Spend time with your family - TOP games to play in a family atmosphere

"Looking for a game for the family. What can you recommend?" One of the most popular questions in our stores, which is also one of the most difficult, because the category of family games is very broad. But don't worry - our stores have games for all kinds of families, and everyone will be able to find the one they like.

What exactly is a family game and what do we mean by it? The term family games usually refers to games that can be played by at least four players, with relatively easy rules - the games can be played together by several generations and include not only strategy, but also a luck factor.

Such games vary in complexity, game length, number of players, price and box size, so there is no and cannot be a universal recommendation.

Compact packaging and friendly price

The first category worth mentioning is small box games. These are usually card games that not only take up little shelf space, but in most cases cost significantly less than the oversized alternatives.

Also, a small package does not mean that there is “little” game inside.

The camel caravan game "Karakum" , which saw the light of day only at the beginning of the year, has become one of the classics of compact card games this year. This game, completely produced in Latvia, has already become one of the best-selling games in our stores.

Excellent family card games are also “6. take!” , “Carnival” , “Bohnanza” , “Zing-a-Zam” , “Similo” , “Deductio” and many others.

To the small and compact games, you can also add some of the guess and write type games. Those who like to draw and plan roads will like the Railroad Ink series, and for strategic thinkers we recommend Clever .

A simple game to start your journey as a board game player

If you're looking for something really simple for people who are into 'You' with games, there are a number of different but very great options.

A very simple game is the word explanation game "Only One" , which will be exciting to play both with friends and grandparents.

The crime investigation game "MicroMacro: Crime City" literally combines a board game with the well-known "Where's Wally?" the idea of ​​where to find a specific character in the big picture. A very unique board game, which was deservedly recognized as the best game of the year in 2021. In total, the game has four parts, each with a large map with 16 unique crimes. The first two versions of the game are currently available in Latvian.

If you are looking for a quick and easy board game that will appeal to both young and old, then we recommend "Draftosaurus" , in which players choose wooden dinosaur figurines to try to house in their dinosaur zoo as much as possible. A very fast and simple game for two to five players aged eight and up.

Nature and animal lovers will love Planet , which takes board games to a whole new dimension. The players do not place the square in front of them on the table, but each one by their own magnetic sphere, thus literally creating their own planet!

Modern classics

"Catan" , "Carcassonne" , "Ticket to Ride" , "Azul" , "Dixit" - these are just some of the modern classics that do not require unnecessary comments.

However, every year there are more and more new games that serve as excellent starters in your board game hobby. "Cascadia" is a modern alternative to the well-known "Carcassonne". Players take squares and place them in front of them, trying to create the largest possible habitats and house animals in a pattern they like.

Collect plots, build your own ancient civilization in the games "Acropolis" and "Pyramido" . Both of these are highly rated tile placement games where players will place tiles not only next to each other, but also on top of each other.

A year ago I gave "Catan", this year "Flamecraft"

For players who have already taken the first steps in the hobby and want something a little more complex, we definitely recommend our hottest new product of the year - "Flamecraft" ! The cute dragon village will still be a fantastic family gathering place, but it's a little more strategic, so it might be challenging for new players to start with. "Flamecraft" has already become one of the favorite family games for many - it is not for nothing that it is the most requested game in our stores this year. You can find a full review of the game in this review .

If the dragon theme is not for you, then you can probably choose "Living Forest" or "Winged" - both of these will be exciting games for strategic families.

Hidden treasures, or exciting games that often go unnoticed

Several excellent games have been created for Latvian patriots, and they serve as great gifts for the holidays, as they are not only exciting, but also educational about our own land and its history.

"Shurpu turpu" is a game in which we try to be the first to visit different corners of Latvia. Players travel around Latvia, collecting viewpoint cards, which are also drawn by the phenomenal cartoonist Gatis Šāukas, which gives the game a special charm.

Those interested in team work and history will definitely like "War of Latvian Independence 1918–1920" . There are three scenarios in the game, in which players jointly try to win the independence of Latvia.

Everyone knows that Latvia is a country of insoles. Latvians also like to bet and predict the outcomes of various events. What if I said that these things can be combined into a unique board game where players can't see their own cards? In the Peacock game "Pikoko" , we do not see our cards, but we see the cards of all our opponents. From the information available to us, we try to guess how many sticks each player will get before the round starts. The more accurate the guesses, the more points we will earn!

As you can see, our range of games is extremely wide and we have gifts for different situations. However, if you are still not sure, go to one of our stores, where the salespeople will be happy to tell you more and help you find the right game!