Raising a family in modern times can be expensive. Kids seem to want more than ever these days, and the entertainment usually comes with a price. Video games can clear out your bank and a lot of apps have the option for purchases that almost always get accidentally made.
Sometimes what you need is free entertainment. While getting the kids out in the fresh air is a great option, it’s not always doable. Bad weather, shorter days, or not having anywhere to spend a short time outdoors can often mean outdoor fun is off the cards. That’s why you need a plan B. Something to entertain the kids without emptying your bank account.
Fun Free Online Games to Enjoy with the Family
Free online games are a godsend. I like to play solitaire games and mahjong online. If I’m honest, I can often be distracted by these games when I’m meant to be writing, but I find it quite therapeutic to take a short break and challenge my brain.
I’ve also found a lot of these games are suitable for my kids, so we’ve been taking it in turns to have a play – sometimes challenging each other (if I’m in the mood for losing!)
Connect 3 Games
This type of game has long been a Facebook favourite. The aim of the game is to swap items to line 3 (or more) up and wipe out as many as you can. The more items you clear, the more points you get, with some items wiping out full rows or surrounding items.
We like Candy House (pictured) because the coloured blocks keep it simple. Once you’ve got the hang of the game, it gets a little more difficult. The layout changes in the harder levels and some of the pieces are unable to move, so can’t ever get too smug that you know what you’re doing!
Daily Maze
I used to be obsessed with maze puzzles when I was little. I used to make my parents draw mazes for me to solve, and I was always begging for maze heavy puzzle books. Even now I’m a fan of a maze puzzle. I love a little challenge and I’m always very self congratulatory when I solve it!
I was really pleased to find this online free maze puzzle and was able to share it with my kids. My middle child loves a maze challenge too, and we both enjoy completing them together. This maze game has three difficulty levels and three maze sizes meaning you’ll probably never run out of mazes to complete!
Tetra Blocks
I’ve always been a fan of Tetris inspired games. There’s something very satisfying about fitting shapes smoothly into perfectly fitting gaps. I swear it’s the reason I’m good at reverse parking and have excellent spatial awareness. I’m able to see a gap and judge whether or not something will fit snugly into it.
Tetra blocks is a great free game. The aim is to clear lines and score points, and the more you clear, the faster and harder the game gets. As you climb the levels, the game speeds up and gives you much less thinking time. It’s very easy to spend a whole afternoon challenging your personal best!