These Are the Best Games for Entertaining at Home
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Shop these Amazon best-sellers for fun things to do with friends and family.
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Every year, there's new technology competing for our attention, whether that's a new social media platform, a virtual reality development, or the latest Apple launch. But there's something to be said for good old fashioned fun—that is, pulling out a game from the storage closet and sparking up some friendly competition. Especially around the holidays, as many of us are spending more time lounging around at home, interactive games can be a great way to set aside our devices and engage with friends and family.
Of course, we love a good holiday movie marathon, but it's nice to have some more options for activities to do inside when the weather or is bad or when you just want to stay in. So, we found all the best-selling games on Amazon that deserve a spot in the game closet. Some games, like Connect4, are longstanding classics, while others, like the Exploding Kittens card game, are more modern favorites. Whether you need a new game to entertain guests or just your everyday housemates, these picks will offer you new ways to have fun.
:The Ultimate Checklist of Fun Activities to Do With Friends This Winter
Top 10 Overall Best-Selling Games on Amazon
Taco vs. Burrito
This card game was created by a 7-year-old, and it's just as wacky and creative as you might expect. The premise: build the weirdest meal you can, and don't get caught by the health inspector. Each player starts by picking a taco or burrito card holder, then everyone takes turns drawing cards and adding "ingredients" (like hot yogurt or chocolate covered shrimp) to build their meal. Different cards have different point values, so the goal is to be the player with the highest value meal—no matter how disgusting all of its components sound. It's a bit like UNO, if UNO was all about food and born from a young boy's imaginative brain.
Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza
Amazon
If you've ever played Slap Jack with a regular deck of cards, you'll be somewhat familiar with the rule of this game. To play, each player places a card from their hand face up into a community pile, while saying one word from the mantra "taco, cat, goat, cheese, pizza," in that order. Whenever the image on the card matches the word spoken, each player must slap their hands on top of the pile. The last one to slap has to take all the cards in the pile—and the goal is to rid yourself of all of your cards.
Pokémon Assorted Cards, 50 Pieces
Amazon
The Pokémon card game forces players to use their imagination. In the game players can "bench" some of their Pokémon while sending others into battle, all with the goal of defeating their opponent's Pokémon and winning Prize cards. Each card has different rules and specifications that help guide the game and determine the outcome of the battles, keeping players engaged in the story and characters involved in the game.
Connect 4
Amazon
This game is a true classic. With a simple goal—connect four of your color of tokens in a row—everyone goes into it thinking they've got it in the bag. But it's those unexpected blind spots that keep the game interesting. Though its just a two-player game, you can easily get a whole crowd involved by setting up a Connect 4 tournament.
Exploding Kittens Original Edition
Amazon
If you're a cat lover, this game may sound a bit harsh—but it's all in good fun. Basically, you play by taking turns drawing from a deck of cards, but hidden in that deck are a number of "exploding kitten" cards, which, if you draw one, takes you out of the game. Other cards in the deck all have purposes that will help you combat explosion—like a "defuse" card, a "see the future" card, which lets you peek at the next few cards in the deck, and a "skip" card, which lets you skip a turn (in case you peeked and saw an "exploding kitten" card in the deck).
Throw Throw Burrito
Amazon
Made by the same creators of Exploding Kittens, Throw Throw Burrito is yet another unusual card game—with a dodgeball twist. To play the game, players simultaneously draw cards from a deck at their right hand side, aiming to collect matching sets of three, and discard unwanted cards in the next player's pile to their left. The matching sets count for points needed to win in the end. But there's a twist: Some of those sets include action cards, which can prompt a "burrito brawl," in which two players grab the plush burritos included in the game and try to be the first one to hit the other player. So, if you decide to pick up this game, just make sure to put all your valuables away before you play it.
Gravity Maze Falling Marble Logic Game
Amazon
If you're looking for a way to keep younger kids entertained, this logic game (intended for kids ages 8 and up) will keep their minds engaged. The game comes with a game grid, maze towers, marbles, and a deck of challenge cards offering different ways to play. The goal of the game is the get the marble to fall from the beginning tower into the target tower. Each tower has different ramps or angled pieces inside, directing how the marble will fall. The game encourages the player to use critical thinking and spatial reasoning to plan out a successful route from start to finish.
Guess in 10 Animal Planet
Amazon
Guess in 10 is another game geared for a younger audience, and the concept is pretty simple. The animal-themed card game is like a guided version of the 20 questions game. Each card features an animal, three buzz words to describe that animal, three clues the card holder can give out, and some additional facts about the animal. Other players can guess up to 10 yes-or-no questions to try to guess the animal on the card. The game encourages kids to get more comfortable socializing, and with using deductive reasoning and creative thinking.
Left Center Right Dice Game
Amazon
The Left Center Right Dice game requires three or more people to play, making it a good option for larger gatherings. Each player starts the game with three chips, then take turns rolling the six sided dice included in the game. Different sides of the dice correspond with different actions—for example, if you roll an L (left), you must give one of your chips to the player on your left. The object of the game is to be the only player with any remaining chips.
Classic Jenga
Amazon
Jenga never goes out of style. It's a simple game, but it never fails to bring some suspense. Players take turns removing one block from the Jenga tower, and placing that block back on top of the tower. As the game goes on, each move becomes more and more precarious, and the game ends when the tower falls.
Best-Selling Board Games on Amazon
If you prefer more traditional games, like Candy Land, check out the best-selling board games.
Connect 4 Spin Game, $16
The Chameleon, Award-Winning Board Game for Families & Friends, $17
Disney Matching Game, $11
Catan Board Game, $38
Prices at time of publish.
Best-Selling Arcade and Table Games on Amazon
The best-selling arcade games provide some more action-packed options, like a basketball shooting game, and some not-for-kids options, like Shot Glass Roulette.
Shot Glass Roulette, $30
Pop-A-Shot Official Home Dual Shot Basketball Arcade Game, $290
Pop-A-Shot Official Dual Shot Sport Arcade Basketball Game, $210
My Arcade Micro Player Mini Arcade Machine: Galaga Video Game, $40
Best Choice Products 2x4ft 10-in-1 Combo Game Table Set for Home, $170
Prices at time of publish.
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