When the family gets together, it's not so easy to choose family games that everyone can play. With so many different games on the market these days, making the right choice is a headache.
Want to play a fun game with your friends and family but are short of ideas? Think group games. They're ideal for sharing a good time with your children or grandchildren.
A game of board games is sure to delight your family or guests. To make your party or get-together a success, we've selected the best family games for you.
1. Gabaky, a fun family game
Very similar to pétanque, Gabaky is an indoor activity that can be played by both children and adults. It's an indoor game that involves throwing balls to place them all close to the centre of the target.
The rules of the game are so simple that even children can understand them in a few minutes. It doesn't take long to set up, the playground being your living room or terrace.
Gabaky is played with two teams. The distribution of balls depends on the number of players in the team, but a maximum of 16 balls per game is recommended. In a one-to-one game, each player has four balls, while in a double game, each team is made up of two people, each with two balls...
To start the game, a throwing boundary, usually 4 metres away, is decided and this is where the players make their throws from. Then throw the first ball and make sure it is as close as possible to the centre of the target.
The opposing team then plays until it regains the lead. The team that manages to get its balls as close to the centre as possible wins the game.
To win the match, the team must score 13 points. Each well-placed ball counts as a point.
Gabaky is one of the best games for family fun, for children and adults alike, to liven up your family get-togethers or Sunday afternoons.
2. Breton shuffleboard
Who hasn't heard of the famous Breton shuffleboard game? It's a firm favourite at parties and family gatherings.
To add a little fun, opt for an atmospheric game that will delight young and old alike. What's more, shuffleboard is easy to set up and the rules are really easy to learn.
All you need is a wooden or lead board, a few pucks, a precision compass and a puck lifter. You don't need to be a real pro to play this game, as all you have to do is send the puck close to the master to score a point.
The players each have two or four pucks, and whoever manages to get their puck close to the master starts the game.
The team can make three attempts to get the puck as close as possible to the master. If they fail to do so, they lose their turn.
Two pucks are started for each throw. When all the pucks have been used, the points are counted. One point is awarded for each puck that is close to the master. Once 12 points have been accumulated, the game is over.
3. The Aki
No hands is also its other name, as it is played without touching the ball with the hands or arms.
Made from fabric or leather, the ball has a diameter of around 15 cm and you have to bounce it using only your feet, knees, shoulders and head.
Aki is played by two teams of three: two players known as the "left gripper" and the "right gripper" and a central player, the waiter.
Players can make a maximum of three passes to each other or to themselves, and opponents must return the ball to the other side of the net.
It's as simple as that, because a point is scored in the same way as in volleyball or badminton. Aki is normally played to the best of three 21-point sets.
It can be fun to catch balls by making weird and funny passes without having to use your hand. Why wait to play this multiplayer game to develop your own skills and have fun as a family?
4. The Uno
After playing on your feet, why not take a break and play a game of Uno? It's a very popular American card game. When the whole family is around and you want to relax a bit, Uno is an excellent choice.
Uno has its own cards and a few extra rules. The game only stops when a player reaches 500 points.
To start a round, the dealer for the round (the player who drew the most cards from the deck) shuffles the cards and deals them. Each player receives seven cards. The remaining cards are returned to the deck and kept face down.
The dealer draws another card from the deck and places it face up next to the deck as a starting point. If one of the players draws the "+4" / "Super Joker" card, it must always be discarded and returned at random to the deck if it is drawn at the start of the turn.
The game is played very simply, and the player to the left of the dealer starts the game by trying to cover the top card of the pile with a card from his or her deck that has the same colour, number or symbol as that card.
He draws until he has a "playable" card and places it in the deck. If not, he must keep it in his hand and lose his turn.
When the player reaches the penultimate card, he must immediately shout "UNO". This signal tells the opponent that he has only one card left in his hand. If he forgets, the other player calls out "UNO AGAINST". In this case, the player with only one card left is penalised and must draw two other cards from the deck.
Conclusion on the best family games
There are lots of family games available these days, but we've selected just four of the best family games for fun in your spare time. The reason? Quite simply because these are the multiplayer games that are suitable for all members of the family.
There are a few things to bear in mind when choosing the best family game: the number of players, the length of the game and the type of game.
When making your choice, make sure that everyone can have fun and that the game doesn't last too long. To do this, choose games that can be played by several people.
Now you have some ideas for family games. Why not forget the screens and play these board games? Have you made your choice? Remember to practise a little to impress your family.