Family Board Games Singapore
The right board games games can turn a routine family night into a spectacular night of strategy, skill and in-jokes.
The best family board games in Singapore for 2024 include monopoly, Jenga, scrabble, pandemic, and chess.
When selecting a family board game to enjoy in Singapore, take into account aspects like age group, player count, and level of difficulty.
Board games are enjoying a resurgence of popularity in Singapore, with locals embracing the old pastime as a good old-fashioned family and friendship activity.
Discover the top family board games in Singapore for a fun-filled game night, perfect for both locals and visitors looking to liven up family gatherings!
Quick Summary
- Best family board games in Singapore for 2024 include monopoly, Jenga, scrabble, pandemic, and chess.
- When choosing a family board game to play in Singapore, consider factors such as age range, number of players, and complexity.
- Board games are becoming very popular in Singapore as a way to play together as a family or among friends.
Our Selection Criteria
We used the following criteria to select the best family board games:
- Fun Factor: We’ve chosen games that will maximise fun and laughter with lots of fond memories for everyone.
- Ease of Learning: Games that are easy to learn and play right away were liked more. We know not everyone wants to spend a whole day learning the rules.
- Replay Value: We selected titles in which players can experience the same content multiple times without boredom because each play session is distinct and poses different challenges.
- Player Engagement: We sought out games where all members of the group are engaged and staying involved in the game for as much of it as possible, with little or no downtime.
- Age Range and Flexibility: We looked for games that could be enjoyed by people of all ages and skill levels.
Best Family Board Games Singapore
1. Monopoly
Originally created as The Landlord’s Game, this classic board game evolved into what became Monopoly by 1932.
This game can last not hours, but days, and therefore, on top of its strategic interest, play can be tense.
Thus, if the flow of the game does not please you (you, and mind you not them), be prepared for tears and tempers.
2. Jenga
The classic game of Jenga is an endless source of fun (and maybe a momentary shock – despite the inevitable fall) for kids of all ages.
The challenge is to take bricks out of the tower, putting them on top and waiting for the moment when your opponents will remove one too many bricks.
3. Scrabble
Scrabble, a game that truly tests one’s vocabulary, remains a timeless classic among many board games cherished by people all over.
Targeting players of eight years and above, the game challenges players to build words on the board.
The more rare a letter is and the more squares a word crosses, score points. There might also be special position squares that double your score, adding a little strategy to word play.
A strategic use of these letters could result in impressively high scores, especially for those who know how to capitalise on the ‘triple word score’ squares.
Scrabble is not just a competitive game but also an educative one: it teaches you new words and how to spell them properly.
4. Pandemic
After (finally) overcoming all the challenges of the past few decades, a good place to begin is with the details of the cooperative board game that this group of six players were invited to take part in.
Unite to battle and eradicate four widespread diseases through joint investigation and medicinal formulation endeavours.
5. Chess
Chess, hailed by many as the supreme example of a game of pure strategy, has roots stretching back for millennia.
To join in this ancient pastime is to be a party to a duel in which two opponents sit opposite one another, each with 16 pieces of drastically different shapes and mobility.
The primary objective? To capture the opponent’s king while defending one’s own monarch.
This is a mental exercise that can be sustained for hours, weeks, months at any given time, with endless options and sub-options, not only for your own next move, but for the cascade of options stemming from every possible option made by your opponent, and then from their move, and so on.
Although it is quite complicated at first, chess is a very rewarding challenge that works for almost every age.
6. Risk
Embark on an exhilarating adventure as you dive into the captivating world of Risk!
Suitable only for those aged 10 and up, it’s a game of global domination that tests your powers of strategic cunning against other players – even against members of your own family.
Conquer conquests and accomplish underlying goals. Expect fierce competition, so prepare for battle!
If yours are younger children, then the superb Risk Junior is a really good stepping stone into the main game.
7. Guess Who?
A game that first emerged more than 40 years ago as a simple two-player challenge has been updated to a modern version, populated with characters created just for the 21st century.
There were just five female characters in the original set of 24, and they were all pretty uninteresting.
Conversely, the updated edition features a cast of 11 female characters, with 14 ethnicities.
Children like to turn the pages and see who everyone is, and to guess who each other’s mystery character is.
8. Settlers of Catan
It’s a board game that will try to ruin your friendships and your relationships – but still, we all play it again and again.
Although it appears to be a game about resources, Catan is largely a game about not being a nice person.
Success at the game requires more than luck and strategy; it demands good negotiating skills, repetitive practice, and in some cases, an iron will.
9. Pictionary
Pictionary is a good old game you can play with all the family (even the grandparents can play).
Everyone in the group gets one minute to paint or draw (think Picasso) the card to be guessed by their team.
What makes things interesting are all the creative and funny guesses you make along the way!
10. Connect 4
In Connect 4, strategy is as important as reaction time.
Players take turns placing chips of various colours into a vertical grid. The first player to make four in a row will win.
11. Snakes and Ladders
Everyone loves this timeless game!
Thought to originate in ancient India, it’s a game for at least two people.
Rolling the dice is how you determine the number of steps to advance.
Climbing ladders and avoiding snakes is exciting – make it to the top to be the winner! Age is just a number in this timeless board game.
12. Chinese checkers
In Chinese checkers, players get a colour and then try to wrestle all their stones to the opposite side of the board.
Every move gives you the choice to jump one square or to make a double jump over another piece.
Although the game is mostly a game of strategy, sometimes brute force works.
Keep in mind that fair play must be maintained at all times to eliminate any possibility of foul play throughout the match.
13. Blokus
Blokus stands out as a reliable favorite among families, offering an engaging gaming experience.
This award-winning abstract two- to four-player strategy board game has earned the Mensa Select Award and the 2004 Teacher’s Choice Award.
In fact, far from being routine or boring, the experience of learning the game is surprisingly complex, as Blokus players must navigate through a war of positions where strategy is critical in deciding whether another piece can fit next to yours.
It presents a stimulating and challenging activity that effectively stimulates cognitive functions.
14. Battleship
Battleship is a war game which is more directed with the essence of gameplay for two players. The main target of the game is to sink an opposer’s fleet of ships by a stringent strategy.
Each player places her or his ships on one or the other side of the grid, either horizontally or vertically, so as to confuse his or her ultimate opponent.
Players take turns trying to figure out where the enemy ships are, moving them around if they get frustrated at any point in the game.
15. KerPlunk
The classic plastic game KerPlunk has gone largely unchanged since the 1960s and remains as popular as ever, with the same ‘find the ball’ premise and family fun.
The game comprises a tube, a variety of plastic sticks, and numerous marbles.
Participants must lift the sticks one at a time, striving to stop marbles from falling through the straws into the tray.
The player with the fewest marbles at the end of the game is the winner.
Family Board Games Singapore
Board games have the power to show us new sides to ourselves and to our family – not to mention new sides to the world as we each see it.
Whether you are revisiting them or trying them for the first time, the sense of joy and togetherness they foster makes every game night special.
With this long heritage and this inclusive design, board games will continue to entertain and fascinate us for a long time to come, much to the delight of people all over the world.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
If you have any questions about family board games in Singapore, you can refer to the frequently asked questions (FAQ) about the best Family Board Games in Singapore below:
What are the best family board games in Singapore?
The best family board games in Singapore include monopoly, Jenga, scrabble, pandemic, Monopoly Deal Card Game, The Singaporean Dream, and chess.
What are some favorite board games for family game night in Singapore?
Favourites include classic boardgames such as Monopoly Singapore Edition and modern trivia and team games such as Codenames or Avalon.
They are game formats that can involve strategy and fun at the same time.
Can traditional board games still compete with video game for younger kids’ attention?
Definitely!
There are board games such as Connect 4 and Scrabble that have been updated with revisions that are tailored to children so they’re the perfect gateway to introduce them to board games.
Are there cooperative game suitable for family game night?
Yes, cooperative games such as Pandemic also play to the group dynamic.
Family members can pool their talents to achieve a common objective, for an exciting and shared game night that works for as many as four players.
What’s a fun game for families with children of different ages?
Sushi Go! has the pacey arcade appeal of a game that younger kids can understand instantly, yet enough depth to keep it interesting for a bit longer for older children and adults – the real winning combination for a family card game.
How can I incorporate strategy games into family game night?
Educational board games such as Catan 5th Edition (ages 10 and up) or Qwirkle (ages eight and up; up to four players) strengthen spatial and strategic planning skills, and provide families with a challenging and fun activity.
Are there any board games inspired by Harry Potter for fans?
Big fans of Harry Potter can spend several rounds of magical fun with themed board games that bring the wizarding world to life, as players compete as characters from the series or work together against other players.
What’s a good classic game that’s been updated for modern play?
There’s the original Edition of Monopoly and so many other redesigned games for classic board-game fans, such as the new Cluedo Mansion Mystery, or for those who want a local spin, the Singapore Edition of Monopoly – a sure hit for traditionalists and newbies alike.
Can you recommend a fun game for up to eight players?
With a maximum of eight players (sufficient for most larger families or gatherings), Avalon has elements of both deception and strategy, making every player feel a part of the game and enjoy it.
What sounds easy but offers a challenge in family board games?
Games such as 6 Nimmt! (aka Take 5 or Category 5) look easy – the name literally translates as ‘takes in’ – but are simple to learn but need tactical thinking to earn as many points as possible: appealing to all age groups, these games can be played in several family rounds.
Who typically goes as the first player in a game board setting?
Many family board games don’t specify the rules for deciding who plays first so it’s up to the players themselves.
Some people favour the ‘youngest goes first’ approach, either to give the youngest player a slight advantage or to level the playing field, especially if one or more of the players are much younger.
Others might have a ‘special’ rule such as the last person to roll the dice – or the person who cooked the lasagna last night. As ever, in case of any doubt, the rulebook can be referred to.
