• Curses (Play All Day Games, $24.95). This has been out for a few years but has suddenly become very hot, says Jones. Players have to perform various tasks — such as act like a cheerleader or introduce a guest on a talk show — without breaking their curses — such as talking like a pirate or not bending their elbows.

• Cahoots (SimplyFun, $38). Billed as a "sound-making, secondhand drawing, tongue twisting, face-making, people directing, acting out, gut-busting, laugh so hard that you cry" charades game.

• Knowbody Knows (Uncle Rez Games, $29.99). What's your best friend's IQ? As a kid, how many times did your brother get grounded? How much money would it take for Grandma to go streaking? The answers don't matter — it's the guessing that counts.

Especially for kids

• Step to It (GameWright, $12). You draw an activity card — say, go to the refrigerator — and a number card, say 15. If you can do the activity in that many steps, you get the points.

• Dancing Eggs (Haba, $16). If you can run around the table with an egg between your knees or under your chin, you'll do well. Billed as a kid's game, "but I know adults who love it," says Sartain.

• Froggy Boogie (Blue Orange Games, $24.95). A memory game that also teaches colors, as kids try to find the sleeping frogs in the pond.

• Speedy Eddy (Blue Orange Games, $24.95). Can you get around the board with your snail's shell in place? Also develops counting skills.

• Duck, Duck Bruce (GameWright, $10). A card-flipping game. But watch out for Bruce, the dog. He'll make you give your cards back.

• Ka-Ching! (Gamewright, $9.99) A two-player card game for older kids that involves buying and selling commodities.

• Piranhaz (Parlorgamz, $14.95) Similar to Go Fish, but with "weird, funny rules," says Sartain.

• Sequence: States & Capitals (Jax, $23.99). A new entry in the Sequence line, this one involves matching colors and shapes — and learning states and capitals along the way.

• Treasure Trot: The Bella Sara Board Game (SimplyFun, $24.50). Enter the magical horse world of Bella Sara and try to collect treasure cards. Features a two-sided game board, one for easy play and one for more strategic play.