First - I Really liked what “Forever a Yale Man” said:
“you and your fiancee take turns playing with each twin on teams against each other you'll get a really clear idea of how they think, and they will both feel equally helped by you and usually will form a nice bond as a result.”
So Thumb Up for him!
And I TOTALLY agree with trying to limit video game time - they don't do much for social interaction nor the development and cultivation of such.
I’m a Huge board/card game player, been a fan for years, and Love to make suggestions for children. Games are Wonderful social activities, subtly teaching sportsmanship, team mentality and both gracious winning and loosing. And depending on which game, subtle teaching of language, math, reasoning, deduction, statistics – to name a few! And All While Having Fun!! You know what “they” say – Play a Game, Use Your Brain!
Now to your Q… 8 year old twins – What Fun! Without knowing if they are boys or girls, I chose games that were kinda "across the board"... I'd personally pass on games like Monopoly, Risk, Stratego as I believe they'd be too involved and time consuming for what you're trying to accomplish. I'd also pass on the "euro-games". While they are My personal preference, unless you and your fiancee are regular players and the children have been introduced to them, the transition to that "realm" of thinking might be more than you want to attempt at this time - I'm thinking this should be more about the 4 (or more) of y'all interacting and forging bonds...
I'm thinking you'd want games that were fun, fairly quick to learn and to play, that encourage "team play", and give enjoyable and entertaining interactions.
I believe that most of the games on the following list can be found locally at WalMart, Target or ToysRUs. I've included a link with each game - it's to BoardGameGeek and will provide more info and some good photos. BoardGameGeek - http://www.boardgamegeek.com - The *BEST* Online resource for game info!
* Apples to Apples Junior
http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/10681
As its name implies, this is a version of Apples to Apples designed for kids, although the basic game still works well with adults, too. Has card optimized for middle-school aged children (9+). Also good for advanced grade-school aged children.
Compared to the original game, this edition features simplified words that even young children can understand and has no "suggestive" words that adults would be uncomfortable explaining to the kids.
For reference:
Apples to Apples (Adult version)
Apples to Apples consists only of two decks of cards: Things and Descriptions. Each turn, the current referee selects a Description and players try to pick, from the cards in their hands, the Things that best match that Description. The referee then chooses the Thing that appeals most and awards the card to the player who played it. The unusual combinations of Things and Descriptions are humorous to the extreme, and will quickly have the entire room in an uproar. Once a player has won a pre-determined number of cards, that player wins.
* Clue Jr.
Any of the Clue Jr editions, like the “regular” version of Clue, but scaled for a younger age range.
http://www.boardgamegeek.com/metasearch.php?searchtype=game&search=Clue+Jr
For reference:
Clue (Adult version)
The classic detective game! In Clue, players move from room to room in a mansion to solve the mystery of: who done it, with what, and where? Players are dealt character, weapon, and location cards after the top card from each card type is secretly placed in the confidential file in the middle of the board. Players must move to a room and then make an accusation against a character saying they did it in that room with a specific weapon. The player to the left must show one of any cards accused to the accuser if in that player's hand. Through deductive reasoning each player must figure out which character, weapon, and location are in the secret file. To do this, each player must uncover what cards are in other players hands by making more and more accusations. Once a player knows what cards the other players are holding they will know what cards are in the secret file. A great game for those who enjoy reasoning and thinking things out.
(There's Many different Clue versions that might be of interest...
http://www.boardgamegeek.com/metasearch.php?searchtype=game&search=clue )
* Cranium Cadoo
http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/6420
A version of Cranium "scaled down" somewhat for kids, although the game should still appeal to adults who like Cranium. Here's the manufacturer's hype:
"With a variety of hilarious activities, Cranium Cadoo gets kids thinking, creating, giggling, grinning, and laughing like crazy as they try to get four in a row to win. With so many different activities, there is something in Cranium Cadoo that will make every kid hoot and high-five. They might even discover a talent they never knew they had!
And kids just love the cool Cranium Clay, funky tokens, and especially the Secret Decoder Mask. Whether kids love to act, puzzle, sketch, sculpt, or even crack secret codes, Cranium Cadoo has something for everyone…including you!"
* Guess Who (a cute 2-player game that can be adapted for teams)
http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/4143
The mystery face game where you flip over a collection of faces with different color hair, eye color, hair, hats, glasses etc. to deduce who the secret person is that your opponent has chosen. You flip over the hooked tiles as you narrow your choices by asking characteristic questions.
* Scattergories Junior
http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/8997
Scattergories Junior is a simplified and shortened version of the parent game. Players are given a master list of topics and then a twenty-sided die with letters on each side is rolled to determine the "key" letter. Players have a limited time to think of unique words that start with the letter and have to do with the topic. Players can still earn some points for on-topic words that don't start with the letter. (This is clearly different from the original game, as a simplification for younger children.) Players receive points for original words. The game goes for two rounds. The box advertises this game for Ages 8 - 11.
For reference:
Scattergories (Adult version)
"The Game of Scattergories," published in 1988 by Milton Bradley, is a great game for any group to play. In the game each player fills out a category list 'with answers that begin with the same letter.' If no other player matches your answers, you score points. The game is played in rounds. After 3 rounds a winner is declared, and a new game can be begun.
* Sequence
http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/2375
Sequence is a board and card game. The board shows all the cards of a 2 standard deck, except for the Jacks, laid in a 10 x 10 pattern. The four corners are free and count for all players equally.
The players compete to create rows, columns or diagnals of 5 connected checkers placed on the cards that the player has laid down. Two-eyed jacks are wild, while one-eyed Jacks allow an opponents checker to be removed. The game ends when someone has reached a specified number of connections.
* Taboo Junior
http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/8998
Taboo Junior is a simpler version of the parent game, advertised for ages 8 to 12. Players divide into two teams, racing their tokens on parallel tracks to the finish line. A card is secretly drawn and a "clue giver" tries to get his team to say the word on it...without using any of three related words that are also on the card. The team has a timer during which they score as many clues as possible. The number correct is the number of squares the token is moved.
One difference from the original game is that the "buzzer" is actually a plastic squeak toy instead of the harsh electric buzzer. The clues are also much easier, common words than in the adult game.
For reference:
Taboo (Adult version)
Taboo is a party word game. Players take turns describing a word or phrase on a drawn card to their partner without using five common additional words or phrases also on the card. The opposing partners watch a timer and use a buzzer to stop the game, buzz the player describing if one of the five off limits words or phrases is used, or the describing player makes any gestures. The describing team gets a point for each card they guess successfully and the opposing team gets a point for each card they pass on, make gestures on, or lose for saying one of the off limits words or phrases. An excellent party game!
* Tribond for Kids
http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/10150
Be the first player or team to move your game piece from the purple triangle, clockwise around the board and back into the purple triangle. Game pieces are moved by answering tribond kids clue-sets. A clue-set is a list of three things that has something in common.
For reference:
TriBond (Adult version)
Players are given a list of three items and must determine the common bond. Landing on another pawn brings up a challenge situation, where the winner stays put and the loser moves back. First team to bring their three pawns around the triangles wins.
* Yahtzee Free For All (a new game that puts a REALLY fun spin on the tired old game of Yahtzee, good for almost all ages)
http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/37296
Those are the ones that come to mind quickly... a lot of the older games can be found at resale shops and/or garage sales for pretty good savings - it pays to look around!
Here’s a Great list of Children’s games you might browse if you have time…
http://www.boardgamege