I love finding old games at the thrift store. Sometimes they’re no good, often they’re great, but the price is always fantastic! Probe fell into the category of “great” old games. Probe can be played with 2-4 players, and as
Clue-Giving Games
Do your kids enjoy clues, puzzles, logic, or mysteries? They might love these clue-giving games! Codenames is probably the easiest of our clue-giving games. However, it works better with bigger groups. There are lots of different versions available and you
First Contact
Aliens have landed and need to get specific items from the earthlings they encounter in First Contact. However, they don’t speak the same language and must muddle their way through with symbols the earthlings don’t necessarily understand. Will you be
Tunnel Time
Before we left Washington on our big adventure (over 3 years ago!), a friend gave me the game Tunnel Time. It’s been sitting on my windowsill since then, and I can’t even say untouched. We have to move it to
Pirate-Themed Games
Aargh, ye matey! With movies like Pirates of the Caribbean and books like Treasure Island, pirates have captivated the imagination of many people. For many years, my son was among that number, so we have quite a few pirate-themed games.
Silver and Gold
What’s small, screen-free, and is amazing for both spatial awareness and working memory? The game my husband calls “card Tetris”: Silver and Gold! If your family likes a bit of logic, treasure, and math, too, then I think you’ll enjoy
Whodunnit Games
If you love crime shows, mysteries, and logic, you need to check out these whodunnit games! Following clues to solve mysteries develops logic, critical thinking, perseverance, and curiosity. It’s also helpful in everyday life! We’ve all had small mysteries of
Alibi
Does your family love Clue, but you want something more? Do you love crime shows, whodunnits, and mysteries? Then you need to check out Alibi! The makers of Alibi seem to have gotten the message that the boards in whodunnit
Loot
Until very recently, my son was obsessed with pirates. Luckily, there are a plethora of pirate-themed games from which to choose, so we have played quite a few. If your family likes relatively simple card games, and especially if they
Carmen Sandiego
🎶 Where in the world is Carmen Sandiego? 🎵 If you just sang that, too, then you’ll want to check out the card game based on the ’90s computer game! Build note-taking skills and familiarity with famous landmarks from around
Brave New Worlds
Is your child learning about space, or do they want to learn about space? Then you definitely want to check out Brave New Worlds! I got it on Kickstarter when my space-obsessed son was far too young, so it’s been
Thinkfun’s Escape the Room Games: Secret of Dr. Gravely’s Retreat
My family has tried a few escape rooms now and has really enjoyed them, so you can imagine my delight when I saw this game at a thrift store for less than $5! New, most of Thinkfun’s escape room games
Chemistry Games
You can learn a lot from games, but some subjects are easier than others. In the summer of 2025, my family began learning about chemistry. Crash Course and Khan Academy formed the backbone of our first introduction, but I wanted
Subatomic
Are you looking for a game to play double-duty for chemistry and physics? Subatomic is a bigger, more complicated game, but it might be just what you’re looking for! This post may contain affiliate links, meaning if you click on
Compounded
Chemistry, strategy, and competition, oh my! Compounded might be just the game to round out your chemistry studies. Careful, though; if a lab fire occurs, you could lose everything! This post may contain affiliate links, meaning if you click on
Ion
Need another small-ish card game to support your child’s chemistry studies? Ion (another Genius Games favorite!), with its unique gameplay, may be just the thing! This post may contain affiliate links, meaning if you click on it and make a
Valence
Are your kids learning about chemistry? Does your family love fun, fast-paced card games? Then you definitely need to consider Valence! Chemistry, ninjas, elements, molecules, and chemical attacks! What could be better? This post may contain affiliate links, meaning if
Periodic
Are your kids learning chemistry? Periodic (by Genius Games) is one of the best chemistry games out there that will help your kids gain familiarity with the periodic table of the elements. Even better, it’s just a really fun game
Coding Games
Coding is an important skill that even very small children can learn! As our world is more and more saturated with technology, coding is one of those skills that can only help our children. However, we don’t necessarily want our
Code Master
Coding has become almost a buzzword these days and it seems like everyone is learning it or wants their kids to learn it. There are even coding games for preschoolers! However, most coding requires a computer and screen time, which