Best Board Games for 5-Year-Olds
By the age of 5, kids really hit a sweet spot when it comes to board games. Counting and reading become less of a hassle and board games become fantasy-driven and creative.
The days of boring old Candyland are behind you and you can finally whip out some more complex games that need strategy and creativity. Here are 10 games for 5-year-olds that the whole family will want to get their hands on!
Find the best board games for 5-year-olds below.
🏆 Our Top Picks for Best Board Games for 5-Year-Olds
In a hurry? Take a quick peek before you go.
YOU MAY ALSO ENJOY (BEST GAMES BY AGE GROUP): Toddler & Preschool | Kindergarten | 2-Year-Old | 3-Year-Old | 4-Year-Old | 5-Year-Old | 5-6-Year-Old | 7-Year-Old | 8-Year-Old | 9-Year-Old | 10-Year-Old | 11-12-Year-Old | Teens & Teenagers
My First Stone Age
Players: 2–4
Playing Time: 15 mins
This fabulous interpretation of the classic Stone Age family board game is the best way to get the kiddos acquainted with a more complex board game structure. Players build their own settlements by collecting goods and trading resources.
The game also involves a little bit of memory and gets kids to think strategically. The first player to build three huts wins the game: a pretty simple objective. The board setup is fun with wooden playing pieces including people, fish, pots, tusks, and more. There are also colorful tokens and a fun 3D setup when building huts.
What we liked
My First Stone Age is a nice, accessible resource-trading game for children. With lovely components, interesting gameplay, and a memory component, there’s great replayability and longevity in this game.
What could be better
This version lacks the engine-building element of its parent game, which is a shame but makes up for it in simplicity and accessibility for kids.
Monster Factory
Players: 2–6
Playing Time: 30 mins
What 5-year-old doesn’t love building a kooky monster?
This easy game lets players build monsters from tile cards they take turns drawing from a pile. Build monsters big or small, but beware, unfinished monsters might be your downfall!
What we liked
The game is highly replayable and kids can easily learn to play it without adult supervision, a great way to learn a bit of independence.
What could be better
The game mechanics rely on random tile drafting with luck being a big factor here.
Dragon’s Breath
Players: 2–4
Playing Time: 15-20 mins
Kids go wild for a game that involves a little more than boring game pieces shuffling around a generic game board. Four dragon kids try to melt an ice column loaded with colorful gems. Daddy dragon needs to bring the firepower and melt away the ice.
The column is represented by a stack of clear blue rings that holds the gems inside. By removing the rings one by one the gems will tumble onto the board.
Some will fall through the holes in the board and be lost, but others can be collected by the little dragons. See who can collect the most gems in a fun and fast-paced game of luck.
What we liked
This game is fantastic for 5-year-olds. It lets them make some simple choices, it hides scores so they don’t feel demoralized if one player takes the lead, the components are fantastic, and the game plays quickly,
What could be better
Dragon’s Breath is very simple, with some dexterity involved but overall, doesn’t require much strategy.
Sum Swamp
Players: 2-4
Playing Time: 20 mins
Just like you can disguise broccoli under some cheese, parents love to disguise some math under the veil of a colorful board game. The game is pretty simple and kids will have so much fun they will forget they are learning in the process.
Two number dice along with one addition and subtraction dice will show them the way across the swamp and out of the claws of the alligator. The playing pieces are cute swamp critters that have to dodge the croc.
What we liked
Sum Swamp is a delightfully simple addition/subtraction math game that kids enjoy and can play fairly independently. The game is colorful and the components are well-designed and produced.
What could be better
It’s more of a math practice game than a fun family board game. Definitely recommended for classroom or gameschooling use.
Outfoxed!
Players: 2-4
Playing Time: 20 mins
If you think the idea of solving a murder in Clue might be a bit grim for a 5-year-old, you might be right. Outfoxed is an amusing alternative where kids still gather clues across the board but need to solve the mystery of who stole Mrs. Plumpert’s yummy pot pie.
The sneaky fox is going to get away with it, so players are racing against time to catch him in time.
What we liked
The suspect cards feature stunning foxy artwork and the playing pieces are quirky and eye-catching.
What could be better
The decisions are not very compelling for adults but are still interesting for kids in this age group.
My First Dragon Adventure
Players: 2-4
Playing Time: 20 mins
Dragons, trolls, elves, and s’mores! Wait, what?
Well, magical characters need a treat too but their fire has gone out. Now the race is on to make their way across the board and convince the dragon to light the fire and save the s’mores.
What we liked
The game gives kids the opportunity to really get into storytelling games and unlock their imaginations. There is some basic counting involved and not a lot of reading, making it perfect for younger players.
What could be better
The Candy Land-style roll-and-move mechanic isn’t my favorite, but does get little ones into board gaming.
Mermaid Island
Players: 2-6
Playing Time: 20 mins
Ocean lovers unite in a quest to beat the evil sea witch! This beautifully designed game is cooperative and all players have to move the mermaids strategically to escape the sea witch’s dreaded clutches.
The spinner will tell players how many spaces their mermaids can move or if it is the witch’s turn to hunt the mermaids down. Players must try to get all the mermaids safely to mermaid island before the witch crosses the board.
It might seem simple but the game is very strategic and one wrong move can cost everyone the game.
What we liked
Mermaid Island is a great introduction to cooperative games for kids and has some big swings in tension that help keep players’ attention.
What could be better
The spinner isn’t the best and could really use an upgrade.
Wildcraft! An Herbal Adventure Game
Players: 2-6
Playing Time: 20 mins
Not all games need to be set in a magical kingdom to keep kids interested. Wildcraft is a board game taking real-life applications of medicinal plants and herbs and turns them into a fun cooperative game.
Players climb the mountain together, collecting medicinal plants along the way with the aim to cure problems like hay fever, scratches, toothaches, and more. There is some reading involved but with a little help, kids will quickly get the hang of it.
What we liked
The playing cards and board features stunning watercolor illustrations and the game teaches kids actual uses for common forest plants.
What could be better
It’s good for a spin-and-move game but often the educational aspects don’t integrate with the gameplay.
The Fairy Game
Players: 2-4
Playing Time: 15 mins
Fairies are living peacefully in the fairy garden, but Mr. Winter is around the corner waiting to freeze all their flowers. Players must work together to mix and match fairy cards before Mr. Winter completely destroys the flowers.
If they can collect three fairy cards of the same color, that color flower’s gem is moved to the magic wand in the middle and the flower is safe. Some cards will also help them remove snowflakes or trade cards, but it is all in the luck of the draw!
What we liked
This is a very straightforward game with a great cooperative component. The fairy theme is great for kids and it’s easy to play for youngsters.
What could be better
We wish the components were a bit more durable. The quality of the cardstock is disappointing for such a popular kids’ game.
Hisss
Players: 2-5
Playing Time: 15 mins
Scaly slithering snakes don’t always have to be an object of fear. In Hiss, players build fun rainbow snakes from vibrant playing cards to see who can make the longest snake. The catch is each snake needs a head and a tail so players must know when to call it quits and complete their snake.
Snakes can only be built by cards with matching colors and the player who has used the most cards to build snakes, in the end, will be the serpent king.
What we liked
Hisss is a very cute game that is well-illustrated and colorful. This game can be played nearly anywhere and is great to take on the road with the family or work in a quick game after dinner for some family time.
What could be better
There’s not much to it; it’s basically a color-matching activity and could be too easy for some 5-year-olds.
Wrap-Up
We hope you enjoyed our list of the best board games for 5-year-olds! Have you tried playing any of these games with your children? We’d love to hear your thoughts! Drop a comment below.
Liked these games? Check out our Best Board Games for 5-6-Year-Olds below:
