Board games are a fantastic way to educate and entertain kids. With each game, their minds are molded, advancing their memory, imaginative, cognitive, and social skills.
Studies have shown that children who play board games can improve overall development. The psychology theory of “learning through play” states that board games help kids mature emotionally and socially. These days, there’s an array of new fun and exciting games. With many themes to choose from, your 7-year-old will be excited to play each and every time.
Let’s look at 10 of the best board games for 7-year-olds!
🏆 Our Top Picks for Best Board Games for 7-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
Carcassonne
Players: 2–5
Playing time: 30-45mis
With over 10 million copies sold, Carcassonne has become a modern classic family board game.
Inspired by the medieval castle in the south of France, Carcassonne has players filling the countryside by laying tiles. Players will score points by placing tiles and growing their medieval landscape.
You’ll also be sending knights, monks, and farmers to claim more lands and features. Each role scores differently, so you’ll need to strategize effectively.
What we liked
This is an easy-to-learn game that’ll also challenge kids and adults alike. The newest edition introduces updated artwork too!
What could have been better
The theme is a bit of a write-off, but it’s the strategy that really matters. Tile placement games have endless replayability!
If you’ve already tried Carcassonne, check out our list of games like Carcassonne for a new challenge!
Sky Magic
Players: 2–4
Playing time: 20-30mins
Share the magic and weather the storm!
There’s a mighty storm brewing. Sky Magic is a cooperative board game in which players will navigate the storm clouds and avoid the wind flips. Help five friends get home before they run out of magic skills.
You’ll draw a weather card that could change the wind or add a storm cloud to play the game. This will change your flight path and alter the game with each card. There are also a few spell cards that’ll help you hold off the storm.
What we liked
Sky Magic helps kids learn about shared decision-making and evolving strategy skills. Play carefully and use your magic wisely!
What could be better
Certain aspects of the rules seem incomplete so you may find yourself double-checking points for clarification.
Ticket to Ride: First Journey
Players: 2-5
Playing time: 30-60mins
Another modern classic, Ticket to Ride: First Journey, is a cross-country train adventure.
This is the perfect game to introduce kids to the series. Offering unique rules more suited to kids, you’ll be building networks and claiming routes. By playing matching color cards, players can cross the board and complete tickets.
What we liked
The board game is easy to learn and quick to play, so get your kids on board and embark on your very own North American railway adventure.
What could be better
It’s possible to run out of trains, so watch out!
You may also enjoy:
- Best Ticket to Ride Board Games
- Ticket to Ride Review
- How to Play Ticket to Ride
- 5 Games Like Ticket to Ride
Dragomino: My First Kingdomino
Players: 2-4
Playing time: 15 min
Drawing inspiration from Kingdomino, this domino-based, egg-collecting game keeps young players on their toes as they compete for the title of Dragon Trainer.
In Dragomino, the objective is to use dominos to match lands such as deserts, snow, and forests. Each time you find a match you are rewarded with an egg, and success is gained by becoming the player with the most baby dragons inside your eggs.
Dragomino is fast-paced and boasts an element of probability and strategy, as different lands have varying chances of having empty eggs, so players should bear this in mind. This is a nice touch to encourage multi-strategic thinking.
What we liked
It is a modern and light game, easily enjoyed as a family, and fantastic for critical thinking, counting, and considering odds.
What could be better
Super strategists could possibly predict the endgame early, due to weighing up the probability of which dominos have been used, but a lot of 7-year-olds are likely to just enjoy the fun aspects that Dragomino offers.
Andor: The Family Fantasy Game
Players: 2-4
Playing time: 30-45 min
Andor: The Family Fantasy Game is an adorable task-based fantasy challenge where players are assigned roles as heroes. Whether you are a warrior, magician, archer, or dwarf, you will all compete to rescue wolf cubs who have lost their way in a Dwarf mine.
Sounds simple enough? Well, kind of! The heroes are also given quests to complete by the Old Bridge Guard before they are permitted to cross the bridge and free the wolf cubs. Not only this but the race is also impeded by a Sly Dragon who hopes to reach the castle first and destroy everything.
The winner is the player who completes all of the quests assigned and reaches the castle to save the Wolf cubs first.
What we liked
Andor: The Family Fantasy Game helps young children learn about different skills, whether it be defeating forts, growing plants, or helping wounded animals. It has it all. It’s a wonderful game for child development.
What could be better
There is a lot of luck involved in the game that can be frustrating for some. It may be possible to adjust the rules to make it easier or more difficult, so it could be fun to add some twists, if appropriate.
Space Escape: Mole Rats in Space!
Players: 2-4
Playing time: 20mins
Escape if you can!
Space Escape: Mole Rats in Space starts with a band of snakes that have infiltrated the mole rats’ space station. Cooperate with players to help gather equipment and make it to escape pods before time runs out. Players will climb up ladders in this matching game and slide down airshafts.
What we liked
Kids will learn strategy, communication, cooperation, and problem-solving. This is a perfect game to grow cognitive skills in a non-stressful play situation.
What could be better
The quality of the components isn’t top-notch and could potentially be improved in a future edition.
SOS Dino
Players: 1-4
Playing time: 25 min
SOS Dino is a cooperative game that sees cute dinosaurs dodging lava from four volcanoes that have erupted simultaneously! The aim is to collect as many dinosaur eggs as possible on your journey toward the mountains.
Rocks and Lava serve as obstacles and players will work as a team placing tiles and trying to move closer to safety. The rules are simple and players either collectively win or lose depending on if they can reach the mountains and not be eliminated by lava en route.
What we liked
In SOS Dino, the points structure is interesting because you never fully lose, as you receive a number of points for your efforts anyway. It can be encouraging for 7-year-olds to strive for more points next time!
What could be better
There are some meteorite spaces but they don’t seem to have a huge purpose other than creating barriers, so another interesting homebrew rule or twist could be used here.
Kraken Attack!
Players: 1-4
Playing time: 25mins
Kids must work together to defeat the giant Kraken. Pirates to your stations with pistols loaded!
Kraken Attack! has players use their unique abilities to push back tentacles before the ship sinks. In this tower-defense game, players are encouraged to defend their ship creatively.
You’ll try to push back the closest tentacles using boarding sabers while using a canon for the furthest ones. You’ll need full cooperation and strategy to win this epic battle.
What we liked
This board game will teach your 7-year-old strategy and the importance of working together.
What could be better
It can be repetitive so it’s important to have a longer attention span with this one.
Blokus
Players: 2- 4
Playing time: 30mins
The strategy game for the whole family!
Blokus is a board game that takes strategy and reasoning. Players take turns placing 21 pieces on the board. But be careful: each piece must touch another of the same color, but only at the corners.
So, put your minds to the test with this brain-busting strategy game. You’ll need to strategically block opponents while assuring you have the lowest number to win at the end of the game.
What we liked
The rules are straightforward and allow for endless possibilities, giving the game a lot of replayability.
What could be better
It is a basic, abstract game but there is space to create twists in the rules.
Zombie Kidz Evolution
Players: 2-4
Playing time: 5- 15mins
Zombies have invaded your school. Gather your friends and beat the foul creatures!
Zombie Kidz Evolution is a cooperative game that takes you on special missions while the mystery unfolds. You’ll gain powers in time, but the zombies will also mutate and become more ferocious.
With a goal to eliminate all zombies, you’ll have to work together and create a strategy while the game progresses from the previous one. Children’s thinking skills will improve while they are challenged and having fun.
What we liked
The more you play, the more the game transforms, so each play is more fun than the last!
What could be better
For adult players, the game may seem a bit repetitive.
Labyrinth
Players: 2-4
Playing time: 20mins
A race for treasure in a moving maze.
Labyrinth is a wildly popular game for kids and adults alike. You’ll be aiming to reach all the treasure while it moves along the board. On your turn, you’ll move along the path, trying to collect treasure and block your opponents.
Decision-making skills are crucial as you’ll have to decide when to block revivals or open a new path. Using the boards’ tiles, as well as moving tiles, you’ll slide tiles to further your path.
What we liked
Labyrinth is a fantastic puzzle-solving game that’ll improve your kid’s pattern-building and decision-making skills.
What could be better
The game is a bit dated and sometimes the sliding mechanism on the pieces is tricky for little ones.
Catan Junior
Players: 2-4
Playing time: 30mins
A Catan adventure for fledgling swashbucklers!
Catan Junior sets sail as you explore the seas. Letting younger players experience the wonderful world of Catan, this board game edition introduces simpler playing styles designed for players as young as six.
The game takes place on a ring of tropical isles, where each island produces a specific resource, such as wood, molasses, cutlasses, and even goats, you’ll be building up resources. But beware, there’s also a mysterious island with a scary ghost captain. Starting with two pirate lairs, players expand their networks and find gold.
What we liked
Catan Junior teaches players how to manage resources and strategize. If you’re a fan of Catan, introduce Catan Junior to family game nights.
What could be better
A perfect gateway game for younger players, but participating adults may find it tedious after a few rounds.
Throw Throw Burrito
Players: 2-6
Playing time: 15mins
Essentially, a game of dodgeball.
Throw Throw Burrito is a game of matching sets faster than your opponent. Oh yeah, and you’ll also be dodging a squishy burrito. From the creators of Exploding Kittens, your 7-year-old will be physically active while also exercising their mind.
How it works is the cards you collect earn you points. If you’re hit with the burrito, you lose points.
What we liked
This game is simple and fun for kids to play and a great party game!
What could be better
It’s a noisy one, so choosing the right environment is key.
P.S Make sure to put away any valuables.
Wrap-Up
We hope you enjoyed our picks for the best board games for 7-year-olds! Go ahead and try one of these board games, or why not all of them? You’ll be seeing the positive effects on your 7-year-old in no time.
Let us know which board game your kid’s favorite is! Drop a comment below, we’d love to hear from you.
Looking for educational games for a different age group? Check out our best games below:
Kendra has always been a hardcore fantasy nerd. Growing up in the worlds of Tolkien, Sanderson, Jordan, and Abercrombie, DnD & board games just came naturally. She and her husband, Bryan, started GameCows.com in 2018 as a fun passion project that just took over their lives. An avid board gamer since childhood and chronic DnD chronicler for more than two decades, she loves to play, write, travel, and learn dead languages.