Family Board Game Review

Have you ever heard of North Star Games?  I hadn't until a few weeks ago when I received a game from them to review for the TOS Homeschool Crew.  My family and I love to play board games together, so we were really excited about this review, and we have certainly not been disappointed! 

The game we received for review is called Wits and Wagers Family.  I haven't ever seen the original Wits and Wagers game, but if the name of the game is accurate, the original game probably contains some kind of wager-making.  In the family edition, though, there is no gambling element, and the questions are all family friendly too.  The game is perfect for large or small families too, since it can be played by 3 to 10 players. 

Here's how it works.  One person reads a question, and every person (or team) must guess an answer.  The answers are all numbers, so even if you have no idea of the correct answer, you can still guess a number and go for it.  The questions, for example, might be something like:  How many Disney princesses are there?  Or something like:  How many 5th grade students were enrolled in school in the year 1995?  The questions cover a very wide variety of topics, and we really enjoyed hearing the new question each time just because we never had any idea what it might be! 

After the question is read, each person or team guesses at the answer and writes it down on his white board.  Once all answers are written, the white boards are put on the table for everyone to see. The players then place their meeples (the game pieces that you see in the photo below) on the boards with the answers that they think are correct.  Players get points by answering correctly (or being the closest to the correct answer), placing the big meeple on the board with the correct answer, and/or placing the little meeple on the board with the correct answer.  That may be a little confusing since you can't watch a game being played, but it's really an easy game to play, and it's so much fun!!

The thing I personally love the most about this game is that everyone in the family can play it regardless of age.  It's very difficult to find games that the whole family can play together when there are teens as well as younger children in the family.  Usually the younger one ends up feeling left out because games that are interesting to her are too easy (and therefore not much fun) for the older ones.  This game is so much fun for all of us that that's not an issue. 

Everyone in the family can enjoy listening to the fun questions.  My 8-year-old daughter loves writing her answers on the white board and placing her meeples on the answers she thinks are correct (just because she thinks the meeples are so cute).  My teenage son enjoys trying to guess which folks have the closest-to-correct answers to place his meeples on so he can win!  My husband and I just enjoy spending time and having fun with the kids playing a game that we can all enjoy. 

This game would make a wonderful Christmas present for kids or adults of just about any age.  It is available at most Target and Borders stores as well as specialty stores, or you can look for it online.  I looked several places online and found it for less than $20. 

If you'd like to see how the other Crew members liked the game and how it worked in their families, you can do that here. 

Do you have a favorite game that you and your family like to play?  If so, please leave me a comment telling me what it is.  I'd love to check it out!