Spot It

How:

A small space to put a stack of cards, be it a table, floor, seatback tray or train seat.

What:

Multiple quick visual matching games, emphasis on speedy image recognition.

Who:

Kids who like pictures. Adults who like visual stimulus. Adults and kids who like playing together, especially when the kids win!

Where:

Your friendly local game store, or Amazon for $12.

Why:

Young minds pick up the details of Spot It quickly, and will trounce you in minutes. It's a great game for groups, easy to learn and fun to watch. Grab it to throw in your bag for that extra-long wait in line or the delay at the airport. Toss it into your closet as a last-minute gift for the person who's tough to shop for.

Animal Upon Animal

How:

The floor, or a very steady table, and a small child or three.

What:

A cute, simple balance game, with small wooden animals stacked based on dice rolls. Think 'Toddler's first Jenga' with a little jolt of randomness.

Who:

Kids with enough fine motor control to stack small blocks or shapes on top of each other, and the adults who love them. Two to four players, or one curious kid with time on their hands.

Where:

Your friendly local game store, or Amazon ($22).

Why:

Simple rules that a three year old can handle. A first exposure to turn taking and dice-based action. Adorable, sturdy, satisfying wooden pieces. A game that both my kids requested playing again and again. This is easily my favorite gateway game for the three and four year old set, with no reading at all required.

Apples to Apples

How:

Cards, friends or family, and a table.

What:

Free association, pop culture, creative persuasion and a lot of silliness make this card game a family friendly source of laughs.

Who:

Kids, adults, families; small or large groups. Just make sure you aren't in a quiet spot... it gets loud.

Where:

Your friendly local game store, or Amazon ($18).

Why:

It's so simple: pick an adjective, then others have to pick nouns that best fit. But the fun comes in unexpected juxtapositions, silly arguments for your own card, and knowing how to read the judge to predict what they will like best. Lots of fun, short gameplay, kid friendly.

Once Upon A Time

How:

Cards, friends, minimal table or floor space.

What:

Story telling collaboration with surprise theft of narrative control and awesome ending phrases that each is trying to work towards.

Who:

Children, adults, and anyone who likes taking random, disparate elements and weaving them into a fairy tale style story.

Where:

Your friendly local game store, or Amazon has it ($24).

Why:

This one crosses all age groups, getting to our storytelling instincts very effectively. I played a ton of it in high school, and just recently recommended it to some older friends to bring along for a visit to some family with children. Kids get this quickly, adults can jump in easily, since the rules are light and the replayability very high. Plus it's small and portable.

The Extraordinary Adventures of Baron Munchausen

How:

In person, with 3-8 friends, some drinks, and coins.

What:

Lightweight story game of tall tales, humorous interruptions and collaborative crazy narratives.

Who:

Play Baron Munchausen if you like to make up stories on the spot, like to see your friends squirm a bit, and enjoy extravagant boasting with silly accents.

Where:

Buy the book online (it's back in print after a long hiatus).

Why:

The game itself is simple, just about two pages of instructions, but the book is a very funny read, and works well aloud. This game works well for small groups or larger ones, and is great for evening entertainment after dinner with some drinks in hand. It can be adapted to children easily and always brings laughter.