Colin Kameoka
United States
San Gabriel
California
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In a recent gaming session I discovered a problem with our group's games. We don't really have suitable games for younger gamers.
While we have games like Evo and Too many cooks, they didn't quite work. Evo was simply too "cutthroat" and Too many cooks simply isn't interesting enough or good enough to entertain the older gamers. We also had the problem of players "telling" the kids what to play in Too Many Cooks meaning, its just hard enough they don't quite understand how to play the game.
So we need a game that is simple enough for the kids, with enough interaction but not so much that the kids will find it overly cutthroat. It would need to be deep enough and entertaining enough to keep the kids and adults happy.
So far only The Hanging Gardens is the only game that entertains everyone and allows the kids to play. I am considering a few others.
Hey! That's my Fish - A bit too Cutthroat but might be entertaining enough for everyone.
No thanks! - A very simple card game that moves fast.
Fairly tale - Another card game with nice artwork and a simple card draft and play.
Any other suggestions?
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For the younger children, you can try Gulo Gulo.
For those slightly older, Citadels and Wasabi! are simple, interesting and engaging.
Hope that helps!
zhiqian.
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isaac
United States
San Francisco
California
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I agree No Thanks! is fun but might be a little tough because of the math (not sure how young the players are). But the basic concept is simple enough.
Bohnanza is fun, has goofy pictures, and is simple to learn. One of my favorites and I'm "an adult."
The Great Dalmuti is a fun card-based game that is very simple, but interesting enough to be engaging for older players. One round is quick, but multiple rounds add an another player.
Ticket to Ride has the train theme going for it. The mechanics are simple enough, too. The over-arching strategy might be a little harder, but that's the same for slower grown-ups as it is for kids. 
Not strategy games, but group games like Cranium or Pictionary could be a good way to get everyone involved, have turns for the younger players, but still ahve fun for the older players. Not sure if your group can stand a non-strategy though. 
We used to have a game set up for the younger folks that they enjoyed and then did our own at another table. They might surprise you though, as my 11-year old nephew would when he got into a cuthroat game of Settlers.
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Craig Liken
New Zealand
Christchurch
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We have had a lot of success with Pick Picknic with our children (the oldest two are 6 and a half, and nearly five). It is a filler game really, but plays pretty well from 3 to 6 players. Last around 20 minutes. Also pretty inexpensive to pick up.
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Thad Hobson
United States
Dunbar
Wisconsin
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The recommendations I am about to make are based upon what my 10 year old daughter has been playing with us over the last 2 years. My family always leans towards strategy games rather than luck based ones. We have had good success at finding strategy games that are satisfying to the adults yet simple enough that our daughter can play competitively with us.
Someone already mentioned Ticket to Ride. I think this is the best game series available that mixes adults with children. Simple rules and a lot of fun. Adults can play their best, yet the mechanics are simple enough that children can still outthink them. It makes you proud as a parent when your kid beats up on the newbie adults who come over to play for the first time!
Thurn and Taxis is another great game for a mixture of adults with children (9 & up). Anyone who likes Ticket to Ride should also like this. This is somewhat less cutthroat than TTR.
I would say Zooloretto leans more on the children than adult side, but adults can have fun playing this alongside their kids.
Carcassonne might be a nice choice. Kids get fascinated by the different tile combinations. The rules are pretty simple.
Once the kids understand the games above, you may move in the direction of Stone Age or A Castle for All Seasons if you want something a little heavier.
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alan beaumont
United Kingdom
LONDON
Unspecified
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Ready...Steady...Chickens!!
liken@xtra.co.nz wrote: We have had a lot of success with Pick Picknic with our children (the oldest two are 6 and a half, and nearly five). It is a filler game really, but plays pretty well from 3 to 6 players. Last around 20 minutes.
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Mitch Willis
United States
Kathleen
Georgia
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Snow Tails - racing game that's fun/challenging for young & old
Bombay - pick-up & deliver, easy to teach but has a bit of depth as well
Bohnanza - fun, classic bean trading game with lots of interaction
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United States
Steubenville
Ohio
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Jamaica 60 min+ - great fun, easy to play, a lot of interaction
TransAmerica plays in rounds so you can change the length, easy to learn
Cash-a-Catch great fun, simple buy sell mentality
Fearsome Floors 45 min - great to teach logic, adults may have to help a little, but the kids should catch on
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Markus Rathgeb
Germany
Erbach
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Tsuro (German Version, a bit different from the US version) works great in my kids group, age 6 to 8, works with up to 8 players
The aMAZEing Labyrinth also a must play in the group, up to 4 players
Lach dich schlapp! is also a great choice, but I don't know whether there's an English version out. (But could be easily created for this purpose - if you need a translation for the cards/rules feel free to write me.) We play it up to 6 players.
Edit: Typos - why do they appear as soon as I've clicked on "submit" 
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Jim Urban
United States
Acworth
Unspecified
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My 10 and 13 year old nephews like these games:
Ticket to Ride
Carcassonne
Cranium
Apples to Apples
Jim
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What age kids are we talking about?
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Big Kat
United States
Tualatin
Oregon
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Some abstract games that would work:
Blokus
Blokus 3D
Ubongo
Qwirkle
Racing games are good too:
Formula D
Powerboats
Ave Caesar
A couple more:
Heroscape Master Set: Rise of the Valkyrie
Dragonland
Jungle Speed
When I've played Hey, That's My Fish! with kids, they understand the rules fine, but have had a harder time figuring out how to win than with games like Blokus.
I haven't tried No Thanks! with kids and grownups together, but have tried other press your luck type games. I think No Thanks! would probably work fine.
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Better a Dull Blade than a "shape" knife!
United States
Florida
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Need the ages!!!
My off the top recommendations:
Coloretto
The aMAZEing Labyrinth - another vote for this one!
Hey, That's My Fish! - my daughter mastered this at age 7!!
Clocktowers
Break the Safe - fun cooperative
Piece o' Cake
Freight Train
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Colin Kameoka
United States
San Gabriel
California
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We have a 9, 10 and 11 year old. Not all come at once.
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Madelyn C
United States
Gainesville
Virginia
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I have played games with the neighbors and their kids are 8 and 11. The following seemed very well liked and they picked them up with ease:
Snorta! - very fun, loud, silly game and even the adults laugh
Jungle Speed - similar to Snorta, great pattern recognition
Ligretto 2 - easy game to pick up - just like Dutch Blitz
And I agree on Jamacia, Gulo Gulo, and would also suggest Wicked Witches Way, they kids always cream me on that game......
The important this is to play game with them. Some games have suggestions on simplification so you can play with younger players...
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Better a Dull Blade than a "shape" knife!
United States
Florida
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ColinK wrote: We have a 9, 10 and 11 year old. Not all come at once.
OK, all my recommendations work for those ages!!!
And I'll add another good card game:
Aquarius
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John Bobek
United States
Chicago
Illinois
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How young? If 8 and up and well behaved, miniatures rock! Use rules that won't frustrate and have fun "playing" with toys (they already know how to do that!).
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Joe Norris
United States
Dublin
Ohio
Flight of the seabirds, scattered like lost words, wheel to the storm and fly. Fare thee well now, let your life proceed by it's own design. Nothing to tell now, let the words be yours, I'm done with mine.
To seek the sacred river Alph, to walk the caves of ice, to break my fast on honey dew and drink the milk of paradise... I had heard the whispered tales of immortality, the deepest mystery from an ancient book I took a clue.
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I would recommend (or second) the following:
Wasabi!
Bakong
Munchkin Quest-a very light, humorous dungeon crawl with modular board. More involved than the above two in regards to time, but my kids really love this game.
My 9 year old really loves to play Space Hulk with me, but this initially was due to the miniatures and nice board pieces. She is developing into a fine squad leader.
Space Hulk might be worth considering depending on the ages of the children, but it is likely be expensive to acquire.
I hope you find a good game!
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John Bobek
United States
Chicago
Illinois
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Quote: My 9 year old really loves to play Space Hulk with me, but this initially was due to the miniatures and nice board pieces.
I rest my case!!!
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Ferran Solà
Spain
Barcelona
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Wasabi!, Zooloretto, Coloretto and the always useful Ticket to Ride get my votes.
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alan beaumont
United Kingdom
LONDON
Unspecified
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Nice Age
I've just remembered the other big hit in school clubs was Carcassonne: Hunters and Gatherers. It's got meeples, mammoths, aurochs and fish. What's not to like?
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Chris L
United States
Macomb
Michigan
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My kids (6&8) really like Kinder Bunnies.
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Joe Baptist
United States
California
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A lot of the lighter/filler games are very kid-friendly.
Coloretto (also Zooloretto, Aquaretto, etc.)
Manila
Tiki Topple
Guillotine
Loot
Turn the Tide
Water Works
Mille Bornes
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