2010 Mensa Select Winners Are Great Choices for Family Game Night

Family game night is a great way to get everyone together for family fun. Planned as a weekly event, it gives families a chance to connect without the hassles of going out. It can be difficult finding games that everyone likes.

Good Family Fun Night Games

What makes for a good family fun night game? It has to be one that includes all family members. Little ones should not feel left out. Teens need to be challenged. The game should be able to be completed in a reasonable amount of time. Set up time should be minimal. Rules should not be so complicated that a debate is required at every other turn. Why not try one of the games recently voted as a 2010 Mensa Select winner?

Yikerz!

Test your knowledge of the properties of magnetism with Yikerz! This game by Wiggles 3D will challenge you while entertaining a group. The game board is made from a material that resembles a mouse pad. The object of the game is to place your magnets on the board without causing the other magnets to stick to yours or repel off the board. The person or team to get rid of all of their magnets first wins the game.

Some neat features about Yikerz! First, it is compact and travels easily. It can be taken on camping trips, vacations, or to the park. The other cool features are the magnets make a "zapping" sound when they attract each other. Due to the small size of the magnets, this game is not recommended for kids under 3.

Dizios

The game of Dizios is basically dominoes revisited. Mindware has come up with a winner with Dizios. Players match swirling shapes on their tiles to tiles already in play. The game can be played individually or in teams. Players score points as they match tiles. At the end of the game, the player or team with the most points wins.

Dizios is fun and can be played by even the youngest players. It is challenging to find a game that appeals to a family with large differences in ages. Teens bore easily with games for little kids, and the little one have a hard time with concepts that will keep the teens happy. Dizios bridges the age gap and makes it possible for everyone to play.

Word on the Street

Fun and educational, Word on the Street by Out of the Box Games challenges players to quickly think of a word that matches a category. It is a group game, players form teams to play. A card is drawn that has a category on it. Teams must form a word using the letter tiles on the board. The word should use as many of the letter tiles as possible, but it must be a word that fits the category. The team who gets eight letters off to their side of the board first wins the game.

Word on the Street allows for kids of all ages to play. Little ones can play even though they cannot spell. The older members of a team can spell the words and the younger kids can help find a word that matches the category. For families with young children a junior version of the game is available.

Anomia

Anomia Press has come up with a unique card game called Anomia. This card game makes you think. Game play is fast and exciting. A card is drawn and placed face up in the center of the playing area. Players who hold cards in their hand that matches the symbol have to blurt out a word that relates to the symbol. The first person to blurt out a correct word wins the card. Play continues until there are no more cards to turn over. At the end of the round, the player with the most cards wins. Each round takes about 30 minutes to play. Wild cards and other challenges make for interesting gameplay. Anomia is recommended for ages 10 and up.

Forbidden Island

Gamewright's Forbidden Island takes teams of players on a journey to capture four sacred treasures from a dangerous paradise. As teams advance toward finding the treasures, the island is slowly sinking beneath them. Forbidden Island features amazing artwork, infinite play possibilities, and requires teamwork in order to win. Great game for kids 10 and up. Younger kids may have a tough time with this one. Allow for an extended amount of playtime.

Adding one or more of the 2010 Mensa Select games to your family game night routine will add fun and excitement. All of these games bring something new to the gaming arena. Perhaps your family will enjoy them.

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Yikerz!

Dizios

Word on the Street

Anomia

Forbidden Island