Ten games every family should own

Stuck in a boring rut of Monopoly, Clue, and Candyland? Maybe it’s time to freshen up game night. These ten can’t-miss games boast broad appeal, simple rules, and tons of variety, turning an otherwise bland weeknight into a rousing evening of familial bonding. After all, a family that plays together, stays together.

GO -- Enjoyed by young and old alike for well over two millennia, Chinese classic Go (and its Westernized, simplified descendant Othello) remain among the most strategically rich board games around. Understanding the rules takes minutes; mastering them will take much, much longer.

SCRABBLE (IPAD) -- Everyone loves Scrabble, and though it’s available in countless versions and form factors, our favorite has to be the iPad version. Why? Because you can (optionally) use a wirelessly-connected iPhone as your tile rack. How’s that for geek-chic?

QWIRKLE -- Winner of this year’s prestigious Spiel des Jahres award, Qwirkle’s accessible color-matching gameplay makes it just as much fun for six-year-olds as it is for adults. Think of it as a cross between dominos and Scrabble -- and check out little brother Qwirkle Cubes for a more portable version.

BLOKUS -- Coming with a stack of plastic pieces that look like they’ve escaped from a nearby Tetris game, Blokus will really get your gray matter working. The goal? Fit all your pieces onto the grid, and stop your opponents from doing the same, making this a deceptively tactical experience. Don’t let that put you off, though -- like Carcassonne, kids too young for the strategy will still enjoy just fitting their pieces together.

LEGO STAR WARS: THE COMPLETE SAGA -- Though the marriage of these two timeless franchises was heavenly, the real reason Lego Star Wars shines is its multiplayer. An extra family member can join in or drop out at any time, so no need for restarts, arguments, or other interruptions -- and if you get hooked, there’s a slew of other Lego games in the same style.

SETTLERS OF CATAN -- Can you be the first to settle the plains, mountains, and fields of Catan? Strategic, simple, and tactile, Settlers was the one of the first European strategy games to really make it big in the US. If your family hasn’t found out why, it’s about time you did.

THE MAGIC LABYRINTH -- Many board games can be frustrating or boring for very young children. But The Magic Labyrinth’s cunning maze -- built with a nifty system of hidden walls and magnets – is a surefire winner, and the fast-moving games are over quickly enough that nobody will lose attention...or their temper.

CARCASSONNE -- Modern classic Carcassonne, which sees its players jigsawing together a medieval landscape of towns, fields, and cloisters, will delight the kids with its visuals while it suckers the adults with its strategy. Now available in travel and card game formats, no game closet is complete without at least one Carc box.

CRANIUM -- No matter what you’re good at -- art, acting, wordplay, or trivia -- you’ll get your chance to shine in Cranium. Originally the work of a pair of ambitious Microsoft employees, it’s now one of the world’s most popular party games, and all those fans can’t be wrong. Well, they can. But they’re not. Try it and find out for yourself.