Games to Play During a Quarantine

Chances are, you are social distancing and staying at home to help prevent the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). Kudos to you! However, after you finish your work for the day, you might be asking yourself what you can do besides watching another murder docu-series on Netflix. While all of us enjoy a good murder-mystery, we suggest playing a good old-fashioned board or card game to keep you entertained and occupied. Below, we break down some great games to play whether you are self-quarantined by yourself, with a partner or roommate or with kids.

Games for One Player

Kanoodle - Using combinations of colored connected beads, players complete colorful logic puzzles in two unique formats: tricky 2D puzzles and twisted 3D pyramids. Puzzle pieces fit inside the handy pocket-sized case with built-in game boards, so you can play anywhere.

• Players needed: 1
• Ages: 7 years and up

Mindtrap Left and Right Brain - Challenge the logical left side of your brain and the artistic right side too. It's a full-brain workout that leaves no neurons behind.

• Players needed: 1 or more
• Ages: 14 years and up

Quiddler - The goal is to arrange all the cards in your hand into one or more words. The number of cards dealt increases each round – starting with three cards and ending with 10 cards.

• Players needed: 1 - 10
• Ages: 7 years and up

Friday – In this one-person game, you are helping Robinson, who came ashore on your island, fight against many hazards. In this game, Robinson is represented as a card stack of different behaviors. You are forced to improve this card stack, so you can collect the cards at the end of the game to give Robinson the best chance to win against the tough pirates.

• Players needed: 1
• Ages: 13 years and up

Games for Two or More Players

Codenames – The two rival spymasters know the secret identities of 25 agents. Their teammates know the agents only by their codenames. The teams compete to see who can make contact with all of their agents first. There are various versions that are geared toward fans of franchises like Harry Potter, Disney or Marvel.

• Players needed: 2 – 8
• Ages: 14 years and older
• Time: 15 minutes

Blokus Duo Two Player Strategy Game – This game is quick to learn but can provide endless strategy and challenges. Each player gets a set of 21 pieces – then takes turns placing them on the board. There's just one rule: each piece you play must touch at least one other piece of the same color, but only at the corners. The game ends when no more pieces can be placed down, and the player with the fewer pieces remaining wins.

• Players needed: 2
• Ages: 7 years and up

Escape Room in a Box – With this game, you can play the ultimate escape game at home. You'll have to work as a team—so put your heads together and let's see if you can escape. And there's help from the outside: players can connect with Amazon Alexa to enhance the gameplay of Escape Room in a Box.

• Players needed: 2 or more
• Ages: 13 years and up
• Time: You have an hour to solve the puzzles

Caper – Hire a crew of thieves, equip them with gear and steal from famous places across Europe! Players will draft thieves and gear to collect sets and make card combos, all the while trying to win the steal from the three locations out the game. The game changes based on what city you are playing in.

• Players needed: 2-4
• Ages: 12 years and up

Games to Play with Kids

Operation – For all the kids who dream of becoming a doctor or nurse! Kids can operate on “Cavity Sam” to make him feel better. Players choose a doctor card and “operate” to remove that ailment from Sam and collect the money if they can avoid the buzz. The player with the most money wins!

• Players needed: Kids can play alone or with others
• Ages: 6 years and older

Sushi Go - Pass the sushi! In this fast-playing card game, the goal is to grab the best combination of sushi dishes as they whiz by. Score points for making the most maki rolls or for collecting a full set of sashimi. Dip your favorite nigiri in wasabi to triple its value. But be sure to leave room for dessert or else you'll eat into your score! Gather the most points and consider yourself the sushi master!

• Players needed: 2-5
• Ages: 8 years and older
• Time: 20 minutes

Taco vs. Burrito - A deliciously unpredictable card game where players compete to create the weirdest, wildest meal. Fun fact: It was created by a 7-year-old!

• Players needed: 2-4 players
• Ages: 7 years and older
• Time: 10 – 15 minutes

Hoot Owl Hoot - In this color-coordinated matching game, players cooperate to help the owls fly back to their nest before the sun comes up. Kids learn simple strategy, following directions and taking turns.

• Players needed: 2-4 players
• Ages: 4 – 8-year-olds
• Time: 15 minutes

Pete the Cat. The Missing Cupcakes Game - Players collect colorful 3D cupcakes as they sing songs, act out physical activities, and identify favorite animals, foods, and words in this fun board game for kids. The missing cupcakes game promotes literacy as kids make picture and word associations, as well as social skills, decision making and imagination.

• Players needed: 2-4 players
• Ages: 3 years and up
• Time: 15 minutes

Trying to save money during this uncertain time and don’t want to spend any on a new game? Pull out some of your old games from childhood or play games with a regular deck of cards which most folks have around the house. Also, you or your kids feeling too isolated and missing friends and family? Try playing a game like Hangman or Charades through a free virtual video platform.

The information in this blog post is accurate at the time of publication. However, as the situation surrounding COVID-19 continues to change, it's possible that information has changed since being published. While Ochsner Health is trying to keep our blog posts as up-to-date as possible, we also encourage readers to stay informed on news and recommendations by using the CDC website.