When my kids were little, family time was easy. If my wife or I wanted to have family time, we told our kids we were going to do something and we did it. It was usually fun for all of us and we built some lasting memories. But as my children have gotten older (they are basically adults now) family time has become more of a challenge. My kids each have distinct personalities and interests. It actually takes effort to find something that we all enjoy doing. Luckily we still have a few. My kids still love movies and escape rooms, but those opportunities are limited. There aren’t always great movies playing and we have different tastes now. Escape rooms are a blast but we have done every single one of them around us so it takes some planning and travel to find new ones. Oh and they are super expensive.

Luckily there is still one fun and free thing we love doing together… playing board and card games! In fact, if it is your birthday in our house, we get together and play games. The reward for being born that day is being able to pick the game. We also do the same on just about every holiday. Although we each have our individual favorites (I LOVE Dropmix), we are always looking for new games that we all enjoy.

![](https://i0.wp.com/slouchingtowardsthatcham.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/When-I-Dream.png?w=894&ssl=1)

If you are anything like me, hopefully you are looking for some suggestions about what your family may enjoy. A couple of weeks ago we had a fun family game day. One of the games we played was ‘When I Dream”. I’m not sure how popular it was but I don’t think I know anyone who has heard of it. It is a quick fun game… if you like to think while enjoying a game. 

Although the game is fun with more players, we always play with 4 people and we have plenty of fun. We can usually finish a game in less than 20 minutes so it is great for anyone with my ADD spiked DNA.

The goal of the game is to score the most points that are represented by point tokens. There are different ways to score points. This is where it might get confusing for a second. You can score points based on right answers, wrong answers or the difference between the number of right and wrong answers. I said it might get confusing but that is easily cleared up.

The game comes with a sleep mask that one player wears when they are “the dreamer”. The other players flip over a 2 minute timer and then grab a card with a picture and a word on it. Each player, who is not the dreamer gives clues that will lead the dreamer to guess a word. But here is where it gets fun. Here’s how it works based on 4 players (1 “dreamer” and 3 clue givers)

One player always want the dreamer to get the answer right so they will give very good one-word clues that will lead the dreamer to say the correct word (think of the gameshow “Password”). This payer scores points every time the dreamer says the exact word.

Another player is trying to trick the dreamer into saying the wrong word. They score a point every time the dreamer is wrong.

To make it even more challenging, one player scores points based on the difference between right and wrong answers. If the difference between right and wrong answers is exactly 1 (ie 5 right answers and 4 wrong ones or vice versa)  they earn the points of the bigger pile of answers. If there is a difference of 2 or more right and wrong answers, they earn points based on the smaller pile of cards. If they somehow manage to get the dreamer to have an exactly equal number of right and wrong answers, they earn the points of either pile and then add 2 points. 

This game mechanic means that not only does the dreamer have to figure out who is sabotaging them, but also who is sometimes sabotaging and sometimes helping them. It is a challenge and it is fun!

After the timer runs out, the dreamer can earn even more points by saying all the words they said in the round. They get a point for every right answer and an additional point for each one they remembered saying.

Although the game is supposed to end after everyone has a turn as the dreamer, we normally go around twice so the game lasts longer and is a bit more challenging. 

Here’s a quick example to show you how it works. 

I am “the dreamer” I put on the mask so I can’t see the cards. My wife and kids each get a card telling them what role they are going to play. One will want me to be right, 1 wants me to be wrong, and 1 is hoping I’m exactly half right and half wrong. They will give clues that will help them to achieve that goal.

Helen = Fairy - She wants me to be right

Timmy = Boogeyman - He wants me to be wrong

MJ = Sandman - wants me to be right and wrong 1/2 of the time

Without me seeing it, my wife grabs a card. It says “Fly”.

Fairy says “house…”

Boogeyman says “umbrella”

Sandman says “Superman” (she wants me to get it right this card. Next one she will want me to get it wrong if I got this one right)

They keep saying words in order until I make a guess. Because I am awesome, I guess “fly”. They then pick another card and begin the process again. After the timer runs out, I say all of the words I remember and we score.

It sounds complicated but its not. The clue givers either give a helpful or hurtful clue. The dreamer tries to figure out who is being helpful and makes a guess. We always have a great time with this one. Even if we don’t all love it, someone will and we still have plenty of time to play the games. 

What's your favorite family game?