Planning a great game night means having games on hand for every mood. Build a base of classics before you branch out to newer games and look for games that work for two to four people, or a whole crowd.

A few essentials for low-key nights:

• The absolute must-have classics: Monopoly, The Game of Life, Chutes & Ladders, Candyland, Sorry! and Connect Four.
• Enchanted Forest, a matching game with tiny trees hiding fairy tale-themed clues, is a great pick for your own Disney Princess, but it won’t offend boys, either.
• Have packs of cards for old-school card games: Go Fish is great for the youngest family members. Whether it’s Gin, Hearts, or B.S. (which stands for “Bologna Sandwich,” of course!), every group should have a card game.

—Kate Flaim

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