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Best games for winter break (2026): two weeks off school can mean two weeks of screens unless there is something better on the table. These seven games are picked for kids and teens home for the holidays, with a mix of quick afternoon games, cooperative challenges for siblings who keep fighting, and a couple that parents will happily join after dinner. Each one has replay value, so it will still be played on New Year’s Day.
Best winter break game for the whole family: Camel Up (Second Edition)
Players bet on a wild camel race where camels stack on top of each other and carry riders forward. Two crazy camels run the wrong way. It plays with a big family, rounds are fast, and kids often out-bet their parents.
Price band: $30+ (about $42) · Check today’s price on Amazon
Quick list: winter break games
Seven picks for kids and teens home from school.
- Best for the whole family: Camel Up — bet on a chaotic camel race (about $42)
- Best for younger kids: Catan Junior — build pirate lairs and ships (about $38)
- Best for siblings who argue: Forbidden Jungle — work together to escape (about $21)
- Best for a snowy afternoon: Escape Room The Game Family Edition — three jungle-themed escape rooms (about $45)
1. Camel Up (Second Edition) — best for the whole family
Players: 3–8 · Price band: $30+ (about $42) · Pick for: Best for the whole family · See Camel Up (Second Edition) on Amazon
Each turn you either take a betting tile on the camel you think will lead the current leg, roll a pyramid die to move a camel, or place a cheering tile that pushes camels forward or back. Camels landing on a space stack on top of whoever is already there, so the last-place camel can suddenly ride to the front.
It teaches odds without anyone noticing and handles up to eight players, which makes it perfect when the whole extended family visits.
Skip it if: your kids are under eight and dislike losing bets.
2. Catan Junior — best for ages six to nine
Players: 2–4 · Price band: $30+ (about $38) · Pick for: Best for ages six to nine · See Catan Junior on Amazon
Catan Junior keeps the trade-and-build heart of Catan but swaps roads and cities for ships and pirate lairs. Kids collect wood, goats, molasses and cutlasses, trade with the market and race to build seven pirate lairs. The Ghost Captain takes the place of the robber.
When they are ready for the full game, our how to play Catan guide helps you make the jump.
Skip it if: your kids already play regular Catan.
3. Forbidden Jungle — best cooperative pick for siblings
Players: 2–5 · Price band: $20–$30 (about $21) · Pick for: Best cooperative pick for siblings · See Forbidden Jungle on Amazon
Forbidden Jungle comes from the team behind Forbidden Island and Forbidden Desert. Players are stranded in a dangerous alien jungle and must cooperate to escape before it overwhelms them. Because everyone wins or loses together, it is the best choice here for siblings who cannot play a competitive game without a fight.
Skip it if: you already own Forbidden Desert and want a big change.
4. Escape Room The Game Family Edition — best for a snow day
Players: a family team · Price band: $30+ (about $45) · Pick for: Best for a snow day · See Escape Room The Game Family Edition on Amazon
Three jungle adventures come in the box: Magic Monkey, Snake Bite and Moon Portal. An electronic Chrono Decoder counts down 60 minutes and hands out hints, and the whole family wins or loses together. Play one room per snow day and the box lasts most of the break.
Skip it if: you want a game to play again and again. Each room is solved once.
5. Wordle The Party Game — best for teens
Players: 2–4 · Price band: $30+ (about $45) · Pick for: Best for teens · See Wordle The Party Game on Amazon
The daily word puzzle becomes a live game. One player is the host and writes a secret word, and everyone else races to solve it on their own boards using the familiar green and yellow feedback. Teens who already play the app pick it up in seconds.
Skip it if: you have more than four players.
6. Dinosaur Tea Party — best quick game for ages seven and up
Players: 3–5 · Price band: $20–$30 (about $20) · Pick for: Best quick game for ages seven and up · See Dinosaur Tea Party on Amazon
Everyone is a proper dinosaur at high tea in Dinoton Abbey, and no one can remember anyone’s name. Players ask yes-or-no questions about each other’s characters and guess identities, and the first to guess three names correctly wins. A game takes about 20 minutes and is a fun way to practice asking careful questions.
Skip it if: your kids want a game with a board.
7. Survive the Island — best for a little friendly chaos
Players: 2–5 · Price band: $20–$30 (about $21) · Pick for: Best for a little friendly chaos · See Survive the Island on Amazon
Players race their explorers off a sinking island with as much treasure as they can carry, while sea monsters hunt anyone in the water. The 2024 edition adds a new monster and room for a fifth player. The island shrinks every turn, and the monsters can be sent after your siblings, which kids find hilarious.
Skip it if: your house has a strict no-sabotage rule.
A winter break game plan
| Day | Game | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First Monday off | Camel Up | Big, loud start with everyone |
| Snow day | Escape Room Family Edition | One room fills an afternoon |
| Sibling squabble day | Forbidden Jungle | Same team, same goal |
| Teens’ night | Wordle The Party Game | Fast and familiar |
| Extended family visits | Survive the Island | Plays up to five |
| Quiet morning | Catan Junior or Dinosaur Tea Party | Younger kids can lead |
Tips for getting kids off screens over the break
- Keep one game set up on a side table. A board already on the table gets played far more than a box on a shelf.
- Let kids teach the rules to a grandparent. Teaching builds confidence and gives adults a break.
- Rotate who picks the game each night so no one feels outvoted.
More ideas: indoor winter games for adults, best family board games and best cooperative board games for kids.
Winter break game questions
What is a good game for a big family over winter break?
Camel Up handles up to eight players and stays fun for kids and adults.
What game keeps siblings from fighting?
A cooperative game such as Forbidden Jungle, where everyone wins or loses together.
What is a good game for teens over the holidays?
Wordle The Party Game. Most teens already know the puzzle, so it takes seconds to learn.
