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Home » Blog » The Best Family Games

7 Games To Play With Grandparents

Published: Sep 10, 2022 by Zina Harrington · Post may contain affiliate links

Looking easy games to play with grandparents? Here are a few simple board games that will make it easy for kids and grandparents to connect!

A grandpa thinking as he is playing chess with his granddaughter at a coffee shop.

Integrating Grandma and Grandpa into your family game night is a great way to stay connected. We are thankful our Nana and Papa are always up for learning new games. Over the years, they've played Sorry, Candyland, Chess, and even Catan with us. Papa is a strategist! 

Our lovely, little Gamer Daughter 1 (above six years old, now seven!) put together a list of the games she enjoyed playing most with her Nana and Papa. I added a few parent-to-parent notes sharing why they are great games to play with grandparents!

Games To Play With Grandparents

01. Richard Scarry's Busytown, Eye Found It Toddler Game

Forget Candyland! Richard Scarry's Busytown, Eye Found It Toddler Game is a must-have for grandparents of toddlers & preschoolers. Read more about why we love this 6-foot long board game for young kids. This collaborative family game is perfect for multi-generational play.

02. Life on Earth Memory and Matching Game

We've had this Memory Game for over ten years. We got it when my daughter was three and at 13 she still would play it with me on mom-and-me coffee shop dates. Read more about why we believe playing memory with young kids is so important. We love this for grandkids because playing matching games with young kids is a an opportunity for them to REALLY BEAT grandma and grandpa at a game.

03. Sorry!

You really can't go wrong with this classic. Most grandparents already know how to play and little kids love it. I admit, this is NOT my favorite game, which means it stays and Nana and Papa's house!

05. Dixit Board Storytelling Game

Dixit is a unique game that is easy to learn, inspires the imagination, and is perfect for multi-generational game nights. Read this full Dixit game review about why we love it. This game is perfect for grandparents playing with a group of grandkids who are various ages. Dixit is fun at six and sixteen!

04. Clue Game

Another classic that most grandparents know how to play!

06. Bandida Cooperative Card Game

This is another great game to play with grandparents because it is cooperative — in other words, you work together. Again, a great option when you're trying to bring a wide variety of ages together for game night.

07. Wits & Wagers Party Game

Wits & Wagers is a MUST-HAVE game for family game night. Technically it is a "trivia game," but the catch is that the questions are so outlandish, no one EVER knows the answers. This makes it fun for kids as young as three to "partner up" with another family member to form a team.

The whole point of the game is to try to guess whose guess is the best. Very much like Apples to Apples, but way more entertaining for adults.

IMPORTANT NOTE: There are multiple variations of this game. We have them all, but this Party Edition is the one you want. The others are too complex and confusing!

08. Five Crowns Rummy-Style Card Game

This is a go-to favorite when our kids visit their grandparents. It is perfect because it gives grandparents something to do while chatting with their tween and teen grandkids. The game description says "adult," but if your kids can count and know card suits, or can play Rummikub, Five Crowns is easy to learn!

09. Codenames

This fun game is great for playing collaboratively. At our house, usually I or my partner does the set-up and the kids team up with their grandparents to try and solve the mystery. While it is geared towards older kids and adults, you'd be surprised at how helpful little kids can be when brainstorming solutions!

10. Balderdash

If you have a longer period of time, this is a great game to play with grandparents and teens. The humor of the game brings laughter and silliness back into the relationship — which is much needed during this age!

BONUS: Chess, Cribbage, Rummi & Other classics

If your parents are passionate about a classic game like chess, cribbage, rummi, or bridge — let them lead. Most children are happiest when the adult they are playing with is also truly enjoying the game. You'd be surprised how quickly young kids can pick up complex games if they're having fun with someone they love.

That being said, you're never too old to learn a new game! When my daughter expressed interest in chess, her Papa rose to the occassion.

A grandpa playing chess with a young girl at a coffee shop with the following quote written over top, "You're never too old to learn. That's when you become old, when you stop being fascinated by things, when you stop wanting to learn."

She loved playing with this traveling chess board on hot cocoa dates at our local coffee shop when she was young. This travel set was perfect for going back and forth between our house, the coffee shop, and weekend sleepovers at the grandparents!

FIND THE BEST GAMES FOR FAMILIES

Still looking for the perfect choice for game night with the grandparents? Our gaming family has got you covered when it comes to board games for kids. Learn a bit more about some of the family favorites mentioned about in these full reviews!

  • Richard Scarry's Busytown: A Collaborative Toddler Game
  • Dixit Game Review: Perfect For Multi-Age Families!
  • Spy Alley Board Game: Fun But Not A Family Favorite
  • Playing Dixit: A Surprisingly Remarkable Game

Hosting Game Night With Grandparents

Playing board games with grandparents is one of the easiest ways for kids to connect. Ensure your family game night is stress-free with these tips!

  • Family Game Night Ideas: Tips For a Fun & Stress-Free Evening

You're an awesome parent for facilitating this opportunity for you kids and their grandparents. Props to you, my friend!

Love this list of games to play with grandparents? ♥

It would make our week if you took a second to share this list of games to play with grandparents on your favorite social media spot. That’s how we know we’re on the right track and should continue writing more content like this!

The article headline over a photo of a grandparent playing chess with his granddaughter to pin for easy reference on Pinterest.

More The Best Family Games: Find The Perfect Game Night Choice!

  • Would You Rather: 5 Ways To Play This or That As Group Party Game!
  • Learning To Lose With The Game Memory Matching
  • Family Game Night Snacks: 5 Must-Try Chex Mixes
  • Machi Koro: A Family Favorite For Game Night

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Hi, I'm Zina! You know you’re in the right spot if — You believe in game nights. You believe in PJ movie parties. You believe in breakfast for dinner. And most importantly, you believe happiness is family.

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