When the Wi-Fi dies, boredom arrives about six minutes later.
Keeping everyone occupied is not the most serious part of an outage, but it matters. A few genuinely fun games can turn a dark, stressful evening into family time instead of four people staring at dead phones.
Games worth keeping in the outage box
We favor games that need no power, are easy to learn, work across ages and are entertaining enough that adults actually want to play too.
Our screen-free family game guide includes simple instructions for BS, 21, Crazy Eights, Spoons, Go Fish and Rummy, plus the little-kid quiet-time checklist. Save it now so the instructions do not disappear with your connection.
Download the free game guide →This is one of our family's favorites. It uses an ordinary deck of cards and the entire game is basically trying to bluff the people who know you best. Our family regularly ends up in tears laughing at each other. Best part: there is nothing special to buy.
Buy a 2-pack of Bicycle cards →Learn how to play →A tiny card game built around saying words, matching cards and slapping the pile before everyone else. It is quick, physical, easy to teach and deliberately chaotic, which is exactly what can pull kids and teens away from missing their screens.
Buy the exact game on Amazon →See the maker →Twenty-One is easy to teach, works without buying a dedicated game and sneaks a little mental math into the evening. One ordinary deck also gives you BS, Crazy Eights, Rummy, Spoons, Go Fish and dozens of other games.
Buy Bicycle playing cards →Learn family-friendly 21 →A family-friendly trivia-and-bluffing game where knowing the answer is not enough. Players can score by sounding convincing or spotting somebody else's lie. The maker recommends it for ages 14+, making it a stronger teen/adult option.
Buy the exact game from the maker →Quiet-time backup: one for little kids, one for teens + adults
Coloring works because it needs no power, almost no setup and gives someone something absorbing to do away from the group. Keep the book and supplies together so they are actually usable during an outage.
Big, bold pictures and more than 150 simple images designed for smaller hands. Pair it with crayons, stickers and blank paper for a quiet-time envelope.
Buy the exact book on Amazon →Add Crayola 24-count crayons →A much more detailed coloring book that feels grown-up enough for teens and adults and can hold attention far longer than basic activity pages. Keep colored pencils with it so it is ready to use.
Buy the exact book on Amazon →Food, water, light and communication come first. But comfort and distraction matter too, especially for children who may already know something unusual is happening. You do not need a closet full of toys. A deck of cards, two excellent games and a quiet activity can cover a surprising amount of time.