The well-used vintage Candy Land game of my youth.
DO KIDS STILL PLAY Candy Land?
How about Cootie, Scrabble or Monopoly?
As a child, I played all four and especially enjoyed any type of word game. Today I still like word games. Surprised?
My son will tell you that I am a social game player, meaning I play games primarily to socialize. He is right. If I win in the process, then that’s simply an extra bonus.
Him? He’s into strategic games like Risk and chess and Race for the Galaxy, a game we gave him for Christmas with rules so complicated that they fill a book. I’m serious.
Fortunately, he’s found others with the same mind-set at our church’s monthly Game Night. The serious gamers play the strategic games.
The rest of us, well, we sit and laugh and talk and eat and then laugh and talk and eat some more.
How about you? What types of board games do you like and why?
Or do you even play board games?
© Copyright 2010 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
I love board games; though, I find Monopoly rather tedious and think it tends to bring out the worst in people. I prefer something like Apples-to-Apples or Cranium, something that requires people to think outside the box and don’t really have a clearly-defined winner. (I’m not so big on winners/losers.)
I’m with you on Monopoly. I loved it as a kid, and so did my kids. But now…, I really don’t like the game much. Apples-to-Apples is among my favorites too along with word games like Taboo. Oh, and Imaginiff is a fun new social game on the market.
I like some of the strategy games when I have time. I’ve played plenty of risk in my day. I also like a new game that Lindsey and Brent introduced us to called Dominion. Caleb would like that one!
I also like Apples to Apples and Taboo since they can go more quickly and allow for plenty of laughter.
I would expect a math teacher to enjoy strategic games likes Risk. But I’m happy you also embrace the more social word games like Apples-to-Apples.
Well! Board games? As a kid I hated them!!! If you wanted a loser, just ask me to play. I played only because I had to! With our boys I did play Winnie the Pooh but that’s about it. Now we play Mexican Train, dominoes. I even win sometimes.
Guess my mind doesn’t work the way games need to be played.
I wish I could find an Uncle Wiggly board game for you somewhere, Dorothy. I know how much you loved that game. Not! But it’s good to hear that you are now playing some games and even winning sometimes.
Audrey,
I hate the word games, because you always said I made up the words. NOT they were in MY head.
I enjoyed Cranium, Apples to Apples now that I’m an old adult.
When younger I liked Clue, Pit, Battle ship, Triva Prusuit and a poker game in college ( you had to take a drink if you lost)
I play a Cabbage Patch game with Whitney and Cortney when they come here. It’s the one Tara liked when she was little.
So…….. no word games for me or spelling.
Lanae
Interesting that you should mention Pit as a game you played as a kid. I don’t recall that game at all, and aren’t we just a few years apart in age? I played it for the first time Saturday at church game night and loved it. In fact, I said, “My family (meaning siblings) would love this game.” So next time we all get together, let’s do some commodity trading. By the way, I won, and it’s not even a word game.
Candyland was by far my favorite game as a child. Perhaps that is because Grandma allowed me to win quite a bit. I admit, I was quite the cheater at that game. You should have included the taped cardboard Neapolitan sandwich card that goes with this board!
Now I love playing Cribbage.
That’s right. I had forgotten about you playing Candy Land all the time with Grandma. Such sweet memories. Now I’ll have to dig out the taped card.
Your comment reminds me of when I played Old Maid with your mom and my other siblings. The Old Maid card was so bent on the corners that everyone knew which card was the Old Maid.
Even though Old Maid is a sexist game by today’s standards, I certainly enjoyed it as a child.
As a kid I loved Chutes and Ladders and Sorry!. Once in a while, we will still break out Sorry! when visiting mom and dad.
These days we play more cards games – whist, Hearts, Pinochle and Phase 10. We enjoy a good game of Scrabble and Apples-to-Apples.
We actually bought Candy Land last week for a three year old’s birthday gift.
It’s interesting that you mention Chutes and Ladders, because I think that game is as traditional as Candy Land. Yet, I’ve never played it.
I’m happy to hear that you bought Candy Land for that 3-year-old. I bet your daughter will be playing Candy Land in a few years.
We play a card game called One Eyed Jack. It involves making lines of five chips on a board covered with all of the card faces. It’s great for all ages.
Dana
I’ve never heard of One Eyed Jack. But, as long as it doesn’t involve math or strategy, I would probably like it.
Thanks to you, Dana, and all of the other Minnesota Prairie Roots readers who have responded with comments on their favorite games.
This gives me hope that board games are still important to so many of us as a way to have fun and interact with family and friends.
I LOVEEED playing candyland but i can’t find someone who still has it and who wanne give it to me… 😥
Ah, Candy Land. Loved that game, too, as a child. I have the one from my childhood. It’s pretty tattered. But even at that, I won’t give it up. Readers? Anyone have an old Candy Land game for Marleen?