I adore games- video games, console games, LAN games, card games, and board games. I have a ton of memories of spending holidays around tables and sitting on floors in my grandparents and aunts and uncles houses playing Sorry and Monopoly and then as we got older learning how to play Hearts and Pinochle. In college we passed the time waiting in line for the specialty dorms playing President and Spades, and today my teens and I play variations of Fluxx and Uno.
One thing that I’ve learned working at different libraries is that the game playing experience that I thought was common is NOT- I grew up with Clue and Guess Who? so imagine my surprise when I tried to do a Live Action Clue and my teens were completely lost. Instead of trying to figure out who killed Mr. Body, they were trying to figure out WHO Mr. Body was, and then trying to kill off the other players, much like the movie.
Clue, released in 1985 by Paramount Pictures
I especially love board games with tweens and teens around this time of year- they’ve been out of school for a while, they’re antsy with the holidays, and just want something special to do. So gather a group of them around, clear off a table in the back of the library, and have some fun!
Here are some of my favorite board games for teens and tween:
This version is the most popular with my teens, perhaps because they’re into anything zombie. With ever changing rules and goals, games can take a while if players aren’t paying attention- but that makes it all the more fun!Not technically a board game, but SO MUCH FUN! One player is a Werewolf, while the rest are a village trying to see who the werewolf is before the wolf turns the village into his pack…A game we got from International Gaming Day, players say words around a certain phrase or theme with 60 seconds- if the letter is used, it cannot be used again. Awesome game, but take some pain reliever beforehand.Or Killer Chairs as my teens play it- hook up your iPod or other player, set up a round of chairs and randomly stop the music. For the price of a deck of cards or a massive bag of candy, war will be declared. Another not a board game, but oh, so much fun, and excellent for running off extra energy.Coming in many varieties, the basics are the same: defeat the monsters (or humans), loot the room, gather the treasure, and win the game.You cannot believe the different “house rules” there are to Monopoly.One player plays an emotion or thing card, while the others play a card from their hand that they think matches. The main player then chooses the one they think fits the best. Then be prepared for much arguing as everyone tries to convince the first player that they’re the best fit.