1. Cover your Assets
This is a new game we just got from Santa this year and we LOVED IT! Super easy and even younger kids could play this card game. It's a game for age 7+ and 4-6 players. We've played with 3 players and it was fun too. You collect pairs of Asset cards that range from a House to a Car etc and try to keep your assets in your hand before someone steals them. It is super fun and I highly recommend it!
2. Settlers of Catan
This is an ALL TIME FAVORITE! We picked this up a few years ago and love playing it. It's a board game that looks a little older but it wont disappoint! It's rated for age 10+ with 3-4 players. You can get expansion packs to add additional players which is what we did so we can play with up to 6 players. It takes a minute to learn but seriously worth the effort! Build the longest road or largest army while collecting resource cards to build additional cities and settlements. You set the board up different every time you play so no two games are a like.
3. Ticket to Ride
There are a few versions to Ticket to Ride but they are all played the game just on different game boards with some slightly different features. We've played the Europe and US versions and I like them both. The US version is the original and is a little less complicated to start with. It's rated for ages 8+ with 2-5 players. This game can take an hr or so just be prepared, but it's seriously fun. You build trains from one city to another trying to complete those cards in your hands before others steal or cover the available roads using different types of train cars. Highly Recommend!
Another loud but fun family or party game. This one is a little tricky to learn and has quite a few expansion packs available. The original game is where I recommend starting. Try to keep Bunnies in your hand while killing others before someone gets the Magic Carrot which ends the game. It's rated for age 12+ and for 2-8 players. We always played with about 4-6 players and it worked out well. It's action packed, hilarious and can be face paced.
5. Perpetual Commotion
This is the ONLY game on this list I don't personally own. Andy's parents have this game and we love it. We played it new years eve with a group of 8 people and had a blast. It's rated for age 8+ with 2-6 players, but there is an expansion pack available to add 2 additional players. This card game is fast pace and the fastest person wins. Lay 5 cards out in front of you and then try to make stacks of same color cards in order from Start, 2 through 12 and finish ... But everyone else is also doing the exact same thing so it's a race to set your cards down before someone else with the same card gets there. In this game there is usually 5-15 stacks going on at once while you play your hand so it's confusing, fast pace but superb and fun. Highly recommend!
This is the ONLY game on this list I don't personally own. Andy's parents have this game and we love it. We played it new years eve with a group of 8 people and had a blast. It's rated for age 8+ with 2-6 players, but there is an expansion pack available to add 2 additional players. This card game is fast pace and the fastest person wins. Lay 5 cards out in front of you and then try to make stacks of same color cards in order from Start, 2 through 12 and finish ... But everyone else is also doing the exact same thing so it's a race to set your cards down before someone else with the same card gets there. In this game there is usually 5-15 stacks going on at once while you play your hand so it's confusing, fast pace but superb and fun. Highly recommend!
6. Curses
One of my favorite party and large group games. If you are shy you'll slowly have to come out of your shell in this game so it's a great ice breaker game. You'll be talking like a pirate, holding your elbows straight and strumming your invisible guitar all at once (or more!). We just bought an expansion pack that gives us 50 new additional cards for this game so I can't wait to try it out. We love this game. It's rated for ages 12+ and 3-6 players but we've played it with like 8 to 10 people and it worked out fine. Sounds like a rough game but I challenge you to get it and try it out!
7. Apples to Apples
This one we've owned for a while and it's a classic. Rated for ages 12+ with 4-10 players its' great for family get togethers. Each person has a hand full of cards that are people, places, things and events. When it's your turn to judge you draw a description card then everyone else puts in a card from their hand that best fits that description. You read them out loud and judge which one is best fitting, most funny or whatever YOU want since you are the judge. BUT, the slowest person's card doesn't get put in so it's a race to throw a card in before everyone else which means you are randomly picking one. With those odds you end up with some hilarious sets of cards. Super fun, easy to play.
8. Last Word
"An uproarious race to have the final say" is what the box says on this board game and it's so true. My family is loud and we have our own quirks so this game is super fun with them. It's rated for ages 14+ with 2-8 players. Try to be the last person who can think of the answer before the buzzer which means you got the LAST WORD. Can be really fast pace and a fairly quick game. We usually play a few games because it can go pretty fast or other times it can last a long time. Loud and fun game.
9. Five Crowns
An easy to learn card game much like Rummy. The box says ages 8+ with 1-7 players. It consists of 11 rounds of play where you try to make sets and runs with jokers and wilds. Each player tries to set their hand down or "go out" first before others and its a race to catch others with a bunch of points in their hands.
10. Pinnacle
Ah, the old classic card game my parents and grandparents taught us when we were old enough to learn as young teenagers or older. This is a family favorite of ours. Only 4 people can play and you can play with a 3 hand but it's not as fun. I'm not sure the age on this one but I'd say teenage cause it's harder and has a lot more details you have to remember. We used to play this game for hours at bear lake when we'd go vacation. Now that our family has expanded we don't play as much because its only good for 4 people. Bid on the hand then call your trump, see if you have family or aces, a marriage, etc. Then play them out trying not to give points to the other team before the cards run out. If you've got a great hand try shooting the moon, but if you loose you go in the whole or game over. I love it!