Picture this: your family is gathered around the kitchen table, everyone dressed in cozy sweaters, sipping hot chocolate, and Mariah Carey is softly playing in the background. At the center of the table is a MONOPOLY board, silver tokens glinting on the tiles, and piles of colorful MONOPOLY money scattered around. Now…is your family smiling and laughing, or heatedly debating whether the banker is cheating?

It’s a tale as old as time; MONOPOLY can bring out the worst in anyone, especially those with a competitive streak. Board games can make or break the family during the holiday season. If MONOPOLY has been permanently banned from family game night, be sure to check out the games below to switch things up (competitive or not).

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CLASSICS
QUICK & EASY GAMES
GAMES FOR LITTLES
TRY SOMETHING NEW

CLASSICS

Trivial Pursuit
For a bit of friendly competition, play a game of trivia. If trivia isn’t your strong suit, your family can bend the rules and play on teams instead – the more people on a team, the more likely you’ll know the answers!
Recommended Age: 16 Years and Up

Ticket to Ride
This game and its many spin-offs are tried and true family favorites. Players collect and play trains to claim railway routes connecting major cities. It can get a bit competitive, especially if you have effective strategists in your group.
Recommended Age: 8 Years and Up

7 Wonders
This card development game is not for the faint of heart. Players gather resources, develop military strongholds, erect cities and architectural wonders – all while keeping an eye on opponents’ strengths and weaknesses. Don’t be caught unawares!
Recommended Age: 10 Years and Up

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QUICK & EASY GAMES

Sushi Go!
This super-fast card game is like grabbing plates off a conveyor belt at your favorite sushi restaurant. Players score points for collecting sushi rolls and sets of sashimi – but be careful what plates you’re passing on to your competitors.
Recommended Age: 8 Years and Up

Wavelength
This mind-reading party game is great for large groups. Teams take turns rotating a dial to where they think a hidden bullseye is located on a spectrum, based on a given clue between two opposing ideas. Is pizza better when eaten hot or cold? Your team must decide.
Recommended Age: 14 Years and Up

Wits & Wagers
If Trivial Pursuit is a little too complicated, try Wits & Wagers. It’s a game of trivia where you don’t actually need to know the answer to win – just take your best guess! Then, players bet on which answer is the closest to win.
Recommended Age: 10 Years and Up

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GAMES FOR LITTLES

Set Junior
This abstract card game teaches kids some fundamental skill for future board-gamers, including strategy, rule recall, and quickly identifying patterns. Players must match cards to corresponding spots on the board, aiming to create a set. There is a higher-difficulty level as well, which is time restrictive and more competitive, so you can choose which one sounds best for your family.
Recommended Age: 3 Years and Up

Race to the Treasure
This cute game has players working together to gather keys to unlock treasure before an ogre reaches it. There are some complex game mechanics, like strategizing, but the cooperative nature of the game allows players of different ages and skill levels to enjoy it together!
Recommended Age: 5 Years and Up

The Fuzzies
Like Jenga but with static cling fuzz balls! Players draw a card to find which fuzzy they must pull from the tower and replace it higher up. If any fuzzies are knocked down in the process, the player must follow a new ‘rule’ on their next turn, making it slightly more difficult.
Recommended Age: 6 Years and Up

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TRY SOMETHING NEW

Everdell
This board game is as beautifully designed as it is fun. Players accrue resources to curate a woodland village, complete with adorable creatures. Each building and creature is worth points in your final score, so chose your dream village wisely.
Recommended Age: 13 Years and Up

Pandemic Legacy
In this cooperative campaign game, your team is fighting infectious diseases and researching cures in a race against the clock. Pandemic Legacy features an overarching story arc played through 12-24 sessions. Decisions you make in each round will impact future sessions.
Recommended Age: 13 Years and Up

Secret Hitler
In this game of political intrigue and betrayal set in 1930’s Germany, players are either liberal or fascist. Fascists sow distrust while liberals fight for their values, all while trying to uncover the Secret Hitler in the group.
Recommended Age: 18 Years and Up

Wingspan
This competitive, card-driven game is perfect for bird-lovers (and everyone else). Players attract birds to their network of wildlife preserves, accruing points for obtaining different varieties. A side bonus are the fun facts about each bird found on the cards!
Recommended Age: 14 Years and Up

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If your family is committed to the annual MONOPOLY experience, visit MONOPOLY LIFESIZED: Travel Edition this winter. Compete on a team to win escape room-style challenges and progress through the life-sized game board. It’s sure to be an eventful holiday game night!