Looking for some great games that the whole family can enjoy? Toy Insider Senior Editor Marissa DiBartolo stopped by Better Connecticut in New Haven to talk about some of the best new games that are perfect for your family game night. For more on the items featured in this segment, check out the product notes below.
ESCAPE ROOM THE GAME VR EDITION (IDENTITY GAMES)
- Set the timer for 60 minutes and choose one of two rooms – Submarine or Behind Enemy Lines.
- This is both a stand-alone game and an expansion of last year’s Escape Room. If new to this game, download the Escape Room The Game App from the App Store or Google Play.
- Don the black VR cardboard glasses and navigate your way out of the underwater cave or send your coordinates for a rescue before dark. Good luck!
- Identity Games created this version to be played by three to five players.
- Age: 16+
- MSRP: $24.99
- Available: Walmart, Amazon
DON’T ROCK THE BOAT (PLAYMONSTER)
- In Don’t Rock the Boat, you better Balance Yer Mateys, or Overboard Ye Go! Players take turns setting pirate pieces on the teetering pirate ship, trying not to upset the balance. The player who makes the boat tip and pieces fall off is a landlubber!
- The fun is in the characters and 16 playing pieces (pirate penguins, octopus, treasure and more!), and the excitement is in the suspense!
- No batteries required.
- Age: 5+
- MSRP: $24.99
- Available: Amazon
OTRIO (SPIN MASTER)
- Got what it takes for a brainy competition? Face off in the game of Otrio, a head-to-head strategy board game!
- Players compete to line up three pieces of the same color my similar size; in ascending or descending order; or within the same space.
- Playing Otrio encourages players to cultivate their reasoning, strategizing and critical thinking skills.
- Otrio is made for 2-4 players.
- Age: 8+
- MSRP: $34.99
- Availability: Target
POP- THE ULTIMATE BALLOON CHALLENGE FAMILY PARTY GAME (BUFFALO GAMES)
- Team up with or compete against family and friends in the ultimate game of balloon challenges!
- Outplay opponents in 50 action-filled balloon games – each round is a different challenge.
- Win challenges to be the first team to POP the other team’s balloon to WIN!
- Game includes 50 POP game cards, 30 balloons, 12 mini cups, eight stomp strings, and one balloon pump.
- For two or more players.
- Age: 8+
- MSRP: $19.99
- Available: Amazon, Target
JENGA PASS CHALLENGE GAME (HASBRO)
- The block-stacking game of Jenga is moving off the table! In the Jenga Pass Challenge game, players stack the hardwood Jengablocks on the included platform to build their tower.
- Tension builds as players carefully push, pull and stack the hardwood blocks while holding onto one of the platform handles.
- After each player takes a turn, they must pass the platform to their opponent. The last player to successfully stack a block and pass the platform without causing the tower to crash wins!
- Two or more players.
- Age: 8+
- MSRP: $19.99
- Available: Target, Amazon, Walmart
DOS GAME (MATTEL)
- In the beloved card game UNO, you (or your team) are trying to be the first to score 500 points. You score points by being the first to get rid of all the cards in your hand, and action cards let you make things more difficult for your opponents.
- In this twist on the family favorite game, now when you’re down to two cards, don’t forget to yell “Dos.” See why this color-coded card game has been a hit for so many years. Game comes in a colorful, protective tin that stores the included 108-card deck plus instructions, scoring pad, pencil.
- Ages: 7+
- MSRP: $5.99
- Available: Target, Walmart, Amazon
