The best simple games to play with grandparents

Before you bust out Tic Tac Toe or Old Maid to play with grandma or grandpa, we’ve compiled a list of truly fun, interesting, and new games to play instead. No, it doesn’t include Bingo or require anyone to paint rocks. These are easy games to play with low barriers to entry for grandparents, grandkids, and everyone in between.

Mexican Train Dominoes is a classic game you've probably never heard of

For people of a certain generation, Mexican Train Dominoes is a trusted family game night activity. For others, you’ve probably never heard of it. Mexican Train Dominoes is one game that will help improve interaction and memory skills, making this a great choice for kids and older adults.

You will need:

1. A double-12 domino set (91 dominoes).
2. A coin, such as a penny, for each player.
3. At least 3 players, but we recommend at least 4-6.

The goal is to play all your dominoes by building “trains”, either your own private train or a public “Mexican Train” (its origins date to railroad workers). You start by placing a “double” domino of any kind in the center of the table, then connecting dominoes turn-by-turn, pip (dot)-count by pip-count.

If you play a double domino, you immediately get to lay another domino. All doubles must be “covered” immediately, and if you can’t play you draw from the remaining face-down dominoes in “the boneyard” and mark your train as “open” with a coin.

There are several moving parts to Mexican Train Dominoes, but once you get the hang of it you realize it’s just a game of matching dominoes around the table. It’s also a useful way to teach the grandchildren a little math because counting the pips up to 12 can add up along the way. You can get a feel for the game by playing online with our friends over at MexicanTrain.com.

Crazy Eights, Euchre, and Rummy are great games to play with grandparents

Card games are great ways to spend time with the whole family without lugging large sets of tiles or gameboards around. Even the most hesitant of kids can get in the zone once they understand the rules, and little kids can play some, too.

Crazy Eights is a fast-paced card game

You will need:

• A standard deck of cards
• Deal each player 5-7 cards (7 for two players, 5 for three or more players)
• Flip up a card in the center of the table and leave the rest face down as the draw pile

Each player matches whatever card is on top, sort of like Uno, where it must match the suit or face. If you can't match, you can play a "Crazy 8" and declare a new suit. Sort of like a "Wild" card. If you can't match or play, you draw from the draw pile until you can play. First to discard all their cards wins.

Some people like to include the Joker cards as a sort of "Wild + Draw 4" where it functions like an 8 card but forces the next player to draw 5 cards and skips their turn. Others like to assign functions to the Kings, Queens, and Jacks like reversing or skipping a player.

Euchre is a Midwestern institution for every family

Euchre is so ubiquitous in the Midwest it's taught in schools. The goal is to reach a predetermined score, like 10, by winning “tricks”.

You will need:

1. A Euchre card deck, which is a deck of 24, 28, or 32 cards. A 24-card deck is most common.
2. Players sit in teams, facing opposite each other. Four players is customary.
3. Each player gets 5 cards.
4. The remaining cards are placed face down in a draw pile with one card ("the kitty") turned face up.

Each player gets a chance to pass or play on the kitty. If you accept the kitty's suit as "trump", you "order up" the dealer to take the card and discard a card from their hand. If you pass, the process restarts, allowing players to choose a different suit as trump, but the dealer doesn't get to pick up the card.

The trump suit is the most powerful for that round. Players follow the suit of the card if they can, or they play a trump card. The highest value wins unless a trump card is played, in which case that card wins. Since you play as a team, whichever team calls trump to start wins 3 "tricks," and they score 1 point. If they win all 5 tricks, they score 2 points until a team reaches the agreed-upon score, like 10.

Gin or straight Rummy is a classic your grandparents likely remember from their childhood

Rummy comes in a couple of variations known as "Gin" or Straight" Rummy. The objective is to form sets of 3 or 4 of a kind and runs of 3 or more consecutive cards. Players try to be the first to remove all their cards by forming these combinations.

You will need:

1. A standard 52-card deck of cards.
2. 2-6 players.
3. In a 2-player game, everyone is dealt 10 cards. 3-4 get 7 cards and 5-6 gets 6 cards.
4. The rest of the deck is placed face-down in the stockpile.

Scoring works by face value from cards 2-10. Face cards are worth 10 points and aces are worth 1 point.

Each player must either draw the top card from the stockpile or take the top card from the discard pile — so you're drawing a card on every turn. Your goal is to trry to form sets or runs, while also having to discard a card on each turn.

You "go out" when you can lay your entire hand in a valid set or run combination. Players may also "lay off" cards by adding cards to sets or runs laid down by others. Once you're out of cards, the round is over, and everyone stops playing. Your goal is to end with 0 points or close to it. Usually, the game ends after several rounds or until someone reaches a predetermined score of 100 or 500 points.

For a fun game night with young kids, try Bunco

Bunco is a fun way to include young kids and grandkids. Kids love the simplicity of throwing a few dice, even if it seems like in the modern era they'd find it dull. Bunco even has a rich history of being a game for swindlers and ne'er-do-wells, so it has an aura of thrill to it.

You will need:

• At least 4 players, but up to 12 is recommended.
• Three dice at each table, or just one set at your dining room table.
• Paper and pen to keep score.

Each player takes turns rolling three dice and tries to roll as many dice as possible, matching the current round number. For example, in Round 1, players aim to roll 1s. If you're playing with more than 4 people, the game is over when the first table or team of 4 reaches 21 points.

• Each time you roll and a die matches the round, you get 1 point for each die. (E.g., rolling two 1s in round 1 nets 2 points.)
• You get a Bunco and all 21 points if you roll all 3 dice of a kind that also matches the round number.
• You get a mini-Bunco of 5 points if you roll a three-of-a-kind that does not match that round number.

That's the basics. We have more on the rules, strategies, FAQs, and even printable scorecards for Bunco available for free. You can also play Bunco for free online, no apps, downloads, or sign-up required.

Don’t forget outdoor games and activities

Spending time outdoors with grandparents can be a delightful way to enjoy fresh air and engage in some light physical activity. Outdoor games are perfect for family gatherings, weekend sleepovers, or just a sunny afternoon in the backyard. Here are a couple of classic outdoors games that are easy to learn and fun for all ages.

Enjoy a game of bocce ball or horseshoes in the backyard

Bocce ball and horseshoes are timeless outdoor games that offer a fun way to spend time with grandparents. These games are simple to set up and can be enjoyed by people of all ages, making them perfect for a family gathering or a weekend sleepover with the grandkids.

For bocce ball, all you need is:

• A set of bocce balls.
• A relatively flat area in your backyard.

The objective is to toss your bocce balls closer to the pallino (a smaller target ball) than your opponents. It’s a leisurely game that allows for plenty of conversation and laughter.

For horseshoes, you will need:

• Metal or plastic horseshoes.
• A stake in the ground.

The goal is to toss horseshoes at the stake in the ground and encircle the stake or land around it as close as possible. It’s a great way to enjoy some friendly competition while soaking up the fresh air. Both games are perfect for a sunny afternoon and provide a wonderful opportunity to bond with family members.

Try a leisurely game of croquet for a sunny afternoon

Croquet is another classic outdoor game that is perfect for a sunny afternoon with the whole family. This game involves hitting wooden balls through a series of hoops using a mallet. The rules are easy to learn, and the game can be adapted to suit players of all ages, making it an ideal activity for family gatherings. It’s kind of like golf or putt-putt but localized to your backyard.

Set up a croquet course in your backyard and enjoy a leisurely game with grandparents and grandkids alike. The gentle pace of croquet allows for plenty of time to chat and enjoy each other’s company while still moving around.

More ideas for hosting a grandparent-friendly game night

Hosting a game night with grandparents is a fantastic way to bring the whole family together for an evening of fun and laughter. But you can do more than just play games.

Tips for setting up a successful game night with grandparents

• Use these or other easy-to-learn games so everyone can pick up the rules and start playing.
• Make the environment comfortable by ensuring everyone has easy access to a table with chairs, cushions, or other items to let people sit comfortably. Make sure the lights are on for older folks, too.
• Let grandparents share in the teaching. They probably know of Bunco or Mexican Train or card games like Euchre, and they'll relish being able to teach their grandchildren the rules.
• Have some food and drinks handy, but make sure they're not sticky or messy. Otherwise, all the cards, dominoes, or tiles will get sticky!
• Consider alternating games or game stations. Let the grandkids pick a game, and let the grandparents pick another for a while.
• Focus on the quality time together, not a screen. Have everyone put their phones, iPads, and other screens away for a few hours.