Stuck indoors? Here are the best board games you can play as a family

However, after the initial few days of fun and frolic, boredom may start to creep in. So, what can you do to keep your children engaged? The answer is simple - choose a number of top board games.

There are many board games for kids that cater to all age groups, starting from as young as 3 years. And, with these boxes of joy, there is the promise of endless hours of fun, not only for the child but for the entire family. Also, the benefits of board games are aplenty.

Dr Meghna Singhal, a clinical psychologist, psychotherapist and a parenting consultant, agrees with the mentioned benefits. She says "Board games are not only about fun and enjoyment. Games like scrabble deal with a child's cognitive ability such as memory, information retention and creativity. Problem-solving board games help in developing analytical skills. Playing different board games as a family helps one learn to lose with grace, teaches teamwork, how to resolve conflicts and strengthens the bond between the parents and the child."

Sounds great? Well, what are you waiting for? Take a look at these interesting board games that are easily available on Amazon to make this summer a fun-filled one for the entire family.

1. Hasbro Gaming Stranger Things Dungeons & Dragons Roleplaying Game Starter Set

• This board game is suitable for 14 years and above
• 4 out of 5 stars
• Includes Stranger Things Adventure book, Rulebook, 5 Stranger Things character sheets, 6 dice, Demogorgon figure, and Paintable Demogorgon figure.

How to play

This is one of the best games for adventure seekers. Players can embark on an exciting journey. Will the Wiseand Dustin the Dwarf are the two primary characters investigating a mysterious castle and battling the forces of evil that includes the ferocious Demogorgon. The adventure book that the game comes with, contains information on how to play the game, tips for strategising and the way to progress in the game.

Why we recommend

With this game, there will never be a dull moment for both children and adults alike. It requires decision-making skills at crucial junctures, and every step of the game is an adventure. Extremely fun and exciting, the game helps develop decision-making skills and improves memory and concentration, as players think of ways to defeat the forces of evil.

Get it from Amazon for 2732

2. Mattel Apples To Apples Party Box The Game Of Hilarious Comparisons (Family Edition)

• This board game is suitable for 12 years and above
• 5 out of 5 stars
• Includes 756 Red Apple Cards, 252 Green Apple Cards, card tray, quick play rules.

How to play

A game of hilarious comparisons, Mattel Apples to Apples Party Box is a fun game that leads to roars of laughter and merriment. This game challenges players to think on their feet, get a little silly and find out how friends and family think. Each round involves a new player drawing a description card with the player having to decide which card in their hand matches the description in play. The game includes over 1000 cards and each round is filled with surprising and outrageous comparisons across a wide range of people, places, things and events.

Why we recommend

Easy to learn and fun to play, Mattel Apples to Apples Party Box is filled with surprises and outrageous answers. The game develops critical-thinking skills in children along with improving memory, concentration and strategy.

Get it from Amazon for 1299

3. Hasbro Catch Phrase Game

• This board game is suitable for 8 years and above
• 5 out of 5 stars
• Includes 120 puzzle pieces

How to play

An electronic game that consists of a huge database of 5000 words and phrases, Catch Phrase is fun but challenging at the same time. Try to get teammates to guess the word or phrase that appears on the screen by describing it in a creative way.

However, there is a catch. Players have to do it quickly. There are various categories to choose from such as entertainment, variety, everyday life and the world. The first team to reach 7 points wins.

Why we recommend

A fun and fast-paced game, Catch Phrase is good for the entire family to play together or a large gathering of friends. With no complicated rules, Catch Phrase is easy and ideal to develop ones knowledge about various subjects and build communication skills. It also promises hours of fun and excitement!

Currently unavailable

4. Sequence 7 years and above

• This board game is suitable for 7 years and above
• For 2-12 players

How to play

Like the name of the game suggests, the objective is to get a sequence a row of five poker-like chips on the game board. Play a card from your hand, and place a chip on a corresponding space on the game board when you have five in a row, you get yourself a Sequence! With touches of other similar games like Canasta, Rummy and Poker, this game is entertaining and will keep players engaged for hours.

Why we recommend

An exciting game of strategy, Sequence requires players to exercise their thinking and logical skills to win. Sequence helps players, especially kids, develop social skills and improve their concentration.

Get it from Amazon for 449

5. Mayfair Games Catan 5th Edition, Multi Color

• This board game is suitable for 6 to 9 years
• 4.5 out of 5 stars
• For 3-4 players
• Includes19 Hexagonal Region Tiles, 6 Sea Frame Pieces, 9 Extra harbor Pieces, 20 Wooden Settlement Pieces, 16 Wooden City Pieces,16 Wooden Road Pieces, 95 Resources Cards, 25 Development Cards, 4 Building Cost Cards, 2 Special Bonus Cards, 18 Number Tokens, 2 Dice, 1 Wooden Robber Pawn, 1 Rulebook & Almanac

How to play

Winner of Game of the Century award, Catan 5th edition brings out the adventurous streak in you. The main objective of the game is to tame the rich isle of Catan that is inhabited by robbers, miscreants and wrong-doers. Players must make use of the resources available to them such as grain, wool, ore, brick and lumber to develop roads and build settlements, while warding off the evil folks.

Why we recommend

One of the best strategy games, Catan involves extensive thinking and planning on the part of the players. This game incredibly develops thinking andsocial skills. Building a community from scratch, teaches children the value of resources and also helps them understand the various intricacies around saving and spending money.

Get it from Amazon for 3207

6. Funskool Pictureka Game

• This board game is suitable for 6 to 9 years
• 4.5 out of 5 stars
• Includes game tiles, sand timer and mission cards

How to play

Funskool Pictureka Game is the digital version of hide and seek. Fast and engrossing, the game board composes of several game tiles that contain lots of pictures. There are three kinds of mission cards. Each mission card directs you to find specific pictures from the board. You should find the desired picture within the given time frame. Players must successfully accomplish 10 missions to win the game!

Why we recommend

Pictureka can be enjoyed by the entire family or a group of kids. It is very engaging and exciting, and keeps children occupied and engrossed in their quest to find the right pictures. Apart from developing observation skills, and enhancing creativity and memory in children tremendously, Pictureka has an incredible element of fun attached to it, making it a must-have game in your childs collection.

Get it from Amazon for 479

7. Peaceablekingdom Hoot Owl Hoot! Board Game

• This board game is suitable for 3-5 years
• 4.5 out of 5 stars
• Includes 1 game board 6 owl tokens 1 sun token 14 sun cards 36 color cards and instructions for two versions of game play.
• For 2-4 players

How to play

One of the best games to teach children about colour recognition and building team strategy, Hoot Owl Hoot is a fun game for the little ones. It requires players to move owls down the coloured track to their nest before the sun rises. They have to play their colourful cards and strategise together on how to move the owls to the nest.

Why we recommend

Hoot Owl Hoot! is a perfect board game and great for learning colours and counting. The best part is no player gets upset for losing because the game is about teamwork. Winning or losing, but as a team. It leads to improved memory and builds social skills in children. Colour recognition plays an integral part in object recognition and helps a child develop descriptive language skills that ensures clear communication.

Catherine Dequadros, a copy supervisor who has two children, aged six and eight says, Summer always used to make me feel panicky as the children would complain of boredom every other day. One day, a friend of mine suggested board games. I was hesitant at first thinking it would keep my children occupied only for a little time but, I was so wrong. I got them one or two of the popular games to begin with, and to my utter delight, it has not only kept them occupied, but my husband and I join the children after work and we have a blast trying to outwit each other!

Get it from Amazon for 3457

Indian board games for kids

1. Puli Meka / Tigers & Lambs / Bagh Chal / Aadu Puli Aatam Board Game - Crafted in Wood

• This board game is suitable for 6 to 9 years
• IncludesTigers and Goats figures that are finely crafted in wood

How to play

An ancient game that is still played in some southern states of India, Puli Meka (Corner the Tiger) is a board game that takes you on a hunt. This game lets you experience the thrill of a jungle hunt right from the comfort of your living room. A fight for supremacy between the hunter and the hunted is the central theme of the game.

Three tigers assigned to one player and a herd of fifteen goats to the other, starts the power struggle! The show of strength is based on whether the herd of goats manage to vanquish the tigers, or the tigers once again proves they rule the jungle.

Why we recommend

It is a welcome change for children to try their skills at some ancient and traditional board games, than the usual popular board games. Aesthetically pleasing, this game is crafted of wood and is 100 per cent earth-friendly. An innovative strategy game, Puli Meka involves players to use their wit and imagination to gain an advantage over the opposition. Moreover, proper planning is required before any step making it a good brain-development game for children and adults alike.

Get it from Amazon for 2200

2. Toykraft Kurukshetra - The Mahabharat Board Game

• This board game is suitable for 10 to 12 years
• 3.5 out of 5 stars
• Innovativegame design with 4 sided dice, trimino pieces, rich graphics, Mahabharata story and Kurukshetra game play-guide.

How to play

A strategy board game unlike any you have played before, Kurukshetra recaptures the epic Mahabharata and the various events that eventually led to the Kurukshetra war. This innovative game design with 4-sided dice, rich graphics, the Mahabharata story and Kurukshetra game play-guide captivates the interest of players as they experience the daily action and events of the war.

Why we recommend

Kurukshetra - The Mahabharat Board Game is a wonderful way to teach your children about one of the greatest epics in Indian history without making the scenario too serious for children. The game will gradually introduce them to every character that shaped the Mahabharat.

Get it from Amazon for 799

Classic board games for kids

1. Funskool Game Of Life

• This board game is suitable for 9 years and above
• 4.5 out of 5 stars
• For 2-6 players
• Includes board, four board wheels, four wheel pieces, plastic spinner top, 28 passport stamp tokens, 20 promotion tokens, cards and pawns

How to play

The Game of Life by Funskool is a classic board game that breaks down an entire lifespan of a player into a series of choices and chance.

This game has been designed with the primary objective of teaching players understand the essential aspects of life. It involves players spinning a wheel that decides whether the player is lucky enough to earn a fortune or not. A single spin can change a players life in the game. Just the way life works!

Why we recommend

Funskool Game of Life teaches the importance of working hard and putting in ones best efforts in life. Some valuable lessons for children from this board game include studying well, getting a good job, earning and saving money, etc. A great way to set them up to face their lives ahead!

Get it from Amazon for 1623

2. Funskool Guess Who

• This board game is suitable for 6 to 9 years
• 4.5 out of 5 stars

A mystery guessing game that will have children hooked on for hours. This game consists of a number of faces on display. The main aim of the player is to find out which face the opponent has. How does one do this? Simple, all the player has to do is eliminate the wrong faces and guess the correct one.

Why we recommend

An extremely fun and engaging game, Funskool Guess Who helps in developing your childs cognitive skills, social skills and emotional development.

Get it from Amazon for 360

3. Funskool Scotland Yard

• This board game is suitable for 10 years and above
• 4.5 out of 5 stars
• Includes a playing board, log book, playing pieces, card and travel tickets.

How to play

As the name suggests, Scotland Yard brings out the inner detective in you. An exciting game, it includes a playing board, log book, playing pieces, cards and travel tickets.

One of the players must take on the role of a certain Mr X who must dodge detectives and make his way through the streets of London all the while thinking of innovative ways to evade his capture. Players must move from various points in the map of London taking taxis, buses and subways. It is an extremely interesting and engaging game!

Why we recommend

A fun game for the entire family, Scotland Yard is guaranteed to give you and your family hours of fun. The hide and seek nature of the game will keep players guessing each others next move. It develops critical thinking skills and decision-making in children.

Get it from Amazon for 499

4. Funskool Disney Monopoly Junior

How to play?

The much-loved and popular game of Monopoly but in a new Disney avatar that appeals to the little ones, especially fans of Disney princesses like Ariel and Cinderella.

This version is not that different from the original game of Monopoly. The game rules remain the same. However, players can choose to be any of the eight Disney princesses (Ariel, Cinderella, Pocahontas, Jasmine, Sleeping Beauty, Belle and Snow White) as they try their luck around the game buying houses, stations and other properties.

Why we recommend

The game improves and develops cognitive and logical thinking in children. It also makes them better at decision-making even as they decide whether to buy a particular property or not.

Board games can fill hot and dreary summer days with some cool fun and entertainment. Whether it be the above-mentioned board games or some other of your choice, one thing is guaranteed: your child will never complain of boredom again and the entire family can bond, laugh, compete and enjoy some good time together! Have fun!

Also read:7 Board Games To Improve Your Childs Vocabulary

*Readers are advised to do a thorough evaluation of the products featured in the article before making any purchase. ParentCircle only provides product recommendations based on certain parameters and research. This should not be seen as an endorsement of the products mentioned in the article