We’ve been itching to play board games with our kids as a family for a while, so once everyone was on board (no pun intended), we hit the ground running and looked for games all three of our children could 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). How to Lose: A Work in Progress.
Prefer to see my suggestions in one place? Here is my Amazon Shop Page for Board Games.
Quick picks
The board game industry has exploded with goodness. And much like seeing card games for kids at the New York Toy Fair, board games have massive energy, too.
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With my experience, I can point you in the right direction so you can choose the right game for the child you are gifting it to. I added ages as a guide.
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| If you’re looking for… | Try… |
| Best cooperative game (3+) | Outfoxed |
| Best for preschoolers (3+) | Sequence for Kids |
| Best strategy game (4+) | Ticket to Ride Jr. |
| Best for big kids (9+) | Catan and Hues and Cues |
| Best family game (7+) | Outsmarted |
| Best for laughs (9+) | First to Worst |
| Best quick game (5+) | Tapple |
| Best strategy game for kids (9+) | Plunder and Risk |
Why Play Board Games with Kids?
Do you remember board games as a kid? You probably 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.
A good board game is one you introduce to your child and also enjoy playing yourself. This list will get the whole family playing together.
Board games give kids a chance to practice real-life skills while actually having fun. They teach cooperation, 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!
Puzzle and Game Storage
Take a photo of your game box or cut out the image from the box top to add to the container. Stacking these storage containers has helped with our clutter!
Games for Ages 3-5
If you are looking for a place to start playing board games with your younger kids, I’ve got you covered! These are the easy board games we love with kids ages 3 and up.
Outfoxed
LOVE THIS GAME! The pot pie has gone missing, and all players must track it down before the fox reaches the end of the game board. Players of different ages discover clues and eliminate suspects as they play. Outfoxed is a cooperative game for ages 4+ where everyone works together.
Sequence for Kids
I played this game 743 times when my youngest was a preschooler. It was the best game to play as the older two went off to school and we had one-on-one time. (Sigh. Time is a thief.)
Hoot Owl Hoot!
Looking for another cooperation game? This is another winner.
Trouble
This is my youngest child’s first actual game. He was obsessed with Trouble! We played as much as we played Sequence for Kids.
ThinkFun Play Date
Calling ages 3+. This matching game features three levels of play, allowing for age-appropriate challenges. Play Date is a great way to introduce your toddler to board games.
ThinkFun Friends: Tree House
This is another sweet toddler/preschool game from ThinkFun. This game includes parent guides and multiple play options to support children at different ages and stages. Young kids especially love dropping the play coin into the tree house.
Trash Stash
Something about the garbage truck draws children in! The trash trunk actually moves! It is great fun.
Noodle Knockout
We LOVE Noodle Knockout. It is a simple yet engaging game that helps children understand sequencing and taking turns, and it supports fine motor skills. Be the first person to make your soup and win!
Build a Robot
I adore everything Eeboo! This Build a Robot is enjoyable for ages 3+ and encourages patience, sequencing, and imaginary play. Young children love this spinner game.
Stinky Pig Game
My boys love playing this game! Shocker. No critical thinking here. Just pure fun and lots of laughter.
Rush Hour Jr.
Rush Hour Jr. is a strategy game for ages 5+ and makes the perfect on-the-go game. This is a junior version of the Rush Hour game for big kids.
Eboo Memory Matching Game
Cheers to another game that will be close to my heart. My oldest smoked me in memory math at five, and still does to this day. (We still play sometimes to see if I am still rusty.)
Charades for Kids
What I like about this game is that each card has an image. So, if your child enjoys acting, they can look at the picture and give it a go.
Zingo
Zingo is easy to learn and fun for ages 4+. This educational game builds language skills by matching simple words with their corresponding images, and it includes clear instructions.
Don’t Break the Ice
Did you have this as a child? Yeah, me too! It is easy to set up and always fun to play.
Games for Ages 6-9
Remember, ages are simply a guide. For our family, it felt like age five was when my boys got into most of the games listed on this board game for ages six and up.
Points for Everything
It was so much fun meeting with Taco Cat Games at the toy fair, and they were so excited to show me their very first board game. And now, it is available for your family!
Tapple
Ditch the worksheets and build vocabulary and initial sounds with this fun, fast-paced game. It’s not just for kids – adults also like to race and compete. (You can turn the sound timer off if needed.)
Outsmarted
We play this every single time my parents come for dinner. It is a DWG family favorite!
Super Mario Monopoly
Years later, this is still my favorite variation of Monopoly. It is my favorite version of Monopoly because skip counting by 5s and 10s makes it so doable for younger kids.
UNO Attack
If your family enjoys traditional UNO, you’ll want to try UNO Attack. My youngest received it as a gift for his sixth birthday, and the boys still play years later.
The Genius Square
The Genius Square is SUCH a fantastic math board game for elementary-aged children and beyond. Love, love, love this game.
Ticket to Ride
What came after Sequence for Kids and Outfoxed? You guessed it. This. If you don’t have this board game yet, add it to your cart immediately.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid Clue
My middle and I played this game a ton when he first got it. We need to bring it back out now that some time has passed. It is like Clue, only no weapons.
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.
Mini Mahjer
Jess, who helps me here with DWG lives for Mahjong. We talk about it at every meeting. So, when she mentioned how much her boys enjoy Mini Mahjer, I was like, say less.
Rummikub
I find Rummikub like a puzzle. It is relaxing to find the Sequences you need, without the pressure or rush.
Kanoodle Head-to-Head
No surprise, Kanoodle Head-to-Head is a yes here.
Qwirkle
Qwirkle is a game we can introduce at a young age. The idea is to build lines by matching tiles by color or shape. Younger children can play with matching tiles. Older children can deepen the play by building spatial recognition, planning, and problem-solving skills as they collect points for each line they create.
Games for Ages 9+
We have entered the games for preteens, and it has been a lot of fun watching them strategize. This list includes a few of our favorite games and a few that we are currently learning.
Electronic Battleship
If your family enjoys Battleship, this variation will be a big hit! You set your ship positions at the start of the game, and the sound will notify you if you hit your opponent’s ship. My nine-year-old really enjoys this game!
Risk
My husband was thrilled to introduce my boys to Risk, and it stayed on the kitchen table for weeks. I may not understand it, but they do! They love strategy games, and this one is a huge hit.
Plunder
And along the same lines, if your family enjoys Risk, they will also enjoy Plunder. Similar concept, only this time with pirates. My boys really enjoy this game.
Hues and Cues
We LOVE this game! Pick a color and give clues for opponents to guess the matching color.
The Chameleon
My almost 13-year-old was over my shoulder as I was updating this list and stopped me to show me this game. Our neighbors have it, and he said that it is pretty fun!
Catan
We play Catan a lot here! And when I say we, I mean the boys. My brain doesn’t work this way. lol
Smart Four
Smart Four is an interactive game of Connect Four where you can play against a friend or the device. My oldest plays against the device.
Labyrinth
Labyrinth games require strategy! There are so many variations to play with the theme that interests you.
Mancala
This game has been around forever! The perfect example of how classic games are the best.
Do kids still like playing board games?
The novelty of a board game lives on! Starting around age four, kids can follow the rules and play accordingly. Classic board games still hold their place, and many new games have emerged to capture families’ attention. Here are my favorite board games for kids.
Something to think about
What we learn in school may be the foundation, but board games let us put those 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.
TOYS FOR 2026
I put all of your holiday gift guides in one place. Search by age and category here.
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 then modify the approach based on their 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.
