The Best Target Board Games for Family Fun

Who doesn’t love a good Target run? Especially if you’ve got game boards in mind. The all-around amazing everyday store has practically everything, and their collection of games is truly one of the best kept at a non-specialty shop. But knowing which ones you might want to grab as a gift, bring home for the next game night, or just keep on hand could be tricky – with that huge bunch of games. So, we’ve scoured the shelves and found the ten best Target board games so you don’t have to do all the work yourself.

The Ten Best Target Board Games to Buy

Board Games for Every Age

Board games are a fantastic way to spend quality time with family and friends, no matter the age. For the youngest members of the family, classics like Candy Land and Chutes and Ladders are perfect for introducing them to the world of board games. These games are simple, colorful, and full of fun, making them ideal for kids.

As children grow older, they can graduate to more complex games like Monopoly and Scrabble. Monopoly teaches valuable lessons about money management and strategy, while Scrabble enhances vocabulary and spelling skills. These games are not only entertaining but also educational, making them great choices for family game nights.

For adults, the options are endless. Games like Ticket to Ride and Settlers of Catan offer a fun and challenging experience that can be enjoyed with friends or family. These games require strategic thinking and planning, providing a satisfying and engaging experience for players. Whether you’re looking for a game to play with your kids or a group of friends, there’s a board game out there for every age, ensuring hours of fun and bonding.

Themed Games for Fans

Are you a fan of a particular TV show, movie, or book series? There’s a good chance that there’s a board game out there themed around it. From Star Wars to Harry Potter, countless themed board games allow fans to immerse themselves in their favorite worlds. These games often feature beloved characters, iconic locations, and storylines from the original material, making them a must-have for any fan.

For instance, Star Wars fans can enjoy games like Star Wars: Rebellion, where they can relive epic battles and strategic missions from the galaxy far, far away. Harry Potter enthusiasts can dive into games like Harry Potter: Hogwarts Battle, where they can work together to defend the wizarding world from dark forces. These themed board games offer a unique way to experience and relive your favorite moments, or even create new adventures within the beloved universes.

Whether you’re looking to relive your favorite moments or experience new adventures, themed board games are a great way to do so. They provide a fun and engaging way to connect with the stories and characters you love, making game night even more special.

New Releases and Trends

The world of board games is constantly evolving, with new releases and trends emerging all the time. From cooperative games like Forbidden Island to competitive games like Codenames, there’s always something new to try. One of the latest trends in board games is the rise of escape room-style games, where players work together to solve puzzles and escape a themed room. Games like Exit: The Game and Unlock! offer thrilling and immersive experiences that challenge players’ problem-solving skills and teamwork.

Another exciting trend is the increasing popularity of solo games, which allow players to enjoy a board game experience on their own. Games like Friday and Onirim provide engaging solo adventures that are perfect for those times when you want to dive into a game but don’t have a group to play with.

Whether you’re looking to stay up-to-date with the latest releases or try out a new trend, there’s always something new to discover in the world of board games. The ever-evolving landscape ensures that there’s always a fresh and exciting game waiting for you to explore.

Classic Games for Timeless Fun

While new releases and trends are always exciting, there’s something to be said for classic board games that have stood the test of time. Games like Chess, Checkers, and Mancala have been enjoyed by generations of players and continue to be popular today. These games offer a timeless experience that’s free from the distractions of modern technology, allowing players to focus on strategy and social interaction.

Chess, for example, is a game of pure strategy that has been played for centuries. It challenges players to think several moves ahead and develop complex tactics to outmaneuver their opponent. Checkers, with its simpler rules, is equally engaging and offers a quick and fun way to test your strategic skills. Mancala, one of the oldest known games, provides a unique and captivating gameplay experience that involves counting and strategy.

These classic games are not only fun but also educational, helping to develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Whether you’re looking to introduce your kids to the world of board games or simply want to revisit old favorites, classic games are a great way to experience the joy of board gaming. They offer a timeless appeal that can be enjoyed by players of all ages, making them a staple in any board game collection.

Everdell

Age: 10+ Players: 1-4 Time: 40-80 minutes

Tiptoe into the world of Everdell, where towering trees and mossy hollows welcome the civilization of the charming residents of the valley. You and yours take on the roles of leaders of forest critters who need to build cities, forage, and delight in the sunshine from above. The beautifully crafted tableau worker placement game gives players three possible actions each turn.

First, players may place a worker from among their collection at locations, events, or destination cards. These workers perform specific tasks, like foraging. Second, you may play a card: Travelers, Production, Governance, Destination, or Prosperity. These cards generate supplies and goods for building your city, gaining abilities, and scoring points. Or, third, players may prepare for the next season by bringing workers home or adding new workers to gameplay. When winter sets in, the game ends, and the player with the most points built from their city wins.

Clue Conspiracy

Age: 14+ (Community 12+) Players: 4-10 Time: 45 minutes

Just like in the classic game of Clue, you and yours are out to solve a mystery in this twisty game: Clue Conspiracy. But, unlike the original, you’re in on the conspiracy – or at least some of you are. As guests tuck themselves into the luxury of Black Adder Resort, you’ll discover that a murderer is on the loose – and they’re intent on taking down the manager, Mr. Coral. Deadly traps are planted all over the hotel, weapons abound, and death waits in the eaves. It’s time to solve the case and play your way through with deductive skills, deceptions galore, and secret roleplaying tactics. Friends try to uncover the mystery of who, where, and what, while The Conspiracy aims to sabotage the Friends and drop false clues along the way.

Play this ridiculously fun new twist on the classic with the included gameboard, Secret Role cards, Identity envelopers, supply cards, clue cards, pawns, various tokens, trap tiles, scout log, and bodyguard log. Your secret team awaits in Clue Conspiracy.

Power Hungry Pets

Age: 7+ Players: 2-6 Time: 15 minutes

If you hate strategy games but tend to play with folks who love them, this Target board game is the perfect choice: Power Hungry Pets. The silly game is sort of a reimagining of the popular Love Letters game from Exploding Kittens Games but with bizarre, fun twists. Instead of suitors seeking the favor of the princess, players aim to take control by playing critters one might keep at home as pets – and they’re starving for power…

In Power Hungry Pets, cards have numbers and methods for tormenting fellow players. The higher the number on the card, the more galling the torment. Each round, players have two cards and must decide which to keep, and which to use against fellow players. You’ll only make one choice at a time (meaning it’s great for kids and folks who hate decision fatigue!). Ultimately, the player with the highest numbered card wins at the end of the game.

Blank Slate

Age: 8+ Players: 3-8 Time: 30 minutes

Dubbed as one of the best family games of all time, Blank Slate earns you a fun, energetic, relationship-building good time. This Target board game comes with 8 slates and markers, and 250 double-sided word cards. Your goal? Complete phrases with any of the words you draw, while scoring points for matching your word with other players. Unlike some word games, you’re actually trying to “read” each other’s minds with this one, too – so guess the most obvious choices you can without including the whole crowd. Score one point if more than one other person puts down the same word as you – score three points if only one other does.

The game has easy-to-learn rules, plays fairly quickly, and works for kids as young as 8. This means that Blank Slate is fantastic for family game nights, holiday gatherings, parties, and just about any other time when you want some high-energy, quick fun for up to 8 players. Or, if you want more players to join in, grab additional dry-erase slates from a dollar store or Amazon and let the games begin!

The Oregon Trail Card Game

Age: 12+ Players: 2-6 Time: 30-45 minutes

It’s not just the 90s kids who’ll Oregon Trail the Card Game. All those painful ways to die and all the epitaphs – the snake bites, the fording of rivers… You’ll find all those fond memories – and new ones for kids these days! – in the rework of the classic computer game into a silly card game. The 8-bit artwork is only half the retro fun!

Players will work together to ward off rattlesnake bites, starvation, dysentery, dead oxen, broken bones, drowning in the rivers you ford, and so much more. Move along the trail, playing supply cards, traveling the trail, overcoming calamities, stopping to rest, and, if luck would have it, making it all the way to the end of the Oregon Trail with at least one wagon party member still alive. As you go, be sure to write the most amazing epitaphs you can think of for the next round of great memories as you play. Those fabulous fun flashbacks will bring new laughter every time.

Mind the Gap

Age: 10+ (Community 12+) Players: 2-99 Time: 10-60 minutes

Trivia lovers of all ages and generations love Mind the Gap – the game designed specifically for mixed crowds. Travel the board game answering questions about pop culture through the ages, and surprise each other with the knowledge you have from years past, present, and future (well, post-your-childhood!) whether you’re a Baby Boomer, Gen Xer, Millennial, or Gen Zer. You can play with up to 4 teams in this raucously fun game.

This Target board game encourages teams to form in equal numbers among your crowd. Pit each generation against each other – or mix up the teams to see who knows the most stuff about the most stuff. You’ll find 5 fun categories, including: TV and film, pop culture, headlines, slang and slogans, and music. The first team to answer enough questions to get around the board wins the game.

Garden Variety

Age: 7+ Players: 2-5 Time: 10-15 minutes

For a quick, fun game suitable for kids 7+, check out Garden Variety, the fast-paced game about growing gardens, collecting critters, and keeping company with gnomes. Each game comes with a 6-sided die, which is rolled each turn to determine the rule of the round. Each side of the die has a corresponding image that matches up to the rule to play for easy gameplay for kids and grown-ups alike.

In total, each game takes between 10 and 15 minutes, and because the die controls your garden’s destiny, there’s tons of replay action available. After the rule is rolled, each player lays down a card from their hand. The characters – Blue Opossum, Red Snail, Yellow Bee, or Green Frog – appear on critter cards, which may be played any given round. Wildflower cards provide a wild card that beats any critter, and gnome cards offer the special power of mischief – and offer players an advantage. Whoever plays the highest-scoring card in each round wins that round. The game ends when one or more players have no more cards. Then, whoever has the most critters, gnomes, and wildflowers in their garden bed at the end wins.

The Chameleon

Age: 14+ (Community 8+) Players: 3-8 Time: 15 minutes

Another fantastically fun Target board game is The Chameleon, a bluffing deduction game suitable for just about anyone, even those who typically don’t love board games. Every round of play in this short game offers two missions: one person is the chameleon and must blend in secretly and work out the secret word, or everyone else who is not The Chameleon must try to figure out who is without giving away that secret.

In each round, players receive cards that tell of their identity and mission for the round. Two dice roll their way to solving the secret word, well, for everyone except The Chameleon. Every topic that leads to the secret word contains 16 related words (like foods or countries) and players must play each round in their roles, aiming to solve it. Who is The Chameleon? You’ll have to gather 3 to 8 players to find out!

Dumb Ways to Die

Age: 12+ Players: 2-5 Time: 10-30 minutes

If you’ve ever seen the opening of Dead Like Me, you’ll have an idea of what’s going on in Dumb Ways to Die. The ridiculous game is mostly for grown-ups (and kids old enough to handle concepts around death) and invites 2 to 5 players to join in on the fun of keeping your Beans alive, avoiding the silly and bizarre ways the Beans could die. Play through the deck of cards to know which Beans will make it, and which ones won’t (which is most of them!). Some of the dumb ways your Beans could meet their demise include taking off a helmet in outer space, eating super glue, playing with grizzly bears, or selling both their kidneys.

Enjoy this ridiculous, fast-paced game with your nearest and dearest, and see which of your Beans can make it through the game – and which will draw that deadly card and walk (or float?) off this mortal coil. And who knows? You might learn a few dumb things not to do in real life and save your real-life Bean someday.

Throw Throw Burrito

Age: 7+ (Community 8+) Players: 2-6 Time: 15 minutes

Dodgeball in grade school might have been misery, but the wacky dodgeball card game known as Throw Throw Burrito is anything but! This silly, ridiculous game comes with 120 cards, 2 foam burritos, and 7 tokens, making it one of the liveliest and silliest Target board games of all. You see, you collect the cards and play your hand – then, well, you throw things at your friends. Burritos!

Collect matching sets of cards as quickly as you can while dodging burritos being hurled at you. Collecting cards earns points for you, but getting that squishy smack loses them. At the onset of the game, you’ll place the burritos on the table and start drawing cards – keeping them a secret from fellow players. Aim for sets of three matching cards, steal points, hurtle burritos, dodge burritos, and ultimately see who can score the most points after the Burrito Duel.

Conclusion

Target isn’t just great for grabbing your household needs; it’s great for finding some amazing fun! Target often offers deals and promotional offers on various board games, making it a cost-effective choice. Head to the board game aisle and start digging for these 10 amazing Target Board Games. You’ll load up on quick, silly, challenging, or strategic fun. Go for Clue Conspiracy, Everdell, The Oregon Trail Card Game or (if you’ve got a big crowd) Mind the Gap for longer playtime fun. Quick and easy games for you, the kiddos, and the pals include Power Hungry Pets, Blank Slate, Garden Variety, The Chameleon, Dumb Ways to Die, and the action-packed Throw Throw Burrito.

You’ll find these games are great for the budget (definitely cheaper than you’ll find them at specialty game shops in most cases), easy to learn, fun for the whole family, and perfect for bringing to a friend’s party or game night to amp up the energy and glee. Be sure to choose wisely, though – not everyone’s thrilled with having foamy fake food tossed at their heads.

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