Do you dread being cooped up in the house during the winter? It’s hard to get outside and do things, especially when the weather doesn’t cooperate. Thankfully, cold, snowy nights are perfect for cozy family game nights.

Our family plays board games a few times a week year round, but we play even more during winter. The kids have fewer extracurricular activities and we don’t play outside as much once the temperature drops below freezing.

We like keeping the kids engaged with a variety of board games. It can be fun to come up with a theme for the games you play. So, grab a mug of hot chocolate and check out these seven board games to play during winter storms.

Yeti in My Spaghetti

What does a Yeti love more than snow? Apparently spaghetti! Yeti in My Spaghetti by PlayMonster is a silly game where you take turns pulling out noodles and try not to drop the Yeti.

There is also a follow up game, Yeti, Set, Go! in which the Yetis are kicking meatballs around a snowy mountain. (They apparently stole the meatballs from your spaghetti. Those sneaky, sneaky Yetis!)

Both of these games are goofy, which means the kids will be be giggling, yet offer players of all ages a challenge.

 


Ice Cool / Ice Cool 2

Warm up your fingers for this fun penguin-flicking game. Ice Cool by Brain Games is a dexterity game. You can play Ice Cool and Ice Cool 2 separately or combine them for a larger game layout.

In each round, one player is a Catcher and the rest are Runners. The Runners are trying to collect their color fish. The Catcher is trying to bump into all of the Runners before they collect their fish.

Flicking your penguin is the only way to move it around. You can also try race mode when you combine both games!


Klask

Whenever we go to the arcade, my kids love to play air hockey. Klask by Buffalo Games is a fun tabletop game alternative. It takes up way less space than a full-size air hockey table. You must push the ball into your opponent’s goal, but watch out for the white obstacles! Your game piece is magnetic and will attract the white magnet pieces if you aren’t careful.


 

 

Hey, That’s My Fish!

This one features more penguins collecting fish, but the gameplay is more strategic. In Hey, That’s My Fish! by Fantasy Flight games, you randomly place hexagonal tiles to create your game board. As you move your penguin around you collect the fish on the tiles. This also creates gaps in the board so other penguins can’t cross. Have the most fish at the end to win!

This game has great re-play ability because the board layout is randomly created. It’s also pretty quick to play.


Race to the North Pole

Race to the North Pole by Playmore Games is a unique racing board game for two to four players. Each player has an expedition team to navigate to the middle of the board. Using your cards, you can move or ambush another player’s team – but not without risking your own. When a storm hits, the entire board rotates on a turntable. The weather and rotating board bring an interesting element of challenge. This game has a longer game play, which is better suited for children over eight years old.


 

Ticket to Ride: Nordic Countries

Ticket to Ride: Nordic Countries by Days of Wonder is for two to three players, which has a smaller player count than other Ticket to Ride games. In this game you collect cards and build train routes through Denmark, Norway, Finland, and Sweden. We love playing Ticket to Ride games and the Nordic Countries version is perfect for a winter-themed game night.


Dicey Peaks

Dicey Peaks by Calliope Games is designed for 2-6 players. In this game, you are climbing the treacherous Yeti Mountain in the freezing cold. Watch out, because I don’t think these Yetis will be swayed by spaghetti and meatballs.

Throughout the game you must decide which dice to roll, when to move and when to rest. Even though you want to reach the top first, you also need to manage your oxygen supply. May the dice rolls and luck be in your favor as you race to the top of the mountain!

Which of these winter themed board games will you play first? Find even more suggestions for family board games you can play in 20 minutes with your kids in my post here.

About the author

Darcy Zalewski

Darcy Zalewski

Darcy Zalewski is an avid gamer who believes gaming is an excellent family activity. Happily raising two little geeklings with her equally geeky husband in the land of cheese, aka Wisconsin. Darcy loves both video and board games, as they provide infinite family bonding opportunities. When she’s not gaming, she’s crafting, reading dystopian novels, or discussing one of her many fandoms. Her writing has also been featured on Babble, CafeMom, and Mom.me. Connect with her on Twitter at @darcyzalewski.

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