As #Smythstoys has a buy one get one half price on board games. I thought I’d start my gift guides with board games, as I love classics like Cluedo and Game of Life. So dive in and re-live your childhood by seeing these games again.

Guess Who I loved this as a child

The Guess Who? game is a classic tabletop guessing game for kids.

Choose the red board or the blue, and pick a mystery Guess Who? character. Players take turns asking yes or no questions to try and name their opponent’s mystery character. Do they have a beard? Brown eyes? What about a hat?

Kerplunk another early childhood favourite

The Kerplunk game is a nerve racking game of skill, judgement and marble dropping tension. Just don’t let the marbles fall!

Pass the sticks through the tube to form your Kerplunk web, and place the marbles on top. Once the marbles are held in place by the lattice of sticks, the game begins. Choose a stick to draw from the tube – and hope it doesn’t rattle the marbles.

Air Hockey I’ve never played but it reminds me of my own children playing this.

Practice your air hockey skills at home with this Air Hockey Tabletop Action Game. The handy tabletop game comes with a midfield sign you drop the puck through to start the game.

Both players hold their paddle on their side of the air hockey base. Players try their best to hit the puck into the opponent’s goal. The air hockey game base has a score tracker on each side to keep track of the scores. The first player to reach 9 goals wins!

Ghost Castle possibly the BEST game ever, I still have my 1980s game, though box worse for wear.

You are paranormal investigators, hired to find out if the legend of “Ghost Castle” is true, and to record anything “strange” going on inside. Trouble is… it’s all true. Having made your way upstairs, you’ve accidentally woken the mean-spirited ghost of Count Spooksalot, and he is determined to get revenge by trapping you in his castle FOREVER!

Race down the stairs and through the trap-filled rooms, where danger lurks at every turn. Get out of the castle as quickly as possible, but don’t get left behind.

Twister Has anyone not played this? Though I confess it wouldn’t be wise for me now.

It’s the Twister party game, the classic game that ties players up in knots! This action-packed group game is fun for parties or a game night with family or friends. See where the spinner lands and make a move. Left hand red, piece of cake! Right hand yellow, no problem! Hilarity ensues as players twist, turn, tangle – and struggle to keep their hands and feet glued to the mat. Right foot blue … uh oh, this is getting hard!!

Monopoly Junior WHY not let the younger ones learn this game, one board gsme that makes family members ruthless.

With 2 games in 1, this Monopoly Junior game is the little earners game that grows with your child! Its double-sided gameboard offers two levels of play, so families can decide which level is best for them. The Level 1 game, recommended for ages 4-5, helps children practise matching and counting, as they count spaces, match pictures and buy properties. The player with the most properties wins!

Pop Up Pirate not one i had, but did enjoy playing at friends houses.

TOMY Pop Up Pirate is the classic kids’ action board game for up to 4 players.

Take turns sliding your swords into the barrel. There’s no knowing which one will send the pirate flying.

Once you pop the pirate, you’re out! The remaining players remove their swords and push Pirate Pete back into his barrel – completely resetting the pop function for more unpredictable fun.

Connect Four is there anything more classic, oldie but so enjoyed even now.

The classic Connect 4 game now features 3 ways to play, bringing you even more disc-dropping fun.

Connect 4 Classic

Line up 4 discs of the same colour to win! Play as gold or red and drop one of your discs into the grid at each turn. You can stack the 4 discs vertically, side by side, or diagonally – just don’t forget to block your opponent!

Screwball Scramble one game i remember playing at school when it was toy day at Christmas time.

The sequel to the classic game of Screwball Scramble tests coordination and skill on a journey through a maze full of new surprises. Control the action with the buttons, twisting, turning the obstacles different ways to guide the screwball through each one. It starts with Zig-zag steps, next the See-saw leads to the Ferris Wheel Maze then onto the Corkscrew. Gently twist the dial to tease the ball along. Other challenges follow with a final Catapult blast to the Finish bell!

Mouse Trap another classic, dare not to knock the table as it would collapse lol

The Mouse Trap board game, a longtime family favourite, is always good for zany action and lots of laughs. Scurry around the board collecting cheese and stealing cheese from other players… but watch out for the trap!

Board Games for Kids
As kids interact with the Mouse Trap, they’re creating a working, multi-part machine and practising their construction skills. This fast-paced board game introduces cause and effect as kids learn that each action causes a reaction. Most importantly, kids will have so much fun playing the wacky Mouse Trap board game!

Which do you remember? Any favourites? I wish I still had Spirograph and the original Cluedo (with metal and rope pieces)