During the Great Depression, the classic board game Monopoly was born out of one man’s dreams of living the good life during hard times. That same spirit is drawing others to board games as “fun” money dwindles and has many families seeking cheap and fun home entertainment. Classic family favorites are finding a new life off the shelves and on dining room tables across America.

Challenge Your Brain

While video-oriented Scene It? is more common to find on party coffee tables, word games and trivia create tongue twisters and fast-paced fun. Let the brain take over with games like Scattergories and Trivial Pursuit. Taboo requires some fast thought for players, but others prefer a more physical challenge, such as Cranium’s hands-on hints or Jenga’s building-block strategies.

Escape in a Fantasy

Classic whodunit games transcend the troubles of the times by creating a fantasy world for players. Solve the where, when and what of Mr. Body’s murder in a round of Clue or kill off your fellow players one by one with fiendish devices in Thirteen Dead-End Drive.

For the Little Ones

Little tykes love favorites like Candy Land, but grown-ups may prefer something with a little more challenge. Operation’s bells and buzzers will delight young players and dissolve the whole family into giggles, along with other old-school classics like Don’t Break the Ice and Shark Attack.

With great choices available for all ages, there’s plenty to keep family fun alive during tough times. An evening at home with a classic board game can be as much fun for the whole family as a night out.