Watching families and friends spend time together these days leaves you with the impression that today’s games are made for individuals to play by themselves. People seem to be mesmerized by their phones, tablets and computers and oblivious to their surroundings.
Here are examples of games that need to be played by more than one person and an added bonus: they’re all Shabbos-friendly. So gather the family together and have fun!
Jewish Old Maid Card Game
By Jewish Educational Toys
Plays like regular Old-Maid but with a Jewish flavor.
No reading required; good for ages 4-10, 2-6 players.
Parsh-O Game
By Jewish Educational Toys
Play it in English or Hebrew. Be the first to get all your parsha cards in the correct sequence. Collect cards and arrange in ascending order by name of the Torah parsha.
Good for ages 7 and over, 2-4 players.
SCHMEAR! Build-A-Bagel Jewish Kids Game
By Education Incorporated
The goal of this game, which comes complete with round cards, is to build the bagel sandwich of your dreams, stacked high with cream cheese, lox and onions. Players battle it out to build bagel halves and to steer clear of manhole covers, a CD-Rom, a life preserver and tractor tire – or you’ll just have to settle for a belly full of laughs!
Good for ages 6 and over.
Sequence Jewish Edition
By Jax
In this special Jewish edition of the popular SEQUENCE board game, players will find symbols of Jewish culture pictured on the game board and playing cards. The cards also provide a brief description of each symbol. Players match a picture on a card to one on the game board, and then place a chip there. Five chips in a row wins the game! It’s a wonderful learning tool as well as great fun for families and friends!
Good for ages 6-adult, 2-6 players.
Maccabee on the Mantel
By Toy Vey! Inc.
The Maccabee on the Mantel is a high-quality, snuggly, plush soldier doll, and he’s here to spend the month of Kislev with your family! He comes with a beautifully-written and illustrated book, which teaches the story of Chanukah.
Fruitominoes
By Bananagrams
Connect fruit instead of dots! Take turns matching six attractive fruit patterns. A fresh, fruity, and colorful twist to the classic game of dominoes! Twenty-eight beautifully crafted dominoes in a compact pouch make this a great game for young and old.
Good for ages 5 and over, 2-4 players.
Hebrew Bananagrams
By Bananagrams
Whether you are a native speaker or learning Hebrew, you can now enjoy Bananagrams while sharpening your skills. Each game contains 144 tiles with the specific letter breakdown for that language. Practice spelling, develop vocabulary, and learn through play! Instructions and tags are written in Hebrew and English. Requires no pencil, paper, or board – perfect for Shabbat!
Good for ages 7 and over, 1-8 players.
Noah’s Ark Puzzle
By Dowdle
Folk artist Eric Dowdle has a unique style that comes from his wit, whimsy, and love of life. Growing up in Idaho, Wyoming, and Boston made for a quirky blend of everyday life which he brings to his paintings of cities, places, and events from across the country and around the world. Dowdle Folk Art has grown from a small artist studio to a multi-faceted art and gift company distributing paintings and puzzles worldwide.
Good for ages 12 and over.
Top Trumps – New York City
By Top Trumps
Top Trumps is a card game about stats and fact, providing a guide to the world around you. Originating in the U.K. in the 70s it has recently taken off in the United States. I guess folks have realized it’s the perfect Shabbos game! There are over 70 different versions of this card game. The New York City version – your perfect guide to the city that never sleeps – contains the definitive top 30 things to see in the Big Apple! From the Brooklyn Bridge to Central Park, the Statue of Liberty to Times Square via Coney Island and Rockefeller Center, this pack has everything you need to know. Packed with surprising stats and fun facts, these cards will teach you plenty of things that you won’t find in the guidebooks.