Games

Looking for a fun game to play with friends or family? Our librarians share some of their favorites, along with tips and tricks on how to play. We also recommend similar games, called Play Alikes, to keep the fun going! You can also search by game type (deck building, cooperative, etc.) or what 21st Century Skill each game teaches.

Game Talk: 

Choose a color and roll the dice using addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division to make it to the center of the board first with both of your pawns. You can also pick up prime cards which can be used to bump your opponents back to start, so be careful!

Additional Info: 
  • The perfect game for children learning math or refreshing their math skills.
  • Would be a great fit for use in the classroom.
Play Alikes: 
  • Proof! - Work your mental math magic to find equations hidden among nine number cards. Keep what you find and collect the most cards to win! Just like Prime Climb, Proof focuses on critical thinking, problem-solving and numerical literacy
  • Scopa - Utilizes cards and addition in gameplay
  • The Game - This is a cooperative game, but like Prime Climb, it helps develop math skills
Game Talk: 

Qwirkle is simple to learn, but surprisingly strategic. Players place up to 6 wooden tiles in a line, matching either the color or shape of the tiles next to it. The strategy comes as you attempt to score a Qwirkle (all six different shapes or colors in a row) without opening up the board for your opponents to score.

Additional Info: 
  • The 108 wooden tiles are thick, wooden, attractive, and unbreakable.
  • Players with color blindness might struggle to differentiate some of the colors.
  • Players can easily team up if there are more than 4 players.
Play Alikes: 
  • Scrabble -- Tile placement and strategy are very similar
  • Blokus – Tile placement is similar and there are elements of the same “blocking” strategy
  • Qwirkle Cubes - Similar gameplay with more variability
  • Ingenious – A more abstract tile placing game
Game Talk: 

In this classic word game, players use their seven drawn letter-tiles to form words on the gameboard. Each word laid out earns points based on the commonality of the letters used, with certain board spaces giving bonuses. But a word can only be played if it uses at least one already-played tile or adds to an already-played word.

Play Alikes: 
  • Set – Create patterns instead of words by matching cards to create the most sets of three
  • Bananagrams – Arrange your tiles into a grid of connected words faster than your opponents
Game Talk: 

Before you can sell your goods at the town market, you must declare the value of your goods to the sheriff. If you can sneak in some contraband, you can greatly increase your profits. However, should the sheriff catch you, you will owe him dearly.

Additional Info: 
  • Although the publishers recommend the game for ages 14+, we’ve found that 10-year-olds enjoy playing.
  • The tallying of your earnings at the end of the game is a fun way for younger players to practice math skills.
Play Alikes: 
  • Coup – You must determine whether players are lying or telling the truth
  • One Night Ultimate Werewolf – Players are bluffing and you have to read their intentions
Game Talk: 

A portal to another dimension has opened, and monsters are pouring out! Each player will roll the direction dice and the monster dice during their turn. Next, players will rush to be first to slap the correct monster and collect the card. At the end of the game, the player with the most cards wins.

Additional Info: 
  • Easy party game for small or large groups.
Play Alikes: 
  • Spot it! - Each player draws one card and flips it face-up at the same time. The first player to spot the animal match between the cards and call it out wins
  • Throw Throw Burrito – A card game that has an element of matching as well and speed is also important
  • Slap Jack - Fast reflexes to slap cards
  • Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza - Fast reflexes to slap cards
  • Spoons - Use fast reflexes to grab objects
Game Talk: 

You must be quick with your eyes and hands for this game. Spot the matching image on your card and the center card. Be sure to slap the center card before anyone else!

Additional Info: 
  • There are several different ways to play this game. If you yell “SPOT IT” as you slap the center card, it adds some pizzazz to the game.
  • There are several different versions of this game that are targeted at different age groups.
Play Alikes: 
  • Slap It – Hand and eye coordination game with dice, it is like Spot It but with monsters
  • Throw Throw Burrito – a card game that has an element of matching as well, speed is also important in this game
  • Sushi Go – a card game where speed is also important.
  • Slap Jack - Using fast reflexes to slap cards.
  • Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza - Also uses fast reflexes to slap cards.
  • Spoons - Use fast reflexes to grab objects.
Game Talk: 

In this quick and easy party game, create ridiculous fighters by combining hilarious character cards with powers/weaknesses cards. Then use your persuasive powers to convince the others of your fighter’s superiority to his opponent.

Additional Info: 
  • There are multiple expansion boxes, including Horror, the ’80s, ’90s, Anime, Streetfighter, The Walking Dead, History, etc...
  • In addition to the classic game rules, the game can also be played with different rule sets, such as villain mode and battle royale.
  • The characters in this game can be used in various ways including improv games and as characters for a March Madness-style passive program.
Play Alikes: 
  • Apples to Apples - Because you’re selecting the best match of things and descriptions
  • Cards Against Humanity -  For people who enjoy the humorous pairing of objects and descriptions (Note: Superfight is NOT inappropriate, but is funny.)
Game Talk: 

The Cat Game is a fun drawing game using cat images. Pick a card from a CATegory, select a cat image, draw a picture around it and see if players can guess the answer!

Additional Info: 
  • Easy drawing game for small or large groups.
  • The age recommendation is based on pop culture references that younger players may not understand.
Play Alikes: 
  • The Dog Game - Game rules are the same as The Cat Game
  • Pictionary - One player draws a picture and other players guess what is being drawn
  • Cat Crimes - Similar theme
Game Talk: 

All aboard! Do you have what it takes to be a railroad tycoon and build train routes across America? Collect colored cards to complete all three of your train routes before the other players finish first or sabotage your routes.

Additional Info: 
  • There are many different versions and expansion packs to increase or decrease complexity including a version for younger players.
  • Requires a lot of table space to set up components.
Play Alikes: 
  • Pandemic - Strategically build transportation connections between cities, and collect colored cards to make moves.
Game Talk: 

Which came first – the telephone or the lightbulb? Show off your knowledge (or your educated guesses) and have fun learning in this easy-to-play trivia game.

Additional Info: 
  • There are many different versions of Timeline:  Diversity, Historical Events, Science & Discoveries, Music & Cinema.
  • Each version is in easily-stored metal boxes that are just under 5” x 5” square.
  • Different versions can be combined into one larger game.
  • Since this is a knowledge-based game, it works best with players of similar ages or education. If there is a disparity, more experienced players can agree to start the game with more cards than the less experienced players.
  • Would be a great fit for use in the classroom.
Play Alikes: 
  • Chronology – Very similar game with players using cards to create timelines
  • Fauna - Also requires trivia knowledge
Game Talk: 

Take a lovely vacation through ancient Japan!  As you travel, make sure to meet new people, try fine meals, collect beautiful souvenirs, paint breathtaking panoramas and stop by temples to pay your respects.  The traveler who goes on the best journey wins!

Additional Info: 
  • Great for fans of Japanese culture.
  • Peaceful to play.
Play Alikes: 
  • Takenoko - Also Japanese themed
  • Splendor - Lots of different ways to collect points to win
  • Lotus - Also very peaceful and has Japanese style art
Game Talk: 

In this beautifully designed game, strategically place tiles, then move your game piece along the path created. As other players place tiles, paths connect and cross, leading some pieces to go off-course or off the board completely. The goal is to keep your game piece on the board the longest.

Additional Info: 
  • Design and theme drawn from Asian culture.
  • Although the game box says the game takes 15-20 minutes, we’ve found that it can be played in as little as 5 minutes. This makes it a good game to play as you’re waiting for all of the players to arrive or if you have a few minutes at the end of the session.
Play Alikes: 
  • Tsuro of the Seas - For players who crave similar gameplay with added challenges and obstacles
  • Labyrinth - For players who enjoy tile placement games that strategically create a path that benefits you but sabotages others
Game Talk: 

Save the president or blow him up!  Players are divided into two groups (the president’s or the bomb’s teams) and are randomly mixed into two different rooms.  Using deceit and negotiation, decide who to trust as each round hostages are exchanged until the final round reveals if the president survived.

Additional Info: 
  • Can be modified into other themes: Harry Potter and Voldemort, Thanos and the Infinity Stones, etc.
  • Additional characters can be added in later rounds with their own objectives.
  • Gameplay is best when there are more players.
  • There is also a timer app to help with hostage numbers and timed rounds.
Play Alikes: 
  • One Night Ultimate Werewolf - Also uses lying and negotiation to decide who is on your team
  • Escape from the Aliens in Outer Space - Also don’t know who is on your team
Game Talk: 

There are no buddies in Uno. Family and friends alike will turn on each other to be the first person to get rid of all their cards. They will surely try to stop you, but you can sabotage them as well.

Additional Info: 
  • You can get creative in making your opponents suffer - there are supplement rules that can be added to the game.
  • There are several different versions/editions of the game.
Play Alikes: 
Game Talk: 

Play as your favorite Disney villain to accomplish your own evil ends and thwart your opponents by forcing them to vanquish the heroes from their films.

Additional Info: 
  • Each villain has their own unique win conditions and thematic deck. This makes for great re-playability as players can pit different combinations of villains against each other. 
  • Multiple expansions available.
Play Alikes: 
  • Codenames: Disney - has many of the same familiar characters and could lend itself to a themed event

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