This Board Game Is Perfect for My Family of 7 and Only Takes 10 Minutes to Play (It’s So Easy, Too!)

With five kids, including three teens and two boys in travel soccer, it’s simply not possible to have my entire family of seven home for dinner regularly. So I try to make the very best of the family time we do have, with whatever combinations of kids we have home at any given time. Lately, a simple game we’ve had in our toy closet for at least a year has been a huge factor in our family literally gathering around the table for quality time together before bed. The game is Uzzle and it’s the best.

The best part about it is that it’s great for all ages and a round takes only 10 minutes to play. While it’s become a regular part of our family nightly routine (that is, when we’re all home), it also makes the perfect game for holiday gatherings after dinner — it’s easy, great for groups, and is the kind of game you can put in your living room for family and friends to play as they snack on post-dinner holiday cookies. 

Uzzle is a kind of matching game that consists of four sets of five blocks with colored designs on each surface. There’s also a card set with four levels. Each turn involves passing out a card to each player and then seeing who can match their blocks to the picture first. Whoever gets the picture done first wins that round. The game can be played with one to four people — but can be played with unlimited players if extra games are added — and is graded for gamers age four and up.

First off, Uzzle is super easy to understand and play. Nothing kills family game night like trying to get everyone to listen to and understand complicated directions and rules! Uzzle can be played right out of the box, even if it’s your first time playing. 

Besides being incredibly straightforward to learn, the game appeals to a wide range of ages. It’s not one of those games you groan at when your kids want to play; it’s actually fun and challenging for adults and kids alike. In addition, the four levels of cards make it easy to customize the game to your particular group each time you play. You could even equalize the playing field by, say, giving parents a higher level of cards than young children. 

Uzzle can also be played fast. There’s definitely a time and a place for long, slow games, but Uzzle doesn’t require such a commitment. The quick playing time makes Uzzle as ideal for 10 minutes of connection before bed as it is to have available as an option for holiday game time. You get to decide how long to play each time, from one round of fun that’s finished in a few minutes to an open-ended game that goes on until it’s time for pecan pie. Folks can step in and out if they’re done, or want to keep playing, or you could even create a tournament to ensure that everyone gets a shake.

Although my family of seven can’t play at once unless we buy another set of Uzzle, the game has become a family fixture. Plus, with how fast each round is, if you have a big gathering, players can cycle in and out of game-playing. We love introducing the game to friends, and it’s a wonderful gift. After all, what’s better than quality, refreshingly analog time together?

Buy: Uzzle, $49.99