American Geek Mom's Great Summer Games List

Summer is the season for firefly-catching, trips to the zoo and picnics, but what do you do on those inevitably rainy days?  

Take this scenario: It has been raining for days.  The kids are chasing each other through the house and you are feeling hopeless. You have tried everything in your rainy day arsenal but the kids are still antsy and bored.  They want to play a game, but you don't want to sit through another game of Uno, Monopoly, or Candy Land.  Hope is not lost.  I present to you American Geek Mom's Great Summer Games List!  These games are guaranteed to be fun and engaging for both adults and kids alike.  

Secrets of the Sea features the innovative Mystery Light Technology that reveals hidden clues as you play.  Kids are sure to get excited as they explore the deep blue sea for treasures, but watch out!  There are monsters hidden down below.  This is one of my personal favorites.

Another favorite of mine is Abandon Ship.  It has easy rules, colorful components, and strategic gameplay. You are all rats on the ship, Nvrsnks, and the ship is sinking!  Race to get your group of rats to safety.     

Eleminis is a fast and fun card game where players race to collect all 5 mini elements - Fire, Plant, Air, Water, and Rock.  The whole family will enjoy the cute artwork and friendly competition provided by this quick and easy party game. Best of all, it has minimal text making it a great game for kids as young as six! 

Word on the Street is a fantastic little word game the whole family can enjoy.  Pull the letters to your side of the street by spelling words associated with category cards.  A great game to keep minds sharp during those hot Summer months.  Word on the Street Jr. is also available for younger families.

Shake-n-Take is a new game from Out of the Box.  It's great for days when you have a rowdy bunch.  Your mission is to capture as many aliens as you can before the next player snatches the capture marker from your hand.   

Carcassonne may not look thrilling from the outside, but inside is a clever tile-laying game sure to please.  Both kids and adults will enjoy the strategy in this simple game of connecting castles, roads, and cloisters.  And for very young children, try Kids of Carcassone, an even simpler version of the award winning classic edition.  

Castle Panic is the perfect opportunity to work together.  You are knights in a castle, defending it from a horde of monsters intent on knocking it down.  This game is packed with fantasy and is easily adjusted to meet the need of your family.

Meet the Dweebies! These uniquely colorful characters are out to capture your heart, but you must capture them first!  Match your dweebies and collect the most cards to win!

Dixit is a beautifully illustrated game of storytelling.  Fill your home with fantastic tales as you try to give the best descriptions. 

Say Anything Family and Wits and Wagers Family are two excellent titles from North Star Games.  These great editions provide everyone with family-friendly questions that combine laughter and learning in a way that all ages can enjoy together! Due to the amount of writing involved, these are best for children ages 8+.

And finally, Forbidden Island. This 2011 Spiel des Jahres (German Board Game of the Year) nominee will give you hours of fun as you try to find the treasures and escape the island before it sinks!  Another great cooperative board game with multiple difficulty levels that make it fun for everyone! 

 

This is only a small sampling of the great family games you can find these days, but it is a good start.  Add some of them to your collection, and those rainy days might just become a little more sunny!