In a world driven by constant to-do lists and the never-ending interruption of technology, it’s hard to find time to sit down and enjoy quality, unplugged time with family. One of the best ways to enjoy time together is by playing board games. Board games are challenging and exciting. They incite competition, invite laughter and spark creativity. Play one of these five board games next time you’re together as a family and you’ll be making memories you’ll cherish for years to come.

Telestrations

This is a new twist on an old game — telephone. Remember the childhood game where you’d whisper something to the person next to you and they’d in turn repeat it to the person next to them and so on until you’d get a ridiculous answer? This similar game involves drawing interpretations instead of using word-of-mouth. This is a great game for families of all sizes and ages. Fitting for family parties or weekend nights, Telestrations will have everyone laughing at the end of each round.

Bananagrams

The classic game of Scrabble can be long and tedious. But this similar letter-tile game is much more fast-paced and entertaining. Take the letters from the bag and place them facedown on a table. Each player gets seven letters and must make continuous word puzzles with their letters. Every time a player has used all their letters they say “draw.” At this point, a player takes another letter and plays until every last one has been used. Educational, quick and competitive, this game can be played anywhere, so it's a nice option for when you're on the go.

Sequence

This game requires strategic thinking, planning and a little luck. Sequence is a board and card game that can be played with just two people or more on teams. Teams try to connect five chips in a row based on the cards they are dealt. But here’s the catch — teammates can’t talk to each other. This game is easy to learn, simple yet exciting and keeps players on their toes.

The Game of Things

If you want to cry laughing over absurd and hilarious things, this is the game for you. Perfect for families or groups of friends, this game will have you aching from laughter. Players are given prompts such as “things your parents never taught you,” and then everyone writes down a response. One player tries to match who said what to other players and the person with the most correct matches wins. Win or lose, you’ll laugh the whole time.

Settlers of Catan

This German game has become a worldwide phenomenon, according to Wired. With more than 15 million copies sold, it’s definitely a staple board game every family should play. Catan is a slower, longer game, filled with strategy and cutthroat competition. Each game varies and is completely unpredictable. This board game requires a lot of thinking and will challenge players.

Board games are excellent options for group activities because they can be silly, challenging, educational or just pure fun. Some are geared toward young children, while others are meant for adults. These five board games can be played by people of any age and can be adapted for each audience. Pick up one or all of them, play with your family and enjoy quality time together using a good old-fashioned board game.

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