px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1788070110494Thumbnail_pexels-alex-green-5693046.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner"><em>Photo from Pexels by Alex Green</em></span></span></span></div><p>For those looking for fun, screen-free activities with their families this slow Sunday, board games are a great option. They can help build social skills, improve creative and critical thinking, and develop problem solving skills while giving the family an opportunity to spend quality time together.</p><p>Board gaming has boomed in popularity over the years, with game stores now offering a wider selection of games outside of the old classics like Monopoly and Clue. To help you find the perfect game for you and your family, we’ve compiled a list of the best board games to play with kids of all ages. From simple and easy party games to strategy games that keep the family hooked for hours, there’s a game out there for everyone.</p><div><strong>BEST BOARD GAMES FOR YOUNG KIDS AGES 7 AND UP</strong></div><div><em><strong></strong></em><strong></strong><strong>Sushi Go! The Pick and Pass Card Game</strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:958px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1788066522154SUSHI GO GAMEWRIGHT-249.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner"><em>Photo from Gamewright</em></span></span></span></strong><strong></strong><em><strong></strong></em></div><p><em>Sushi Go!</em> is a simple card-drafting game where you play as diners in a sushi restaurant trying to get the best dishes as they whizz by on a conveyor belt. This is represented by the game’s pick-and-pass mechanic, where players pick one card to keep from their own hands before passing the remaining cards to the next player. Points are earned at the end of each round based on the combination of cards collected this way.</p><div><strong>Camel Up</strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:957.995px;display:block" width="957.995"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1788066905735CAMEL UP en_camelup.html_CoverImage.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:957.995px;height:auto" width="957.995"/><span class="fr-inner"><em>Photo from Lookout Games</em></span></span></span></strong></div><p>In <em>Camel Up</em>, players place bets as they watch an exciting camel race in the desert. Multiple bets can be made as the race progresses and the player with the most coins at the end of the game wins. The game features colorful, tactile components as well as dice-rolling mechanics and backward-running camels that never fail to create chaotically funny moments in every race.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/health-beauty-fashion/2026/8/23/three-moms-remind-us-slow-sunday-not-an-escape-return-to-the-present-moment-0231" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">RELATED STORY: Three moms remind us: A slow Sunday isn&#x27;t an escape—it&#x27;s a return to the present moment</a></div><div><strong>Hues and Clues</strong></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:602px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1788067283459HUES &amp; CUES.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner"><em>Photo from Asmodee Games</em></span></span></span></div><p>Speaking of colorful games, <em>Hues and Clues</em> is a communication game where players take turns secretly picking one out of the 480 vibrant tiles on the board and must give one- or two-word clues for the other players to guess the color. It’s easy to learn and set up and can help kids build their vocabulary and understand color associations. This board game can take 3 to 10 players, making it great for both large and small families.</p><div><strong>King of Tokyo</strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:942px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1788067455323KING OF TOKYO.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner"><em>Photo from IELLO Games via Gaming Library</em></span></span></span></strong></div><p>Inspired by classic kaiju films, <em>King of Tokyo</em> has players battle for cinematic monster supremacy as they rage through Tokyo. As the game progresses, players can purchase upgrades for their monsters. The game’s primary mechanics rely on dice rolling, which helps even the odds for both kids and adults and provides twists and turns that will keep players hooked to the very end.</p><div><strong>Ticket to Ride: First Journey</strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:958px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1788067644501TICKET TO RIDE.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner"><em>Photo from Days of Wonder</em></span></span></span></strong></div><p><em>Ticket to Ride: First Journey</em> takes the mechanics and map of the original Ticket to Ride game and scales them down for kids ages 6 and up. During their turns, players must either draw train cards or use the cards they already have to claim routes on the board and complete train tickets. The mechanics are simple enough for younger kids to grasp while still being strategic enough to engage older kids and adults. </p><div><strong>FAMILY BOARD GAMES FOR OLDER KIDS AGES 10 AND UP</strong></div><div><strong>Machi Koro 2</strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:681px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1788067824963MACHI KORO 2.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner"><em>Photo from Pandasaurus Games via their Amazon store</em></span></span></span></strong></div><p>In <em>Machi Koro 2</em>, players try to build the most prosperous city they can by building businesses and using the income from those businesses to build landmarks. The first player to build three landmarks wins the game. Like Quacks, it complements strategy with luck, as players need to roll dice to activate their buildings’ effects. The game is easy to set up, quick to teach, and endlessly replayable. </p><div><strong>Codenames</strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:502px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1788067985541Codenames_board_game.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner"><em>Photo from Wikipedia</em></span></span></span></strong></div><p><em>Codenames</em> is a word game with two teams and two spymasters. Each team is a rival spy agency that’s attempting to contact all their spies, which are represented by 25 different cards on the table (only the spymaster knows which cards belong to their team). On each team’s turn, the spymaster gives one word and a number as clues to help their teammates identify all their cards. There are many spin-offs of the game, including Codenames: Pictures, Codenames: Disney, Codenames: Marvel, and even Codenames: Philippine Edition.</p><div><strong>Quacks</strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:681px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1788068119642Quacks.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner"><em>Photo from CMYK Games via their Amazon store</em></span></span></span></strong></div><p><em>Quacks</em> is a push-your-luck game where players are medieval quack doctors who draw ingredients (represented by colored tokens) from a bag to put in a cauldron to brew potions, but they have to watch out as drawing too many white tokens will cause an explosion! As the game progresses, players can add more tokens of their choice to their bags to brew better potions and avoid drawing white tokens. The game expertly balances luck and strategy while keeping the mechanics simple and elegant.</p><div><strong>Bark Avenue</strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:656px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1788068243240Bark Avenue.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner"><em>Photo from Good Games Publishing via their Amazon store</em></span></span></span></strong></div><p>A great board game for animal-loving families,<em> Bark Avenue</em> is a route-planning game that has players working as dog walkers who must walk multiple dogs with competing needs and bring them home before time runs out. The mechanics are simple and fun while promoting time management and problem solving skills. As a bonus, each dog card is based on either a real-life foster dog from an animal shelter in New York or the real-life pet of someone who helped crowdfund the game on Kickstarter! </p><div><strong>Cascadia</strong></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:958px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1788068380423kalikasan-cascadia-ph-edition-5925737.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner"><em>Photo from Gaming Library</em></span></span></span></div><p>Another game featuring animals, <em>Cascadia </em>has players building terrains and populating them with wildlife by drafting and arranging environment tiles and animal tokens in different patterns to score points. While the original version of the game was focused on the Pacific Northwest region of North America, game distributor Gaming Library released an official Filipino version of the game called <a href="https://www.gaminglib.com/products/kalikasan-cascadia-ph-edition" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Kalikasan</em></a>, which features native animals like tarsiers, tamaraws, and bangus as well as iconic local landscapes.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/health-beauty-fashion/2026/8/16/why-is-it-so-hard-to-have-a-slow-sunday-0422" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">RELATED STORY: Why is it so hard to have a slow Sunday?</a></div><div><strong>BOARD GAMES FOR </strong><strong>TEENAGERS AND YOUNG ADULTS</strong></div><div><strong>Pandemic</strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:721.992px;display:block" width="721.992"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1788068520642Pandemic.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:721.992px;height:auto" width="721.992"/><span class="fr-inner"><em>Photo from Asmodee</em></span></span></span></strong></div><p>A modern classic in the board game scene, <em>Pandemic</em> has players working together to prevent 4 deadly diseases from spreading across the globe by preventing outbreaks in new cities, treating sick populations, and developing cures. Unlike other games on this list, Pandemic is a cooperative board game, making it perfect for families that want the excitement of a high stakes strategy game without having to compete with each other. </p><div><strong>Heat: Pedal to the Metal</strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:681px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1788068655781Heat.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner"><em>Photo from Asmodee via their Amazon store</em></span></span></span></strong></div><p><em>Heat: Pedal to the Metal</em> puts players in the driver’s seat of a powerful, high-octane race car and they attempt to cross the finish line first while managing their car’s speed and engine heat (represented by cards). The primary mechanics are deck building and hand management, while mechanics such as slipstreaming and spinouts simulate the unexpected events that make any race exciting. The base game has multiple maps and even a championship system to make the game extra exciting for family game nights.</p><div><strong>Carcassonne</strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:570px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1788068827041Carcassonne.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner"><em>Photo from Z-Man Games via their Amazon store</em></span></span></span></strong></div><p>In <em>Carcassonne</em>, players take turns drawing and placing those tiles on a shared map of medieval southern France and placing meeples on the map to claim points. Tiles can score differently depending on the feature or landmark they represent. The game’s mechanics are simple and easy to learn but create many opportunities for strategy and depth. It’s the perfect game for families that want a cozy but competitive board game.</p><div><strong>Wingspan</strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:958px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1788069003802Wingspan.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner"><em>Photo from Stonemaier Games</em></span></span></span></strong></div><p>Arguably the most popular board game to be released in the last decade, <em>Wingspan </em>has players taking on the role of rival bird enthusiasts attempting to attract the best birds to their wildlife preserves. Over the course of 4 rounds, players have to collect resources to add bird cards to the proper habitats on their board and can activate those birds and habitats for additional effects. The base game features 170 beautifully illustrated bird cards with different effects and point values, allowing players to explore different strategies and to learn about different types of birds along the way.</p><div><strong>Mysterium</strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:681px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1788069129283Mysterium.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner">Photo from Asmodee via their Amazon store</span></span></span></strong></div><p><em>Mysterium</em> is a cooperative deduction game where one player acts as a ghost who can only communicate with the other players, referred to in-game as “psychics”, through abstract visions (represented in-game by illustrated cards). Together, the psychics must interpret these visions to correctly identify the murderer, the weapon, and location before time runs out. It&#x27;s a visually stunning game that fosters creative thinking and presents a fun challenge for both the ghost and the psychics.</p><div><strong>WHERE TO BUY BOARD GAMES IN THE PHILIPPINES</strong></div><p>The board game selection at traditional toy stores is limited, so we recommend visiting specialized game stores when preparing for family game night. Retailers like <a href="https://www.gaminglib.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Gaming Library</a> and<a href="https://neutralgrounds.online/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> Neutral Grounds</a> have physical stores all over Metro Manila and Cebu, as well as online stores. Stores like <a href="https://www.boardgamemadness.ph/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Board Game Madness</a>, <a href="https://geekboxph.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">GeekBox.PH</a>, and <a href="https://www.fortressgames.net/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Fortress Games</a> also sell board games online.</p><div><em>PHOTO CREDITS: Main Photo from <a href="https://www.pexels.com/photo/asian-woman-playing-tower-game-with-children-5693046/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Pexels by Alex Green</a>, <a href="https://gamewright.com/product/Sushi-Go" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Sushi Go!</a>, <a href="https://www.lookout-spiele.de/en/games/camelup.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Camel Up</a>, <a href="https://www.asmodee.co.uk/blogs/news/how-to-play-hues-and-cues" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Hues and Cues</a>, <a href="https://www.gaminglib.com/products/king-of-tokyo-2016-edition?srsltid=AfmBOoqPPl4De4GtUyvbkyNfgpiMNvsSPNXjr8F9ipTRRonQj-x3FE4d" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">King of Tokyo</a>,<a href="https://www.daysofwonder.com/game/ticket-to-ride-my-first-journey/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> Ticket to Ride</a>, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09B6R9TL2?ref=clp_hp_h_pc">Machi Koro 2</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Codenames_%28board_game%29" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Codenames</a>, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F4SRMRG9?lv=shuf&amp;channelId=500&amp;plpRedirect=mhFallback" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Quacks</a>, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Avenue-Good-Games-Publishing-Strategy/dp/B0CK9JYH5L/ref=sr_1_1?crid=EIBHQ0UR0T9&amp;dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.VvbYtnhM9H_tcT9aaD1DGg_LONsRxJlclar5r-UePtWMKY2AXcNOsicQzmj4WgM9R1oKpoSHgh9wIH9nTgcBWGoLNi7ZDMFULrPKeHYz6VkEBvdVDs392Zq8t8Ex8DmvquSh8PfjPyPx2_IpIOh3DA.UcCNdlzfigSZGNVA5oETP0mggldE4UliL3NGgP5F4UA&amp;dib_tag=se&amp;keywords=bark+avenue&amp;qid=1787845296&amp;sprefix=bark+aven%2Caps%2C368&amp;sr=8-1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bark Avenue</a>, <a href="https://www.gaminglib.com/products/kalikasan-cascadia-ph-edition?_pos=1&amp;_psq=kalikasan&amp;_psid=a3a33e9dc&amp;_ss=e" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Cascadia</a>, <a href="https://store.asmodee.com/products/pandemic" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Pandemic</a>, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BGXPZG4B?ref=clp_hp_h_pc&amp;th=1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">HEAT: Pedal to the Metal</a>,<a href="https://www.amazon.de/-/en/Z-Man-Games-Carcassonne-Board-Game/dp/B00NX627HW" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> Carcassonne</a>, <a href="https://stonemaiergames.com/games/wingspan/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Wingspan</a>, and <a href="https://www.amazon.com.au/Asmodee-Mysterium-Board-Game/dp/B013TJ5P80?th=1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mysterium</a>.</em></div>

<p>Bring everyone to the table with 15 best board games that encourage connection, creativity, and friendly competition, perfect for a screen-free slow Sunday with the family and kids of all ages.</p>

Bring everyone to the table with 15 best board games that encourage connection, creativity, and friendly competition, perfect for a screen-free slow Sunday with the family and kids of all ages.

Tired of Monopoly and Clue? Here are 15 best board games for a fun, screen-free family game night for all ages

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Tired of Monopoly and Clue? Here are 15 best board games for a fun, screen-free family game night for all ages

Isabella Olivares

Published August 30, 2026 02:14 PM PHT

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Updated August 30, 2026 10:16 PM PHT

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