We’ve been itching to play board games for kids with our family for a while, so once everyone was on board (no pun intended), we hit the ground running, seeking out what all three of our children can enjoy together. This list includes my family’s favorites, from classic games to card games. After a long day, cooperative board games are an excellent way for us all to come together, laugh (and learn how to lose).
After years of one-on-one play before preschool, I have a few favorites I can’t wait for you to try. And since my oldest is now eleven, I also have games for that age.
Related: Have multiple ages and interests? I have a toy gift guide for every age and stage.
We’ve played and tested these games over the last year, so much that I can play in my sleep. When we began, my four, six, and seven-year-old kept my husband and me on our toes with this collection, and I cannot wait any longer to share them with you.
And boy, did we find some winners! – And, of course, I’ll leave the ho-hum games we tried off this list. Why add something that doesn’t spark joy?
Holiday Toy Guides
Welcome to the Days with Grey 2024-2025 holiday gift guide for kids. These toy lists are carefully curated to help you effortlessly make a gift selection you feel great about.
Why Play Board Games with Kids?
Do you remember board games as a kid? It is safe to say you do. We grew up with some fun classics! I couldn’t get enough from Clue to Mall Madness (I realize I just dated myself). Board games make the best birthday or holiday gift. The AAP has a good read about 3 ways your child builds important life skills through play.
Board games teach cooperation, such as how to win and lose, and strategy.
They also teach interpersonal skills like communicating ideas, taking turns, playing with rules, and dealing with players who don’t play fairly.
Math board games for kids teach number recognition, number sense, classification, and strategy.
Related: Board games on this indoor activity list are great for winter!
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Games for Ages 3-5
If you are looking for a place to start board games with your younger kids, I’ve got you! These are the easy board games we adore and enjoy with kids ages four and up.
Let’s Feed the Very Hungry Caterpillar
The Let’s Feed the Hungry Caterpillar Game is new to our board game list. If you have a three-year-old, you want to begin playing games with; this is a perfect intro game.
Noodle Knockout
We LOVE Noodle Knockout. It is a simple yet fun game that helps children understand sequencing, taking turns, and fine motor development.
Build a Robot
I adore everything Eeboo! This Build a Robot is enjoyable for ages 3+ and encourages patience, sequencing, and imaginary play.
Stinky Pig Game
My boys have a blast with this game! Shocker.
Rush Hour Jr.
Rush Hour Jr. is a strategy game for ages 5+.
Trouble
This math board game helps my son recognize number symbols and helps him slow down moving from space to space. This game also teaches us that sometimes, our playing piece gets sent back to the start. Losing is a skill that may take time and practice to lose graciously.
Outfoxed
LOVE THIS GAME! The pot pie has gone missing, and it is up to all game players to track it down before the fox reaches the end of the gameboard. Players discover clues and eliminate suspects as they play. Outfoxed is a cooperative game for ages 4+ where everyone works together.
Eboo Memory Matching Game
This memory-matching game is the BEST! We love many Eboo products, but this memory game takes the cake. My seven-year-old seems to swipe in and scoop up all the matches as I try to remember where I left my water bottle. Let’s say playing is probably good for my brain! We are so hooked on memory games that we enjoy the I Never Forget a Face variation.
Sequence for Kids
No reading is required for this Sequence for Kids thinking game! Younger players pick a card and match their playing chip to the board. The goal is to be the first to create a sequence of four in a row.
Charades for Kids
Our family cracks up when all three of my boys show off their acting skills, trying to guess one another’s cards. It is delightful to watch our youngest son. His acting is on point! No reading is required because a picture is included on each card. This is a lot of fun that sparks creative thinking.
Let’s Go Fishin’
Talk about hand-eye coordination! This game requires all ages to hold a steady hand as the fish connects to the small fishing pole. It’s a great game to keep at the grandparents’ house.
Zingo
Zingo is easy to learn and fun for ages 4+. This educational game builds language skills by matching simple words with their image—clear instructions to play.
Jenga
Jenga is another game that works well for many ages and is lots of fun. Stack the pieces up and carefully pull one at a time without having the tower tumble over. Steady hands and a slight risk are the focus of this game.
Don’t Break the Ice
You may have seen this classic before. Like Jenga, Don’t Break the Ice presents the fun challenge of holding a steady hand and taking a little risk without causing the ice to come crashing down.
Games for Ages 6-9
Remember, ages are simply a guide. Here, it felt like five was when my boys got into most of the games listed on this board game for ages six and up.
Tapple
Ditch the worksheets and work on vocabulary and initial sounds with this fun and fast-paced game. It’s not just for kids—adults also like to race to compete with it.
Outsmarted
This has been a big hit with our entire family and guests. Connect the game to the TV and let everyone enjoy the trivia. We love Outsmarted! I Added Outsmarted to this category as a starting age, but it is a game for young and old to play together.
Super Mario Monopoly
Years later, this is still my favorite variation of Monopoly. Have you played Monopoly with your kids? Super Mario Monopoly was our introduction to Monopoly, and I am so happy we started here. It simplified the parts and pieces needed to advance players and purchase properties with only two coins. My boys also love the Mario Brothers, so this game was a winner as soon as they unwrapped it. It is a strategy and math game that reinforces skip counting.
UNO Attack
If your family enjoys traditional UNO, you must try UNO Attack. My youngest received it as a gift for his sixth birthday, and the boys are hooked. It is a clever spin on the classic game. Like the box suggests, it is high-flying fun.
The Genius Square
Roll the dice and plug in the wooden circles. The goal is to fill in the missing spaces using the different puzzle pieces. Players can play this game alone or challenge a friend to see who can complete the puzzle in time. The Genius Square is SUCH a fantastic math board game for elementary-aged children and beyond.
Ticket to Ride
A friend suggested this Ticket to Ride board game for my six- and seven-year-olds to play. It has inspired lots of strategic thinking! The goal is to complete train routes by gathering cards of coordinating colors. We like to play this game before bedtime and get everyone involved. If you want a strategy board game for elementary-aged children, THIS IS IT!
Diary of a Wimpy Kid Clue
My boys were on a HUGE Diary of a Wimpy Kid kick and brought home this board game. It was pretty fun to play!
No Stress Chess
Admittedly, this game is more for me than it is for my boys. They learned pretty quickly with my husband’s guidance. I, on the other hand, cannot remember where the queen can move. All joking aside, No Stress Chess simplifies the game to help all ages learn how to play and continue the love for years to come.
Sleeping Queens
Have you played Sleeping Queens? This is a fun card game for kids that takes twists and turns. Did you know a six-year-old created this game?
Rummikub
This game just arrived at our home after a few of my friends urged me to try it with our family. It is a fast-paced game that reinforces sequencing, patterns, and cooperation.
Piles
A follower shared Piles with me, which is on my wish list for the holiday season. It is a fast-paced card game for ages 8+.
Kanoodle Head-to-Head
Now, kids can challenge family members over the holidays, making this well-known brain teaser game into a game for two. Fun fact: it has been around for a long time, but TikTok made it famous by reintroducing it. Gotta love the power of social!
Qwirkle
Qwirkle is a game we can introduce at a young age. The idea is to build lines by matching the tiles based on color or shape. Younger children can play with matching tiles. Older children can deepen the play by adding spatial recognition, planning, and problem-solving skills to collect points for each line created—an excellent game to extend concepts such as sorting objects by more than one attribute.
Games for Ages 9+
We have entered the games for preteens, and it has been so much fun watching them strategize. This list contains a few favorite games and a few that are on our list to learn.
Catan
Catan is a strategy game and a massive hit in my home. The boys have been playing nonstop. If you have a child who enjoys games like Risk, they will likely enjoy this, too.
Herd Mentality
Herd Mentality is a family group game for kids 10+. In this game, you pick a card and try to guess how the majority will answer the question. It is a lot of fun!
Gnome Hollow
Gnome Hollow is a game where you become a gnome to care for nature. The trades and builds make this an interesting strategy game.
Labyrinth
We have yet to dive into this new game. The boys are on a Catan kick, so I am eager to introduce it. I am adding it to the list because my sources suggest it will be popular in my house!
Exploding Kittens
Exploding Kittens has some interesting and mature humor, but it has also been a big hit with my nine- and almost 11-year-olds. It is a fast-paced card game.
Mancala
A handful of followers suggested this game, and I cannot wait to try it!
Do kids still like playing board games?
The novelty of a board game lives on! Starting around age four, kids understand how to listen to the rules and play accordingly. Classic board games still have their place, and many new games have come to the forefront, captivating families’ attention. Here are my favorite board games for kids.
Something to think about
What we learn in school may be the foundations, but playing board games allows us to put the concepts into practice! Let’s improve on what we’ve learned through play. Board games do just that! Board games for kids have entered our home and are here to stay.
Which board game will you introduce to your family first? I can’t wait to hear which one you pick.
More toy ideas for kids:
Frequently Asked Questions
My older three-year-old enjoyed Trouble and Sequence. I start by teaching my preschooler to play correctly and modify based on maturity. For Trouble, we spent some time focusing more on recognizing number symbols and total amounts than on the strategy of sending players home.
My boys enjoy Super Mario Monopoly. Use coins to buy properties, build houses, and win! This game also teaches them strategy and how to lose.
Losing isn’t easy, which is why we practice. We shake hands at the end of each family game night and say, “Great game.” This builds sportsmanship. The more we play, the more wins and losses we have to practice feeling both.
