One of the best ways to engage your child is through playing games. Countless research papers all support that this family time helps kids learn interaction and social skills, reasoning, cognitive function, and can even improve symptoms associated with disorders such as ADHD. The board game industry as a whole has made great strides to make this as enjoyable for parents as their children. They’ve come a long way since the days of Scrabble, Uno, and Risk. Where those are still very popular games there are now a variety of options available to cater to almost anybody’s taste in games.
Let’s dive into some of our favorites:
Forbidden Island / Forbidden Desert:
The concept of Forbidden Island is simple. The players are archeologists trying to remove artifacts from ancient temples before they sink below the waves. This is accomplished by gathering clue cards. Once you have enough cards you can go to one of the temples to retrieve the artifact...assuming it is still above the waves. Each player has a role that gives them special abilities which help the team complete their objectives. As with most cooperative games such as this, everyone either wins together or loses together.
https://fayetteville.geargamingstore.com/products/forbidden-island
Forbidden Desert is similar to Forbidden Island but it adds complexity to the game. You are stranded in the desert and are trying to piece together a sand ship from an ancient civilization before an apocalyptic sandstorm comes in. It has similar but slightly more complicated mechanics such as having to worry about hydration beneath the scorching desert sun.
https://fayetteville.geargamingstore.com/products/forbidden-desert
How dare the other kingdom build their castle right next to yours….and is it a little taller? Better knock them down a peg and show them who has the better castle!
In Catapult Castle you take turns firing ammo from an actual miniature catapult trying to fling your ammo into your opponent’s towers. If it goes in their tower you claim it as your own and add it to your own castle. Continue this long-range slugfest until all the ammo has been used or you have left your opponent with no more towers to their castle. Enjoy your dirt patch peasant and next time build away from your betters!
https://fayetteville.geargamingstore.com/products/catapult-castle-1-4-player-dexterity-game
Ever want to play air hockey but without the huge and noisy table? Or the paddle that even though you try, one of your fingers slips outside the guard at the wrong time? Or a puck?...... Okay, the point is that Klask is a fun game where you are using a striker to attempt to knock a ball into your opponent’s goal. Complicating the playfield are white magnetic pieces that most children nickname “Marshmallows” which can stick to your striker. If you get 2 of them stuck to you that gains your opponent a point. The goal is also recessed, so if you move your striker across it then your striker will get stuck as well gaining your opponent another point. Currently, there are two versions of the game, a 2 player square version as well as a 4 player round version.
https://fayetteville.geargamingstore.com/products/klask
https://fayetteville.geargamingstore.com/products/klask-4
This game is fun for all ages but can be a serious competition as well. Get good enough and you could attempt to enter the Klask World Championship in Finland!
Spot It!:
Spot It! Is a picture-matching game that works well even for children who cannot read and are getting their basics down in object permanency. The cards are printed in a special way that no matter which two cards are drawn and placed down there is one and only one matching picture shared by them. To complicate things the images are different sizes and due to the printing and the round cards giving no reference point, they are not even oriented the same way. And there are a variety of versions of this game so you are sure to find a favorite. The goal is simple, find that matching image first and yell Spot It! You then collect the two cards. Once you have collected 5-7 rounds of cards depending on the number of players you win the game!
https://fayetteville.geargamingstore.com/products/spot-it-minion
All these games and more are available at Gear Gaming located next to the AMC in Fiesta Square in Fayetteville and behind the Krispy Kreme next to Whole Pets in Bentonville. We also offer cheap kid-friendly events at both our stores including Pokemon Day (December 16th in Fayetteville, January 6th in Bentonville) Weekly Lorcana Leagues, and Dungeons & Dragons sessions every Wednesday. We are Northwest Arkansas' friendly local gaming store that specializes in all tabletop games, including MTG, Pokemon, Yugioh, TTRPGs, Euro Games, Family Games, and more!
