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.

Borderlands 2

How:

PC, Mac, Xbox, PS3, even Linux soon.

What:

First person shooter, action RPG (levels, skills), hilarious writing and awesome coop campaign play.

Who:

You like shooting things and finding cooler gear as you level up, while also appreciating a rich and hilarious storyline with many jokes, cultural references and oddball elements.

Where:

Steam or your favorite game retailer

Why:

Gearbox made its own new story and setting for these two games, soon to be three, and it's hilarious. Standard dystopian sci-fi with a huge dose of zany humor and over the top bad guys, plus a cast of NPCs that are both memorable and silly. Cooperative play (up to four) is where Borderlands 2 really shines, and the class and specialization system makes each grouping different in tactics and playthrough.

Elements

How:

Web browser, mouse only.

What:

Customizable card game, similar to Magic The Gathering or many others, in which you create a deck and then play cards as you draw from your deck. Twelve elements make for many strategies, whether using only one or two 'colors' or blending all of them at once.

Who:

Play Elements if you like card games where you think about deck building but also card selection and timing.

Where:

Online at ElementsTheGame

Why:

Starts off simple, gets very rich in strategy. Twelve areas to focus on, with two-color decks being common and powerful, meaning many possible options to explore. This game has a variety of tough AI opponents, a long advancement curve for boosting your deck's power, and some very creative player vs player modes, both simultaneous and asynchronous.

Hearthstone (Blizzard)

How:

Free download (via Battle.net) for Mac, Windows and iPad.

What:

Turn based, one-on-one collectible card game using Warcraft universe and a mix of monsters and spells.

Who:

Play if you like deckbuilding strategy, human vs human multiplayer, sealed or constructed deck play and class-based differences.

Where:

Free download from Blizzard.

Why:

Hearthstone is easy to pick up, especially if you've played card games like it. The deckbuilding offers a variety of valid strategies and you can earn and unlock a variety of cards as you play more and more. For those who want a completely free experience you can earn in-game money through quests and participate in sealed deck Arena play, which is similar to Drafting in other games.

Drowning in Problems (Ludum Dare 29 submission)

How:

Web browser, mouse only, with a little reading and a lot of deep thought about the meaning of life. Mobile friendly.

What:

Meditative contemplation of existence... Simple and artistic story game... Parody of human suffering... I'm not sure what it is.

Who:

If you like games that make you think, or like philosophy, you should try it; it's very short!

Where:

Online (phone friendly too)

Why:

Notch has made some other awesome games, and this is one of the few games in recent memory that made me think both while playing and after playing. It's clearly a sort of essay and contemplation, in simple game form.

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.