August 19, 2025

A family game to play at home

What if happiness came in a game box? It's 5 p.m., the kids are running around in circles, the screens have already heated up too much... "What are we going to do now? What's next?" Ah, the dreaded question... But it's not a trap, it's an invitation! Nothing extraordinary, just an invitation to play together as a family, a gentle, simple and joyful moment. Whether you choose a classic board game, an improvisation without materials, a funny or quiet game, what counts is what you share. So, are you looking for an idea for a family game to play at home? The following is for you!

A break that's good for everyone

Good news! Since the 1960s, time spent with the family has doubled (source: The Economist). And this time is not just a statistic! It nurtures complicity, strengthens household cohesion and leaves behind a fragrance of shared happiness... provided it's of quality, of course.

Yet every day, only 28 minutes of family time are devoted to leisure activities by mothers and 10 minutes by fathers... It's a shame, because family play has real power - and it's been proven! A 2023 study shows that the more playtime children share with their parents, the happier they are and the better they regulate their emotions. And among teenagers, there's less risk-taking behaviour... All good reasons to dip into our family play ideas !

A family board game at home

There's nothing like a good old-fashioned family board game to bring young and old together. Cards that fly, dice that roll, pawns that move and rules that you adapt to your own taste: "That's not how it's done at Grandma's"... it's a whole world in itself.

Obviously, you have the usual classics: Trivial Pursuit, Monopoly, Cluedo, Pictionary, La Bonne Paye, Mastermind..., but also more modern family games:

for the liveliest: Dobble, Jungle Speed, Perudo, Taco Chat Bouc Cheese Pizza, Gobbit...
for strategists: Catan, Pandemic, Les aventuriers du rail, Citadelles, 7 Wonders, Micropolis, Carcassonne, Splendor, Azul...
for word lovers: Codenames, Just One, Decrypto, Trapwords, So Clover...
for creative people: Cranium, Telestrations, Komojo...

And then there are the newcomers who are shaking things up: collaborative games, where we all win (or lose) together. Perfect for transforming competitive spirit into team spirit. Do you know Bandido, The Mind, Zombie Kidz Evolution, Forbidden Island or Galérapagos? Games that bring you closer together!

A fun family game at home

How about an idea for a fun family game at home? When you're wondering what to do at Christmas to brighten up your reunion, there are a few must-haves that always hit the spot: Time's up and its mimes, Taboo and its forbidden words or Burger Quiz and its offbeat questions. There's no need to be a strategist or a general knowledge champion: the only objective is to laugh together... to the point of tears!

Ambient games are clearly in vogue, so there's no shortage of fun family games. In Mito, for example, you can cheat in the open air; in Olé,Guacamolé, words get out of hand, while Mimtoo mixes absurd situations with delirious mimes (a unicorn water-skiing? Yes, it's possible).

And let's not forget Telestrations, a cartoon version of the Arabic telephone, and Top Ten, Pigeon Pigeon and Speed Bac, which revisit the classics with a touch of humor. There's no competition here, just fun and friendly moments...

A family game without equipment

Don't have a board game box, cards or dice to hand? Don't worry, ideas for improvised games without equipment are often the best. All you need is a little space and a good dose of imagination. Add a touch of bad faith when you have to admit you've lost, and the game is on.

Looking for inspiration? Then here are our ideas for family games without equipment! A wild Jacques a dit with absurd dares, a revisited Petit bac, a musical blind test, mimes, an Arabic telephone, word memorization, sensory games, a joke contest... anything goes. Zero equipment, little preparation and lots of laughs that leave lasting memories.

👉 Also read: 13 creative hobby ideas for adults

An idea for a quiet family game

Among all the games to play as a family at home, there's one that doesn't shout or blink, but brings hearts together without a word... Yes, it's the puzzle ! It's a collaborative activity that brings people together without noise: a calm game that soothes minds and tensions by creating a complicit, rare and precious silence.

Doing a puzzle as a family is a bit like collective meditation, but with your hands full and lots of pieces to assemble. The best of all quiet games, it's a real anti-stress activity that keeps everyone on their toes. It's a bit like cooking together: everyone adds their own touch, and the result is even better when enjoyed together.

At Jour Férié, we'd say it's part of our emotional heritage: family play is sacred. Eyes that sparkle, hearts that beat to the same rhythm, laughter that bursts out without warning... Quite simply, a bubble of slow life. So, which family game idea will you choose today?