Family Games for 3 Players

Updated on September 18, 2010
N.S. asks from Buffalo Grove, IL
23 answers

Anyone have good suggestions for family games for 3 players? I want to create family time that does NOT involve everyone staring at the TV screen (because to me that's not "family time") or eating sweets. We have a Wii, and sometimes we play but I want to turn OFF the TV!

My stepdaughter is 9. Right now we have Junior Clue, Junior Apples to Apples, and Pictureka. We also have some card games like Uno, Skip-Bo, Old Maid, Go Fish, Crazy 8s, etc.

All of our other games are 2 player (checkers, Connect 4, Battleship, Guess Who).

Your suggestions are welcome!

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D.N.

answers from Chicago on

Scrabble, Trouble, Sorry!. Even Parcheesi are great games for a family to play. I don't blame you for wanting to get the TV off. I have been trying to get my family together to play but it is really hard with a 2 yr old getting into everything. My kids love Monopoly.

1 mom found this helpful

J.W.

answers from Seattle on

Monopoloy, the game of life, bingo, sorry. My sons and I play games together, my husband is not into the board game thing, so it's usually just the 3 of us that play. They love it!

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L.T.

answers from Pittsburgh on

Since you have other junior versions of games, how about Junior Monopoly?

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S.S.

answers from Chicago on

our kids loved the following games. we still play all of them

sorry
trouble
rook (card game)
pictionary
trivial pursuit
labrynth (just got this one and we all love it)
13 dead end drive (kids loved this from about 8 to 12 now we play with grandkids)

E.M.

answers from Los Angeles on

For card games you should try rummy. its a great game and can have many players. Also for board games try life. I ruled everyone in my family at it and the memories still stay with me.

I know you said you want to turn off the tv bet consider a Dance Dance Revolution. Its a fun game and your not just staring at the tv but following the moves. It was always a contest in my family and everyone joined in. you can either take turns with one pad or buy two and compete with each other. It's also a self esteem builder since your daughter will become much better than you because a nine year old has limitless energy. wish i still had that energy.

good luck. A family game night is great fun and kids really enjoy it.

L.U.

answers from Seattle on

I went to the second hand store and found the old school SORRY game. My boys LOVE it. We also have yahtzee (which is great for math), Life, monopoly, and a whole bunch of the "newer" games. But I have found that the old school games are the ones my boys like more. Oh, also Clue!
L.

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M.C.

answers from La Crosse on

Phase 10 is our favorite card game.

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A.C.

answers from Las Cruces on

Hello. I kindof browsed through the other answers, and I didn't see anyone mention "Trouble". It's a board game and it's sooo much fun and it's addicting. It's a very simple game to play. It can be a 2 or 3 or 4 player game. I definately recommend it.

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K.T.

answers from Kansas City on

You've gotten several great answers with Yahtzee, Sorry, Sequence, Rummikub, and Monopoly.

Pretty much every board game can be adapted to be a 3 player game. Life, Payday, Risk, etc.

There are great stores at the Mall that have all sort of unique games that your family might enjoy.

There are unique games like Settlers of Catan and Wizard (a card game) that are also fun.

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K.B.

answers from Chicago on

I just finished playing Rummikub with my two kids. We also love Yahtzee, Blokus, Monopoly, and Whoonu by Cranium. All of these games are for 2-4 players. Have fun!

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K.U.

answers from Detroit on

Life, Clue, Trivial Pursuit, Sorry, Monopoly, Scrabble, Chinese Checkers, Phase 10...

Not sure how you feel about poker (Texas Hold 'Em, etc.) but maybe could be okay if you take the betting out of it...

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T.B.

answers from New York on

Charades, Cranium, Scrabble, Perfection, Wheel Of Fortune, Yahtzee, Life.

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H.W.

answers from Portland on

I didn't see cribbage, but it's also a great game. We are cribbage geeks at our house (my husband has about 200+ boards: collects, restores and refinishes them...) and if your stepdaughter can add to 15 and 31, you're set! Plus, it's incredibly portable, so you can whip it out when you're waiting at restaurants or a cafe. Just make sure to get a 3 track board! Too fun-- I'm looking forward to my son being old enough to play with us.

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M.K.

answers from Dallas on

Left, Right, Center is a fun game with any number of players. (It's a dice game.) It looks like you got some great ideas here!

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S.F.

answers from Reno on

Sorry and Monopoly were always my kids' favorites...even as young as 9!

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L.M.

answers from New York on

I love game night!
Sequence
Yahtzee
Sorry
Scrabble
Monopoly
Life
Zooreeka (by Cranium)
Tri-ominos
Chineese checkers

L.S.

answers from Los Angeles on

We're digging Dominos right now. Parcheesi is fun, too!

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K.C.

answers from Los Angeles on

Trivial Pursuit Junior
Scattergories

A few of my favorite games from when I was growing up, that you may or may not still be able to get:
Life
Monopoly
Bargain Hunter
Payday
Careers

Also, I sell Discovery Toys and we have some fun board games that you can play with 3 people (and they are fun for adults too!)

Wiz Kidz: http://www.discoverytoyslink.com/esuite/control/product?P...

Word Flip: http://www.discoverytoyslink.com/esuite/control/product?P...

Labyrinth: http://www.discoverytoyslink.com/esuite/control/product?P...

Pick It: http://www.discoverytoyslink.com/esuite/control/product?P...

Have fun!
K.
http://www.discoverytoyslink.com/karenchao

Speed Wiz: http://www.discoverytoyslink.com/esuite/control/product?P...

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C.W.

answers from Austin on

Card games are always fun. Go fish, BS (we call it "fooled ya" when playing with my 6 year old cousin), old maid, my cousin even learned to play Texas Hold 'em. We just played with chips instead of money, that way no one actually "gambles"... you could look up more online.

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C.M.

answers from Austin on

Domino's! My 5 and 4 year olds are obsessed. So much fun and easy to play.

D.M.

answers from Denver on

When I was a kid, I loved Scrabble. Still do. You can play with 2 to infinity players. If she likes to read, give it a try.

We also did Monopoly, which honestly, I think is slow and boring. But many people love it. You can play that with 3. And there are now versions like "Animalopoly".

Yahtzee - I THINK you may be able to play with 3 (can't remember from my childhood & we are still at the Candy Land stage in my house). But it will say on the box. They still carry that at Target and Walmart.

Trivial Pursuit also probably has a kid's edition. That can be played with 3.
I think Operation can be played with 3 as well. I loved playing that one! Though I think my parents must not have since I ended up just getting to play "With" it.

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M.C.

answers from Detroit on

We play Trouble and Boggle quite a bit. I've never played these games, but my daughter has always played them and said they were fun: Life, Monopoly, and Yahtzee.

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S.D.

answers from Dallas on

My family has game night every Friday! We really love games like Clue, Blokus, and Sorry. Uno has several versions of the game, like Uno Flash and Uno Spin, and we have most of them. It is really one of our favorites. Game night has really brought us closer together, so I hope it works out well for you and yours!

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