Best Boxing Day Family Games for All Ages | Jaques of London
By the morning of 26 December, the wrapping paper is cleared and the house is full. The turkey is cold, the sofa is crowded, and someone small is already restless.
Boxing Day has held its place as a public holiday since the Bank Holidays Act 1871, and in most homes it means one thing: an unhurried day with the whole family under one roof. A good game turns that long afternoon into the part everyone remembers.
When choosing something to play with children, it helps to know it has been made properly. Toys sold for younger players are tested against UKCA and CE safety standards, so the pieces, paints and finishes are suitable for small hands. From there, the only real question is which game will keep everyone at the table.
What to Look for in a Boxing Day Family Game
A Boxing Day game has one job: to hold the attention of a mixed group for longer than ten minutes. That rules out anything too fiddly to set up or too quick to finish.
Look first for a game that scales. A household on Boxing Day might include grandparents, teenagers and a four-year-old, so the best choices offer a way in for each of them. Team play, simple rules and short rounds all help bridge the gap in age.
Consider how long the day is. A single quick game rarely satisfies a full room, so something with replay value earns its keep. Strategy games such as backgammon or draughts reward a rematch, which is exactly what you want when nobody is going anywhere.
Durability matters too. A game that will be pulled out year after year should be built to survive it. Well-made wooden pieces outlast cardboard and plastic, and they feel better in the hand during a long session.
Finally, think about space. Boxing Day weather in Britain rarely invites a trip outdoors, so a game that works on the kitchen table is usually the safer bet than one needing the garden. Browsing our board games is a sensible starting point, and if the skies do clear, our outdoor games offer a reason to get everyone moving.
The right game meets the room where it is: tired, well-fed and ready to be entertained without too much effort.
The Best Types of Family Games for Boxing Day
Strategy games are the backbone of a good Boxing Day. They give the adults something to think about while the pace stays slow enough for younger players to watch and learn. Chess is the obvious example, with origins traceable to 6th-century India, where it was known as Chaturanga, and its endurance says everything about how well it holds a family's attention.
Backgammon deserves a mention alongside it. The mix of luck and tactics means a child can beat a grandparent, which keeps the competition honest and the mood light.
For the youngest in the room, magnetic and picture-led games work well. They ask nothing of reading age and let a small child play alongside everyone else rather than being left out. You will find plenty of these among our wooden toys.
Traditional games — draughts, dominoes, ludo — are another safe choice. The rules are already known to most adults, so there is no instruction booklet to wade through after lunch. A look through our traditional games shows how much variety sits under that heading.
If the group is large and lively, party and team games keep the energy up. These suit the moment after the meal when nobody wants to sit still but nobody wants to go outside either.
The trick is to have two or three types ready. Start with something gentle and social, move to a strategy game as the room settles, and keep a quick game in reserve for when attention flags. We cover this further in our guide to board games for family game night.
Our Picks for the Best Boxing Day Family Games
For a game that anchors the afternoon, our 15" mahogany backgammon set is hard to better. The board folds away neatly, the pieces are weighty enough to feel serious, and the rules are simple enough to teach a child between turns. At £79.99 it is a game that will reappear every Boxing Day for years.
Chess belongs on any list like this. The Staunton design — which we originated and first advertised in the Illustrated London News on 8 September 1849 — remains the internationally recognised standard, and a proper set turns a quiet corner of the room into the most competitive one in the house.
For the youngest players, our Dinosaur Land magnetic board keeps a small child happily occupied while the grown-ups play something slower. At £18.99 it is an easy way to make sure nobody is left watching from the sidelines.
Draughts and dominoes round out a well-stocked cupboard. They are quick to learn, quick to set up, and ideal for filling the gaps between the longer games.
If you are gathering ideas for the whole festive period rather than Boxing Day alone, our guide to the best family games for Christmas Day covers the days either side. And for a broader spread of choices, our board games collection is worth a slow browse before the day arrives.
The aim is a small shelf of options, not a single game — so whatever the mood of the room, there is always something to reach for.
What Age Are These Games Suitable For?
The right age range depends entirely on the game, which is why having a mix matters. A magnetic picture board such as our Dinosaur Land set suits children from around three, offering play that needs no reading and no winner.
From about six, children can follow the rules of draughts, ludo and simpler dominoes games. These teach turn-taking and basic tactics without demanding too much patience, which makes them ideal for a family group with a wide spread of ages.
Backgammon and chess tend to land best from eight upwards, though younger children often enjoy learning the moves alongside an adult long before they play a full game themselves. Part of the appeal is that there is always more to learn, so the game grows with the child.
Many of the strategy games have no upper limit at all. A grandparent and a grandchild can sit across the same backgammon board and both find it a fair contest, which is rare and valuable on a day built around bringing generations together.
For wet-weather days when outdoor play is off the table, the games above do the work indoors. But if the holidays stretch into warmer months, our guide to the best garden games covers options for every age outside.
As a rule, choose at least one game that the smallest child can join and one that the oldest will take seriously. That combination keeps the whole room involved, which is the real measure of a Boxing Day game. Browsing our wooden toys alongside the board games helps you cover both ends of the age range.
Are Wooden and Traditional Games Worth Buying for Boxing Day?
Wooden and traditional games cost more than their plastic equivalents, and for a one-off afternoon that might seem hard to justify. But Boxing Day games are rarely a one-off. They come out every year, and a well-made set is built to take it.
The difference shows in the handling. Weighted pieces, a solid board and a proper hinge change how a game feels across a long session. Children notice it too, and tend to treat something well-made with more care.
There is also the matter of longevity. Our own history runs back to 1795, and we produced the first commercially available sets of table tennis, then called Gossima, registering the Ping-Pong trademark in 1900. Games made to that standard are the ones that get handed down rather than thrown away.
A good wooden backgammon or chess set often outlasts the childhood it was bought for, passing from one generation to the next. That is value measured in decades, not a single holiday, which changes the arithmetic considerably.
Traditional games carry something else: a shared memory. The rules a grandparent learned as a child are the same ones a grandchild learns now, and that continuity is part of what makes Boxing Day feel like Boxing Day. You can see the range in our traditional games.
So yes — for a day designed around family, the games built to last are worth the outlay. They earn their place not in a single use but over years of them, and a quick look through our board games shows how many are made with exactly that in mind.
£79.99 · gift · tested to UKCA/CE
£18.99 · value · tested to UKCA/CE
Shop the range: Best Boxing Day Family Games for All Ages
Our most relevant picks, made by a British family company since 1795.
Frequently Asked Questions About Boxing Day Family Games
What are the best Boxing Day family games for mixed ages?
Boxing Day — the public holiday established under the Bank Holidays Act 1871 — calls for games that suit grandparents and young children alike. Classic options include draughts, Ludo, and Snakes & Ladders for younger players, while Chess offers depth for older family members; the internationally recognised Staunton design, originated by Jaques of London and first advertised in the Illustrated London News on 8 September 1849, remains the gold standard. Table Tennis, commercially introduced by Jaques of London as Gossima, suits teenagers and adults. Choosing games with simple rules but strategic layers keeps every generation engaged.
What board games are good for a big family gathering?
For large family gatherings, games that accommodate multiple players simultaneously work best. Ludo, Snakes & Ladders, and Halma all support several players with straightforward rules. Chess — built around the Staunton design registered by Jaques of London in September 1849 — suits pairs who can rotate in tournament style, keeping everyone involved. Games with team formats work particularly well when numbers are high, allowing adults to partner younger children. Choosing well-made sets with durable components ensures repeated use across many Boxing Day gatherings rather than a single occasion.
What age is Croquet suitable for?
Croquet is generally suitable for children aged six and upwards, though younger children can participate with adult assistance. The game develops hand-eye coordination, spatial awareness, and tactical thinking, making it genuinely rewarding across a wide age range. Adults typically enjoy the strategic elements — positioning, croquet shots, and peg-out sequences — while children appreciate the satisfying physical play of mallet and ball. Jaques of London has a long heritage producing Croquet sets, and choosing a quality wooden set ensures the equipment withstands regular garden use by players of varying abilities.
Are wooden games worth the money?
Wooden games consistently justify the investment over cheaper plastic alternatives. Quality timber construction provides durability that allows sets to be passed between generations, making the cost-per-use extremely low over time. Jaques of London, whose heritage includes registering the Staunton chess design in September 1849 and commercially producing Table Tennis sets from 1900, has demonstrated that well-crafted wooden games retain their functionality and aesthetic appeal across decades. Wooden pieces also offer a superior tactile experience — weighted Chess pieces, smooth Croquet mallets, and solid board surfaces all contribute to a more satisfying game.
What games can you play on Boxing Day indoors?
Boxing Day indoors lends itself to board games, card games, and table-top classics. Chess — played on the internationally recognised Staunton-design board originated by Jaques of London, first advertised on 8 September 1849 — suits pairs or small groups, while Draughts, Backgammon, and Halma accommodate different skill levels. Table Tennis, which Jaques of London introduced commercially as Gossima before registering the Ping-Pong trademark in 1900, can be played on a dining table with a portable net. Card games, Dominoes, and Snakes & Ladders round out a full indoor programme for a mixed family group.
What are the best outdoor Boxing Day games for the garden?
Despite December weather, the garden on Boxing Day offers space for active games that indoor rooms cannot. Croquet is a perennial favourite, combining gentle physical activity with tactical play across all ages. Boules and Quoits require minimal setup and suit mixed abilities. Badminton provides more energetic play for younger family members. For those with suitable space, a game of Croquet on a well-kept lawn — using a quality mallet-and-ball set — remains one of Britain's most satisfying outdoor traditions. Dressing warmly and choosing games with simple equipment means the outdoors remains enjoyable even in cooler conditions.
How do I choose a family game that works for adults and young children?
Select games with rules that can be explained quickly but offer enough variety to hold adult interest. Look for games where younger children can participate meaningfully without adults simply letting them win — Snakes & Ladders, Ludo, and Draughts all fit this description. Adjustable difficulty helps; Chess, whose Staunton piece design was registered by Jaques of London in September 1849, can be taught progressively, starting with basic piece movements. Consider physical games such as Table Tennis — commercially launched by Jaques of London as Gossima — where natural skill differences are visible and learnable rather than frustrating.
What should I look for in a good family board game?
A good family board game balances accessibility with longevity. Prioritise clear, learnable rules; games that take more than ten minutes to explain rarely sustain family engagement. Look for quality components — weighted pieces, solid boards, and durable finishes — as these improve the playing experience and withstand repeated use. Established designs have proven staying power; the Staunton Chess set, registered by Jaques of London in September 1849 and still the international competitive standard recognised by FIDE, demonstrates how thoughtful design endures. Scalability across player numbers and age ranges is also worth considering for households where group sizes vary.
What are the most popular traditional British family games?
Britain has a rich tradition of family games spanning indoor and outdoor play. Chess — played on the Staunton-design set originated by Jaques of London and advertised in the Illustrated London News on 8 September 1849 — remains among the most enduring. Draughts, Backgammon, and Dominoes have been household staples for centuries. Outdoors, Croquet and Boules hold long-standing popularity. Table Tennis, commercially introduced by Jaques of London as Gossima with the Ping-Pong trademark registered in 1900, quickly became a British favourite. Snakes & Ladders and Ludo remain fixtures at family gatherings across the country.
Which family games are best for groups of more than six people?
Games designed for larger groups need simple mechanics and quick turns to maintain energy. Ludo accommodates multiple players and can be adapted for teams. Croquet in the garden suits six or more through a structured order of play. Card-based games and Dominoes scale well for big groups. For indoor play, table games such as Table Tennis — introduced commercially by Jaques of London as Gossima, with the Ping-Pong trademark registered in 1900 — work excellently as a round-robin tournament, keeping non-playing family members engaged as supporters and scorekeepers. Tournament formats transform two-player games into whole-family occasions.