Family History and Creating Memories: Our Favorite Board Games

After dinner, we would pull out one of two games Grandma loved to play: Mexican Train or Cards and Marbles (a fancy version of Sorry).

It didn't matter which game we chose because Grandma was only after one thing: chaos.

Winning didn't seem to matter much to her. In fact, she would happily sabotage her own game if it meant messing up someone else's. During Mexican Train, it often felt like she intentionally played on a train she knew someone else needed. In Cards and Marbles, you could hear the tapping of her fingernails on the wooden board as she calculated how many spaces away she was from landing on your marble and sending you all the way back to the start.

There was always a healthy fear when playing Cards and Marbles with Grandma for two reasons.

First, you never wanted to be paired up with her because you knew you were going to lose.

Second, you never wanted to sit across from her because eventually the tapping would begin. It started softly, much like the da-dum, da-dum from the Jaws theme song. As she counted spaces and plotted her next move, the tapping would grow more frequent. And once your marble was within range, you knew exactly what was coming.

Your marble was heading back to the start.

Grandma may not have won many games, but she took great satisfaction in making sure the rest of us didn't win easily either.

Looking back, those game nights are some of my fondest memories with her. As intimidating as she seemed around the game table, in real life Grandma was quiet, kind, and fairly shy. Yet whenever the games came out, she became a mischievous troublemaker whose only goal was to make sure no one else's path to victory was easy.

Looking back, I don't remember who won most of those games. I don't remember the scores, and I certainly don't remember every move that was played. What I remember is Grandma. I remember her tapping fingernails, her mischievous grin, and the laughter that filled the room as she sent another unsuspecting player back to the start.

That is one of the reasons I believe board games can be powerful family history tools.

At first glance, a game night may not seem like family history. Yet family history is ultimately about people, relationships, and the memories we create together. Board games provide opportunities to gather around a table, share stories, laugh together, and strengthen family connections. They become part of our family culture and, over time, part of our family story.

Years from now, my children may not remember who won the game. But I hope they remember the laughter, the time spent together, and the feeling of belonging that came from gathering around the table as a family.

The little things we do repeatedly become our family culture. Family culture becomes family traditions. Family traditions become family history.

For our family, board games and card games have become part of that story. While the games themselves may change over the years, the time spent together remains the same. Here are a few of our family's favorites:

Flip 7 - Flip 7 is a fast-paced card game that is easy to learn and fun for a wide range of ages. Players take turns deciding whether to keep flipping cards and earn more points or stop before they bust. The game combines luck, strategy, and just the right amount of risk, making every round exciting.

This has quickly become one of our family's favorites because it is simple enough for children to play but entertaining enough to keep adults engaged. It is the perfect game for families who enjoy a little friendly competition and plenty of laughter.

Telestrations - Telestrations is a hilarious drawing and guessing game that combines the classic games of Telephone and Pictionary. Players take turns drawing a word or phrase, passing it to the next person, and watching as the original prompt transforms into something completely unexpected.

This game never fails to fill our house with laughter. The best part is seeing how a simple drawing can turn into a completely different story by the end of the round. Even those who claim they can't draw often create the funniest moments.

If your family enjoys laughing together and doesn't take themselves too seriously, Telestrations is a game night favorite.

Blank Slate - Blank Slate is a simple word association game where players try to think like everyone else. Each round, a word prompt is revealed and players secretly write down the word they think best completes the phrase. Points are earned when your answer matches another player's answer—but not if everyone chooses the same thing.

What we love most about Blank Slate is the conversations it sparks. You quickly learn how different people think, and there is always plenty of laughter when someone comes up with an answer that no one else even considered. It is easy to learn, quick to play, and works well with a variety of ages.

Villainous - Disney Villainous is a strategy game where each player takes on the role of a different Disney villain and works to achieve their unique objective. Because every villain has their own cards, powers, and win conditions, the game can feel more complex than many family board games.

To make it easier for our children, we often have them play the same character each time. This allows them to become familiar with their cards, understand their objective, and gain confidence without needing constant help from an adult. As they become more comfortable with the game, they can branch out and try new villains.

While Villainous takes a little more time to learn, it has become a family favorite. We enjoy the strategy, the Disney theme, and the opportunity to spend time together around the table. It is a great option for families with older children who are ready for a game that offers a little more depth and challenge.

That's Not A Hat! - That's Not a Hat is a surprisingly funny memory game that is much harder than it looks. Players pass cards around the table, pretending to give and receive gifts, while trying to remember which item is in front of each person. If you're not sure what card you have, you can bluff—but be prepared to get called out! The rules are simple, which makes it easy to learn and play with a variety of ages. What starts as a straightforward memory game quickly turns into laughter as everyone begins second-guessing themselves and confidently handing over the wrong items.

This game has become a family favorite because it is quick to play, easy to teach, and always leads to funny moments. It is the perfect game for families who enjoy laughing together and don't mind discovering that their memory isn't quite as good as they thought it was.

Duck and Cover - Duck & Cover is the newest game in our collection, and it quickly earned a spot in our game night rotation. In this fast-paced card game, players try to organize their ducks to score the fewest points while using special cards to swap, move, and hide ducks throughout the game.

What we enjoy most about Duck & Cover is that it is accessible for younger players while still being fun for older children and adults. It is lighthearted, easy to teach, and always seems to generate plenty of laughter around the table. For a game that is new to our family, it has quickly become a favorite.

Whether your family gathers around a board game, a deck of cards, or something entirely different, I hope you take time to enjoy those simple moments together. One day, they may become some of your family's most treasured memories.

What game has become part of your family's story? I'd love to hear about your favorite family game in the comments.