Everyone should have access to the enjoyment and benefits of board games and the happy moments they create. That’s why I’m thrilled to share Asmodee’s brand new Access+ line of games that adapt popular titles to make them accessible to more players, including those who are neurodivergent (i.e., ADHD, Autism, speech and language disorders) and those with cognitive difficulties. Keep reading for more details or visit the Access+ website.
Long summer days, family vacations, and screen-free camping trips demand new board games. Luckily, Asmodee Canada has a huge selection of family board games, party games, and games perfect for kids of all ages and abilities. Check out our suggestions below for family fun all summer long.
Spot It! (also known as Dobble) is one of our favourite pick-up games. The concept is simple. Every pair of cards share one and only one image in common. The shape and colour are always the same, although the size may differ. In every game, the goal is to spot that common image before the other players. Since the game relies on speed and observation (no reading required), it evens the playing field between the kids and the adults.
Spot It! is incredibly easy to learn and travel-friendly. An accordion-folding pamphlet gives instructions for 5 different mini-games, and the winner is the player who wins the most mini-games. A full game takes about 15 minutes, but we often just play one or two mini-games which takes only a few minutes.
This version of Spot It! features waterproof cards in a mesh bag so it’s perfect for the beach and poolside!
2-8 players, ages 6+ | 5-15 minutes
Was the light bulb invented before or after glasses? In Timeline Inventions, you can learn the answer to this question and many more, all while having fun! Each card has a different invention, and on the opposite side of the card is the date it was invented.
Players start with one randomly drawn card in the middle of the table to form the timeline, and on your turn, you place a card before it or after it – depending on when you think it was invented. If placed correctly on the timeline, the card remains. Otherwise, the card is discarded, and a new one must be drawn to replace it. The first player to get rid of their cards wins!
2-6 players, ages 8+ | 15 minutes
Just One is a cooperative party game in which you play together to discover as many mystery words as possible. Find the best clue to help your teammate. Be unique, as all identical clues will be cancelled!
With 550 words to guess and make others guess, no two games are ever the same. High quality erasable markers allow you to easily play this game over and over again at your next game night with friends and family.
3-7 players, ages 8+ | 20 minutes
In Small World, players vie for conquest and control of a world that is simply too small to accommodate them all. Designed by Philippe Keyaerts as a fantasy follow-up to his award-winning Vinci, Small World is inhabited by a zany cast of characters such as dwarves, wizards, amazons, giants, orcs and even humans; who use their troops to occupy territory and conquer adjacent lands in order to push the other races off the face of the earth.
Picking the right combination from the 14 different fantasy races and 20 unique special powers, players rush to expand their empires – often at the expense of weaker neighbors. Yet they must also know when to push their own over-extended civilization into decline and ride a new one to victory!
2-5 players, ages 8+ | 40-80 minutes
Discover the wonderful world of the Betta. They’re beautiful and colorful, but their displays need to be organized so that they really stand out. In Betta, all you need to do is display the fish by using them to create different patterns. You are assigned a species of betta and to score points, that species must be the one that appears the most in the various displays.
1-5 players, ages 8+ | 20 minutes
In Bohnanza, you plant, then harvest bean cards in order to earn coins. Each player starts with a hand of random bean cards, and each card has a number on it corresponding to the number of that type of beans in the deck. Unlike in most other cards games, you can’t rearrange the order of cards in hand, so you must use them in the order that you’ve picked them up from the deck — unless you can trade them to other players, which is the heart of the game.
2-7 players, ages 10+ | 45 minutes
Access+ Games
Board games can provide a unique way to connect with those we love. And although they offer many benefits, standard board games sometimes prove challenging for people who are neurodivergent and those with cognitive difficulties. Everyone, no matter their condition, should have access to the enjoyment and benefits of board games and the happy moments they create.
Access+ is a first-of-its-kind board game studio by Asmodee that aims to provide equal and inclusive access to board games. To make its games as universal as possible, Access+ works with healthcare professionals to develop a line of games adapted to people living with cognitive disorders.
Access+ adapts popular titles from the Asmodee catalogue for games that are accessible to more players and helping more people come together around the table. Starting with Dobble/Spot it! Access+, Cortex Access+, and Timeline Access+ in September 2022, games in this new line are designed to stimulate cognitive functions, spark positive emotions, and foster social ties while offering players the opportunity to discover, or rediscover, the pleasure of playing together. Visit the Access+ website for more information.
Disclosure: I received sample items to facilitate this post. All opinions expressed are completely honest and my own, based on my personal experience. Your experience may differ. This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases, at no additional cost to you.
I’m thrilled to see more game companies paying attention to neurodivergent players