This is a post about the best games for kids. We will be discussing 12 different games that are sure to inspire your little ones and keep them entertained for hours on end.
1. Animal Snap: This game starts with a four-by-six grid of cards, each card containing an animal headshot taken from one side or the other so that only half of the animal’s face can be seen. The object of this game is to identify all 24 animals in order by turning over two cards at once, keeping track of which has been turned over already, until all have been revealed. There are many variations on this game including adding more than two cards at times and only showing one side or the other to make it harder.
2) Don’t Break the Ice: This game is played on a square board with a grid of nine circles in the middle. Each player has nine small plastic hockey pucks. The object of the game is to remove all of the pucks from the other player’s side by hitting them with your own puck, without causing any of your pucks to fall off the edge of the playing area or be knocked into one of your opponent’s circles.
3) Simon Says: This game is played with a group of participants, one of whom is the “Simon” player. Simon will say either an action or word and all players must do it. If Simon says to make some sort of motion but does not end by saying “Simon says”, then no other participant should move at all until they hear Simon’s full instruction.
4) Hangman: This game is a simple substitution cipher where a word is represented by a series of blanks, one for each letter in the word. The player has to guess the letters in the word, and they lose if they guess wrong twice consecutively or six times total. These are just a few examples to get you started. Be sure to get out there and have some fun with your little ones! They will love spending time with you and playing these classic games. And who knows? You may even learn something new yourself! Thanks for reading
5) Tic Tac Toe: This game is a paper and pencil game for two players, X and O. The player with the most wins games. The game is played on a three-by-three grid, each player taking turns marking one of their nine spaces. If a player gets three of their marks in a row either vertically, horizontally or diagonally, they have won the game.
6) Hang Glider: This game is a flying, hang gliding simulation. The player or players can change the weather conditions and time of day as they see fit to achieve the best flight possible! There are also options for things like wind speed and direction, allowing you to practice takeoffs and landings with different types of weather.
7) Checkers: This game is played on an eight-by-eight checkerboard with two players, one controlling the dark pieces and one controlling the light. Each player starts out with 12 playing pieces (one king), which are placed in each of their four diagonal corners. The object of this game is to take all of your opponent’s men by either capturing them or sandwiching them between two of your own so that they can’t escape capture.
8) Candyland: This game is played on a board that shows an enchanted forest, with spaces numbered from one to six. One player draws cards and follows the instructions of the card they land on (following regular deck rules). If you cannot follow these directions or wish not to do so, then you must draw again until you can.
9) Hungry Hippos: This game is played with four plastic hippopotamuses and a large, oblong play area. Each player takes control of one hippo; the object of this game is to collect as many marbles (the ball) as possible by “eating” them off of the board while simultaneously avoiding eating your opponents’ marbles before they get theirs.
10) Operation: This game is played with a plastic patient and tweezers on an area that shows the human body. One player controls the tweezers while another moves them in order to pick up “funny shaped things” (such as a fish, ball, or dog) from the board without touching certain metal sides of objects which will cause your hand to buzz and give you an electric shock.
11) Chutes & Ladders: This game is played on a square-shaped board consisting of 100 squares arranged in a ladder formation; one ends at number 100 while starting at number one going all the way back down to two. Each player rolls their own set of dice and advances according to how many they get depending on what color space they are on. If they are sent back to an earlier number, it is because of a chute and they must go down the ladder; conversely, if they reach the end square (number 100), they have won the game.
12) Jenga: This game is played with 54 wooden blocks that each have a different letter printed on them. One player starts by taking one block from anywhere in the tower and placing it on top, making sure that the block stays in balance. The next player then does the same thing.
Conclusion: Games are a powerful tool for inspiring the next generation of innovators. I’ve tried out several games that have inspired me in one way or another, and they all offer something different to think about when it comes to designing your own game.
