For people on lockdown looking to spend some meaningful time with their families, games are the way to go.
With gaming consoles like the Nintendo Switch, Playstation 4 and Xbox One offering a wide variety of games to play it can be hard to decide which one would be best for the whole family.
Here’s a breakdown of some of the best video and board games to keep you busy during this time.
For the family
Video games can be a great way to spend time with the family if you know the right games to play. Here's a list of some of the best games that everyone can enjoy.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Mario Kart 8 is the best selling game on the Nintendo Switch for good reason. The most expansive version of Mario Kart to date has plenty of levels and is an excellent game for experts and beginners alike.
Overcooked 1+2
In Overcooked, each player controls a chef that must work together to make fresh food orders. It can be manic and requires strong communication between players which makes you feel like you’re in the middle of a busy kitchen.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Animal Crossing: New Horizons only came out last week but has already become one of the best selling games on the Switch. Its relaxing approach to making a perfect island getaway is sunny in its disposition and players can even invite friends to visit online and offline.
Jackbox Party Pack
There have been various releases of the Jackbox Party Pack which all feature different party games. Favourites like Fibbage and Quiplash have been immensely popular with streamers and the only controllers players need to play are their smartphones. There is even a “family-friendly” mode which can be activated so everyone can join in the fun.
Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes
In this game, one player acts as the “defuser” and is given a time limit to deactivate an intricate bomb. The other players act as “experts” that read printed instructions to the defuser. The experts can’t see the bomb and the defuser can’t see the instructions so experts have to carefully explain each step to the defuser before the bomb explodes. It’s a brilliant example of an asymmetrical game and is available on everything from iOS to Virtual Reality platforms.
1-2 Switch
The spiritual successor of Wii Sports, 1-2 Switch was one of the original launch games for the Nintendo Switch back in 2017 but it hasn’t received much attention since then. Players take a controller each and look at each other rather than the screen while playing different mini games. Games can range from variations of rock-paper-scissors to Western-style shootouts and can be played by just about anyone.
Super Mario Maker 2
One of the joys of Mario Maker is not just being able to make your own levels but playing other people’s levels too. With thousands of different creations being made, Super Mario Maker 2 takes all the best elements of the classic platformer and lets players experiment with their own creativity. You can also play levels together so it's great for more than one player.
Keep the Kids busy
Sometimes you might want to distract your children while you step away from the TV. Here's a list of child-friendly games to keep the little ones occupied.
Minecraft
Minecraft is probably one of the most recognisable games of the last decade with its simple, blocky graphics but it still remains incredibly popular. Players are free to create what they want using tools and materials and can even explore the game’s randomly generated series of maps at their own leisure.
The Lego games
The Lego games have covered every bit of fanfare from Star Wars to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Each game can support up to two players and they are simple enough for young players to beat and there are plenty of hidden unlockables to be found afterwards making them infinitely repayable.
Sonic Mania
Taking inspiration from Sonic’s early side-scrolling games in the 90’s, Sonic Mania is a love letter to the series made by life long fans. It’s easily the best Sonic the Hedgehog game ever made and can support multiple players.
Link’s Awakening
The latest Legend of Zelda games is a high definition remake of the original Game Boy game from 1993. With it’s toy-like aesthetic and simple dungeon crawling mechanics, Link’s Awakening is a great way for young players to get into the series.
Stay fit
Trying to keep fit when you're stuck inside your house can be difficult without the right equipment. With these games you can stretch out from the comfort of your own living room.
Ring Fit Adventure
Like the Wii Fit before it, Ring Fit Adventure wants players to turn exercise into a fun game. There is even an “Adventure Mode” where players can jog (on the spot) through levels and attack monsters using a variety of exercises like yoga poses and stretches. It’s a fun game on its own but if you’re stuck inside it’s a great way to keep yourself active without going outdoors.
Just Dance 2020
The long running Ubisoft series Just Dance has turned living rooms into dance studios since 2009. Players receive a score on their dancing based off how well they can mimic the dances on screen. Just Dance has been so popular as a form of exercise that it has even been used in hospitals to treat patients with mobility issues.
Beat Saber
Those lucky enough to have a Virtual Reality headset have probably already heard of Beat Saber. What is essentially a dancing game with light sabers, players slice colourful blocks to the beat of the music. If you miss too many then it’s game over. Beat Saber will really work up a sweat on harder difficulties but should only be played in short stretches if you’re prone to motion sickness.
Wii Fit
If you still have a Wii in storage chances are you may also have a Wii Fit Board to go with it. With plenty of mini games on offer it’s still a great way to exercise and keep track of your fitness if you’re not allowed outside.
Tabletop Games
Tired of Monopoly and jigsaw puzzles? Try some of these classic tabletop games to give your eyes a screen break.
Dungeons and Dragons Starter set
For people who may be interested in playing D+D but don’t know where to begin, the official starter kit is the perfect place. Each box comes with a full set of polyhedral dice, a simple rulebook for Dungeon Masters a set of ready-to-play character sheets and an adventure book titled "The Lost Mines of Phandelver" which is aimed at beginners. The only other thing players will need are pencils and a notepad to start their first roleplaying adventure.
Catan
Catan is a settlement-building board game for 3-4 players in the standard version. Catan is an island with different resource tiles and players must use their settlements to harvest resources to build roads and other cities throughout the island. To win, players must be resourceful and trade with other players shrewdly to achieve their goals.
Exploding Kittens
Exploding kittens is a Russian Roulette-style card game. Each player must draw cards of various cats from the pile until a person picks up the eponymous exploding kitten. Players can use certain cards to “defuse” the kitten and reinsert it back into the pile. The last person to be left at the end of the game wins. Games can last between 20 minutes to an hour and are easily replayable.
Jaws
A boardgame of the 1975 Spielberg film of the same name, Jaws can be played by 2-4 players. One player controls the titular shark and the other 2-3 players play Brody, Quint and Hooper. The shark must eat as many swimmers as they can as the other players frantically try to shut the beaches on Amity Island. Halfway through the game, players flip the board over to reenact the explosive final act aboard the Orca.
