The Edit — Lifestyle
Games to Play at Thanksgiving, by How Many Are Playing
UNO takes up to 10 players, Bananagrams and Spot It! take 8, and 7 Wonders takes 7. 4 games sorted by the size of the table, the youngest player and how long a round lasts.
This guide is research-led: we have not handled these units ourselves. If you buy through our links we may earn a commission — it never changes a pick.Research-led, nothing handled. We may earn from links; it never changes a pick. How we choose
The 4 games here are sorted by how many people each seats, with players, ages and round times as each publisher states them, and ranked by rating as How we choose describes. Nothing here was played or tested.
Best for Mixed ages, up to 8
Watch for Spelling under pressure
Best for The whole table, up to 10
Watch for More luck than strategy
Best for Teens and adults, 3 to 7
Watch for Ages 10 and up
Best for Young children, from 6
Watch for Light for adults
Count the players first, then the youngest
A Thanksgiving table breaks most games on 2 numbers: how many want to play, and how old the youngest is. A family board game such as Azul stops at 4 players, per its listing. The 4 here go to 7, 8 or 10, and 3 of them start at age 6 or 7.
| Game | Players | Youngest | Round, per the publisher |
|---|---|---|---|
| UNO | 2 to 10 | 7 | Not stated |
| Bananagrams | 2 to 8 | 7 | About 15 minutes |
| Spot It! | 2 to 8 | 6 | About 15 minutes |
| 7 Wonders | 3 to 7 | 10 | About 30 minutes |
Bananagrams seats 8, and nobody waits for a turn
Bananagrams is the best fit for a mixed table of up to 8. Everyone builds their own word grid at the same time, so there are no turns to wait through, and the publisher gives a round as about 15 minutes for ages 7 and up. It has 26,941 ratings at 4.9, and owners find it quick to learn, fast to play, good for all ages and easy to carry.
Bananagrams Classic Word Game, 144 Tiles in Banana Pouch
A tile word game for 2 to 8 players aged 7 and up, played all at once in about 15 minutes, which owners find quick to learn.
Current price shown on Amazon. We may earn a commission.
| Players | 2 to 8 |
|---|---|
| Ages | 7+ |
| Round | About 15 minutes |
Owners find it quick to learn and fast to play, for all ages. Spelling-shy guests may sit it out.
Buy it if
- Grandparents and grandchildren at the same table
Don't buy it if
- Anyone who does not enjoy spelling under pressure
UNO is the only one here that seats 10
UNO takes 2 to 10 players aged 7 and up, per Mattel, which is the largest group of any game here. Most guests already know the rules, so nobody has to read a rulebook aloud. It has 60,915 ratings at 4.8. It is a game of luck as much as skill, which suits a table where the 8-year-old should have a fair chance.
Mattel Games UNO Card Game, Ages 7+, 2-10 Players
The card game for 2 to 10 players aged 7 and up, per Mattel, and the largest group any game here seats.
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| Players | 2 to 10 |
|---|---|
| Ages | 7+ |
2 to 10 players from age 7, per Mattel. The game most of the table already knows.
Buy it if
- A big table where everyone already knows the rules
Don't buy it if
- A group that wants strategy over luck
7 Wonders is the after-pie game for teens and adults
7 Wonders is the one real strategy game here. Players draft cards to build an ancient civilisation over 3 ages, and everyone picks at the same time, so a full table of 7 does not wait on turns. Repos Production gives 3 to 7 players, aged 10 and up, in about 30 minutes. It has 3,244 ratings at 4.8. It is a poor first game for a non-gamer grandparent and a good one for teenage cousins.
Asmodee 7 Wonders Board Game (New Edition)
A card-drafting civilisation game for 3 to 7 players aged 10 and up, about 30 minutes, per Repos Production.
Current price shown on Amazon. We may earn a commission.
| Players | 3 to 7 |
|---|---|
| Ages | 10+ |
| Round | About 30 minutes |
3 to 7 players from age 10, about 30 minutes, per Repos Production. Teach it before the meal.
Buy it if
- Adults and teens who want a real game
Don't buy it if
- Children under 10, and a first game for non-gamers
Spot It! lets a 6-year-old win fairly
Spot It! is the pick when the youngest player is 6. Every pair of cards shares exactly 1 symbol, and the first to spot it wins the card, so a quick-eyed child can beat an adult outright. Its publisher gives 2 to 8 players, aged 6 and up, with rounds of about 15 minutes. The Spot It! pocket edition from Asmodee has 622 ratings at 4.8.
Asmodee Spot It! Classic Card Game (2024 Refresh) - Pocket Eco Edition
A fast matching card game for 2 to 8 players aged 6 and up, about 15 minutes, per its publisher.
Current price shown on Amazon. We may earn a commission.
| Players | 2 to 8 |
|---|---|
| Ages | 6+ |
| Round | About 15 minutes |
2 to 8 players from age 6, about 15 minutes, per its publisher. Light for a table of adults.
Buy it if
- A 6-year-old who wants to beat the grown-ups
Don't buy it if
- A table of adults looking for depth
For a table of 2 after the guests go home, two-player games compared has the picks, and family board games compared covers games for 4. Travel games for kids suits the drive there.
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For a mixed group of up to 8
Bananagrams Classic Word Game, 144 Tiles in Banana Pouch