11 Big Family Board Games for 6 or More Players

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I love board games, but I've noticed that many of them are designed for families of 4 and can't accommodate more players than that — not ideal if your family is twice that size.

Do you find your large family forming teams just so all of you can play? If so, this list of big family board games for 6, 8, 10, or more players is what you need.

King of Tokyo

2-6 Players

King of Tokyo is one of the best family games we've ever owned, and the gameplay is relatively quick (usually under 30 minutes.) The basic idea is that you're a monster battling the other monsters for control of Tokyo using a little luck and a lot of strategy. I've heard it called "battle Yahtzee," but personally I think the twists make King of Tokyo much more fun. Best for ages 7 and up.

Tsuro

2-8 Players

Simple enough for a preschooler to understand and enjoy, but older kids and adults can put a lot of strategy into this game of elimination by following The Path. Gameplay is short and unlike a lot of other games, Tsuro is more fun the more players you have. Also, the gameboard and pieces are absolutely beautiful. Amaze your guests whenever you pull it out, this is unlike any other game you've seen. Best for ages 3 and up.

Snorta

3-8 Players

This game has been a permanent fixture in our game closet for years. It is fun, silly, fast-paced, requires quick thinking, and guaranteed to make everyone laugh as you all try to make the right animal sound. Special rules for younger players let them enjoy it along with everyone else in the family. I was so sad to see this game was discontinued, but you can still find it on eBay or through 3rd-party sellers on Amazon. Best for ages 4 and up.

Scum

4+ Players

Scum is new favorite family card game. You can play with as many people as can fit around your playing table, and my teenagers like it just as much as my kindergartner. While anyone who knows how to count can play, there's also an immense amount of strategy you can put into it. The object is to get rid of all your cards, but you keep playing for 2nd, 3rd, and so on until everyone finishes, and you can play as many rounds as you want to. You can also play using a deck of regular playing cards or Rook cards (which in itself is another fun game for 2-6 players.) Best for ages 5 and up.

Apples to Apples Junior

4-10 Players

Apples to Apples Junior is a creative, rowdy, imaginative card game that encourages vocabulary and thinking skills. Using only the cards in your hand, you have to play one that "matches" a randomly-chosen adjective, then argue the case for why your word is the best fit (even if it's a stretch!) Even our kids who can't yet read like being on mom or dad's team, helping us pick the words to play.  Best for ages 7 and up.

Uno

2-10 Players

Every family, especially big ones, should have this classic card game on hand. It's easy enough for preschoolers to play because it's essentially just matching colors and numbers, but still challenging and fun for teens and adults. Each round is quick, but kids can play for a good long while before getting bored. Best for ages 3 and up.

Taboo

6+ Players

Taboo is a race to get your teammates to guess words, but there are "forbidden words" you can't use to do it. It's hilarious to listen to the creative ways kids describe things when they can't use the words they want! Even our kids who are too young to be able to give the clues still like being on a team and guessing along with everyone else. Bonus: this version of Taboo comes with a "squeaker" that sounds like a rubber ducky instead of the annoying buzzer that came with older versions. Best for ages 8 and up.

5-Second Rule

3+ Players

5-Second Rule sounds easier than it is: name 3 things in a certain category in 5 minutes. You will all be laughing at this game that encourages thinking on your feet. My kids like the funny noise the timer makes, and we can choose however long we want to play. We modify the rules so our younger kids can play too (i.e: the 5-year-old only needs to name 1 thing instead of 3.) Sometimes they don't know what the topics on the cards are ("name 3 soap operas") so we just skip to the next one. Best for ages 7 and up.

Mexican Train Dominoes

Up to 8 Players

Mexican Train Dominoes is a set of double-12 color-coded dot dominoes that come in a durable aluminum case that holds up to years of rough use (it has in our house.) There are instructions for lots of different types of domino games, lasting from 20 minutes to several hours. Even when we're not actually playing a game of Mexican Train Dominoes, my toddlers like lining up the trains and my older kids like building with the dominoes. Best for ages 4 and up.

Headbanz

2-6 Players

You probably played a homemade version of this at home or school when you were a kid. You slip a card into your headband and ask other players yes or no questions to figure out what it is. It's fun but also educational since kids have to think critically about the questions they ask and remember the answers until their next turn. Since the cards have a picture along with the word, non-readers can play, too. (There's also a card of "prompt questions" in case a kid gets stuck.) Best for ages 4 and up.

Pictionary

4+ Players

Another classic family game where the sketches and the guesses are both hilarious. Play is in two teams, with the more players the merrier. You don't have to draw well to play (I know, because I'm the worst artist I've ever met.) You have to be old enough to think fast and sketch under pressure, but just like with Taboo, kids who are too young still enjoy being a guesser on the team. Best for ages 6 and up.

If you've got a bigger-than-average family then it's just a simple fact: you need to fit more people in your car, at your dining room table, and in your board games! What are your favorite games for 6 or more people to play in your family?

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