The best board games for kids will keep them entertained, engaged, and away from the TV or tablet for hours. If you are looking to play with your child there are many great options that can be enjoyed by both kids and parents alike.
Board games are a fantastic recreational activity for all ages. They teach children how to interact socially, solve problems, follow rules, take turns, and they encourage them to use logic and roll some dice.
Board games also provide opportunities for family bonding time doing something together – no matter what age everyone is. Family game night is a great way to bond and create lifelong memories that will last a lifetime.
The top 3 best board games for kids
Board games bring families together and help develop social skills, strategic thinking, and engage children in a fun way – allowing them to use their imaginations while learning important life lessons! There are many wonderful choices when it comes to board games, but these three are a great place to start!
This game of resource management is one that both kids and adults will love to play. It takes about 60 minutes per player, so get ready for lots of game-playing fun.
The objective of the game is to build roads, settlements, and cities on the ever-changing map. Players build their civilization by rolling the dice to determine which resources they’ll collect next.
Settlers of Catan encourages cooperation between players which many parents appreciate. Settlers of Catan has won “Game of the Century” awards, which are given out on an almost yearly basis – it’s that good! Parents seem to agree this is one of the best board games for kids.
3 to 4 players | For ages 10+ | Average time to play: 60 minutes
Who knew that we would be “playing this game” in real-time, but I digress.
This game of epidemic disaster is another favorite amongst parents and their children. A group of four experts must travel the world to treat local populations in an effort to cure them of the disease. Pandemic is a strategy game and also a cooperative game, which means that all players are working together to beat the game – no one person wins or loses. Everyone works together to find the cures for the four plagues spreading across the board.
2 to 4 players | For ages 8+ | Average time to play: 45 minutes
Ticket to Ride has been awarded one of the best board games for kids by Dr. Toy, Parent’s Choice, Family Review Center, and Mensa Mind Games. It’s also an easy board game for kids to learn, making it a great choice for parents who are looking for something they can play with children of most ages. The original Ticket To Ride is set in the United States, but there are international versions as well such as Europe, London, Nordic Countries, Japan, France, and Asia. There is also a version for younger players called First Journey.
The objective is for players to complete rail journeys between cities while collecting train cards that enable them to claim railway routes. You can also collect cards of each color or specific color to claim train routes on the map.
The objective is to connect your destinations first – but be careful. If you draw a route card that connects two cities already connected by another player’s rail network, your points are cut in half! The winner is the person with the most points at the end of the game. This is another great choice if you’re looking for one of the best board games for kids that your family will love.
2 to 5 players | For ages 8+ | Average time to play: 30-60 minutes
Our lists of the best board games
What are the most popular board games for kids?
There are board games that have been popular for decades and for good reason. The games many of us and even in some cases, our parents played as children are probably in your child’s game collection right now. If they aren’t, you will want to pick up some (or all) of the following long-standing favorites.
All of the above are great choices, but these three have stood out to some of the top family game reviewers. Have you heard of some other great games for kids? Let us know in the comments.
Board games that teach valuable life skills
Get your kids learning while having fun! Here are five board games that teach life skills such as problem-solving, math, reading, and strategy.
Uno is one of the best games for teaching young children color matching, numbers, and how to take turns. It’s recommended for ages 5+ but some parents have introduced it to their younger child with great success.
Operation is a classic game for teaching children hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills, plus it’s a lot of fun! Recommended for ages 5+.
Battleship is perfect for practicing strategic thinking and patience. It’s more difficult than it looks! Recommended for ages 8+.
Mancala is a wonderful game of strategy that teaches children how to count, strategize, and set goals. It’s also a great game for helping your child develop their decision-making skills. Recommended for ages 4+.
Guess Who? is an excellent choice if you’re looking to teach older children about logical thinking, deductive reasoning, and how to construct a convincing argument. Recommended for ages 8+.
Chess is a good game for teaching older children about strategy, thinking ahead, and planning. Beginner’s luck is common even amongst adults! Recommended for ages 8+.
Scrabble helps children learn to spell, build vocabulary, and think creatively, plus it’s fun for the whole family. Recommended for ages 8+.
The top-selling board games for kids in 2021
When looking for the best board games for kids, you’re sure to come across a ton of classic titles. However, when it comes to cracking the top-seller list, you might be surprised. Amazon has a running list of best-selling board games that is updated hourly, but these are the top-selling board games for kids in 2021. Most are new classics that will be a welcome addition to your family’s game table.
Top-selling board games for ages 5-7
Finding games for 5, 6, and 7-year-olds that the whole family will enjoy playing can sometimes be a challenge, but there are numerous new games that have come out that will fill the bill. From the perennial classics like Chess to new favorites like Exploding Kittens, the whole family will be able to enjoy family game night.
Top-selling board games for ages 8-13
The 8 to 13 age group is when games get really fun. Children at this age have a greater understanding of strategy, math, and reading so playing more grown-up games is possible. According to Amazon, these are the top-selling board games for older kids over the past year and would be a great addition to your game cabinet.
I hope that this guide of the best board games for kids has given you a lot of suggestions for fantastic games to play with your family.