A game that the whole family can enjoy playing together
On a day off when the whole family is together but you’re not going anywhere, or when unexpected free time pops up, how do you and your family kill time?
If you’re just thinking, “I’m bored…,” then let’s play some games together as a family!
In this article, we’ll introduce games that everyone in the family can enjoy.
We’ve picked a wide range of options, from classic familiar games to popular board games and video games, as well as games you can play without any equipment.
If you find a game that catches your interest, be sure to try it out with the whole family!
- A party game that gets everyone excited at home. A fun recreational game.
- Games and activities everyone can enjoy together. A collection of fun play ideas.
- Have Fun with Your Kids! A Roundup of Board Games Recommended for Parents and Children
- Indoor games for parents and children: fun activities that use the body and the mind
- A fun, everyone-joins-in game that gets everyone excited!
- Perfect for killing time! A roundup of games for three people to enjoy
- [For Kids] Popular party games. Fun games that get everyone excited
- Recommended games and activities for five people
- Games you can play with just conversation. Classic and popular activities you can enjoy without any props!
- Kill time while waiting or stuck in traffic! A roundup of games four people can play
- New Year party games that get everyone excited: a fun collection of ideas from classics to DIY
- A collection of simple indoor recreational games
- [Simple Games] Recommended Indoor Recreational Activities for Adults
Games that the whole family can enjoy playing together (11–20)
Othello
When it comes to classic board games that people of all ages—from adults to kids—can enjoy together, Othello, where you flip black and white discs, is a top pick! Choose your color, black or white, then take turns placing one disc at a time on the board to sandwich your opponent’s discs between your own, flipping the ones in between to your color.
In the end, the player with more discs showing their color wins! Since it’s a one-on-one game, a tournament format is great when playing with the whole family.
With simple rules and no complexity, it’s perfect for getting everyone excited!
Blox
Born in France, the territory strategy game Blokus is a game for up to four players that puts your flexible thinking to the test! Each player has 21 colorful pieces, and on their turn they place a piece on the board.
You can place pieces freely, but the rule is that your own blocks must touch corner-to-corner.
You can’t place pieces so that their edges touch, nor can you leave them completely disconnected.
The game ends when no one can place any more pieces.
Scores are calculated based on the pieces left and how they were placed, and the winner is determined.
Playing in teams and discussing strategy as you go is also highly recommended!
Jenga
Jenga, the super-famous game that almost everyone has tried at least once.
With its simple rule of removing one block at a time and stacking it back on top, Jenga is a game anyone—young or old—can enjoy together, making it perfect for killing time at family gatherings! It may look simple at first glance, but it’s actually a brainy, strategic game: you have to think about which blocks to move and how to stack them so you clear your turn safely while putting pressure on the next player.
If you prepare some funny penalties for the loser, it might get even more exciting.
Captain Rhino
“Rhino Hero” is a game where you build a structure using roof cards and wall cards.
Each player has their own set of roof cards.
Match the symbols on the foundation card placed in the center and position the wall cards accordingly, then place one of your roof cards on top.
The next player places wall cards to match the symbols shown on the roof, and then stacks one of their own roof cards.
In the end, the player with the fewest cards left wins! You must not touch the cards on floors built by other players.
If you topple the building, you lose—so stack your cards carefully.
Word Wolf
Word Wolf is a psychological game that the whole family can enjoy.
Deal cards to all participants—one of the cards has a different word on it, and the goal is to find it.
While talking about the word written on your card, you try to figure out who has the odd one out.
At first, you won’t know whether your word is the odd one, but if you start to suspect it during the conversation, the key is to play along on purpose and throw others off.
If you successfully mislead everyone and no one discovers your identity, you win.
It’s a fun game that trains communication skills and gives your brain a workout.
Yamanote Line game
An easy Yamanote Line game the whole family can enjoy! You can choose any theme, but it’s best to start with familiar ones like animals or vegetables.
Turning it into a question format—like “What was the last bird you saw at the park?”—is sure to make it even more exciting.
It’s great for everyone from small children to seniors, making it perfect for family time.
All you need is time and words, so you can start quickly whenever there’s a spare moment.
As you play and share what everyone knows, you might even make new discoveries.
It’s simple yet heartwarming—give this communication game a try!
Atama-Oshiri Game
The fresh, TV-famous rhythm game “Atama-Oshiri Game”! In time with the music, you answer by connecting the first and last letters of the word presented.
You have 10 seconds, and the key to winning is whether you can come up with longer words or more letters.
It tests both speed and creativity, so everyone can have fun cranking their brains together.
On the show, Banana Man and Sandwich Man take on the challenge, with unexpected answers being a highlight.
Enjoy laughs and edge-of-your-seat moments.
It’s a recommended game that gets families and friends pumped up while training rhythm and quick thinking at the same time.
Ubongo
This is a game for small groups of 1 to 4 players.
Complete your puzzle before the sand in the hourglass runs out.
Players who finish first choose valuable gems in order.
The game lasts 9 rounds.
The player with the highest total gem score wins.
Each puzzle has a front and back with different difficulty, so you can adjust it per participant.
Roll the die, flip the hourglass, and start! Use the puzzle indicated in the section matching the symbol on the die and complete it.
When you’re done, shout “Ubongo!” and claim gems in the order the word was called.
It’s a game you can’t help getting absorbed in—sure to get everyone excited.
Quiz: Let’s Aim for the Sweet Spot!
The buzzworthy board game “Good to go! Quiz SHOW!” features quiz questions that are all answered with numbers—and nobody actually knows the correct answers.
The rules are simple: players take turns tackling a question and write down the number they think is correct on a board or card.
The person closest to the correct answer earns points, and after multiple rounds, the total scores determine the winner.
Since all the questions are ones you don’t really know the answers to, the thrill of making a guess and the excitement it creates are the highlights.
Playing with family or friends sparks conversation and laughter, making for a great time.
It’s a quiz game anyone can jump into with ease.
Dobble
Dobble, which lets you play five different mini-games, is a card game for 2 to 8 players.
There are 55 cards in total, and any pair of cards will always have exactly one symbol in common.
Try games that make use of these differing symbols: modes where you grab as many cards as you can from a central pile, where you win by emptying your own deck, or where the number of cards remaining decides the winner.
It’s a card game that’s perfect for livening up New Year gatherings.