Looking for a fun, screen-free way to entertain your child? I think we have a solution.
Whether you’re looking for an activity for your home or the classroom, there are countless benefits to playing board games from a young age. From hand-eye coordination to critical thinking to teamwork, there’s a lot to be learned from gaming. And it’s never too early to get a head start.
In fact, many big-name classics like Ticket to Ride, Scythe, Catan, and Scrabble have all created versions of their games specifically designed for children.
Trying to choose the right game for your child can be overwhelming. There are a ton of children’s board games on the market. Literally tons! Luckily for you, we’ve compiled a list of the best kids’ & children’s board games so you don’t need to waste hours upon hours searching for a game your child will love!
🏆 Our Top Picks for Best Kids’ & Children’s Board Games
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 Little Scythe
Players: 1-6
Playing time: 45-60mins
Your adventure begins in the Kingdom of Pomme. As your animal miniatures prance about the kingdom, living together in peace, everyone will be competing to be the first to collect 4 trophies by meeting a variety of objectives.
Through the actions of moving, seeking, and making, players will gallivant on epic quests, search for precious resources, learn magical spells, and gain friendships and pies. Perhaps they’ll even win a pie fight.
What we liked
My Little Scythe is great for teaching kids critical thinking skills and introducing them to many mechanics that can be found in board games. This game plays like an adapted version of Scythe, so it serves as a great game for beginners.
What could be better
Reading ability is critical for success in this game so make sure your kids have some level of reading comprehension before trying it out.
Rhino Hero Super Battle
Players: 2-4
Playing time: 10-20mins
Once again Rhino Hero is on a mission. This time, he needs your help to build a soaring, sturdy skyscraper that doesn’t tumble to the ground as he scales the sides of the building. But there will be an added obstacle this time around — battle!
It’s a race to the top and there’s only room for one superhero on each floor.
They’ll have to duke it out with a good old-fashioned dice roll to earn the gold medal, all while trying to keep the building standing on its rickety framework.
What we liked
The 3D stacking element adds excitement as players exercise their concentration and dexterity skills as they carefully stack the cards to build the wobbly skyscraper.
Rhino Hero is loved by children, but by the end of the first game, parents may be the ones asking to play another round.
What could be better
The combat is a bit clunkier in this version as compared to the original.
Zombie Kidz Evolution
Players: 2-4
Playing time: 5-15
Kids will take any excuse to get a day off school. Even a zombie apocalypse.
But things are evolving quickly and now the school is entirely surrounded. You and your classmates will need to work together to protect your school from being completely overrun by the living dead.
With every roll of the die, zombies will slowly creep their way in through the entryways, and it’s up to the students to defeat them and lock up the school. The game transforms every time you play. Track your progression, complete special missions, and open envelopes to unlock exciting new challenges.
What we liked
Kids will love this thrilling horror theme, and fun, vibrant artwork, while parents will be happy that kids are working together to save their school.
What could be better
The game can be a bit predictable for adults but it’s a great introduction to legacy games for kids!
Outfoxed!
Players: 2-4
Playing time: 20mins
This case takes the cake — or pie. Your detective skills are needed to help Mrs. Plumpert find her prized pie in what may be the tastiest case ever. Can you catch the sly thief before he sneaks away without a trace?
Players work together using logic, deductive reasoning skills, and probability to gather clues and find suspects.
As you dig deeper and gather more evidence, use the clue decoder to begin ruling out innocent suspects. Every bit of information helps piece the puzzle together and puts you one step closer to being on the real criminal’s tail.
What we liked
Outfoxed! is a fantastically fun gateway game to get kids interested in board games. It’s exciting yet challenging, but perhaps the best part is that it encourages teamwork.
What could be better
The board is a bit too large and you may end up never using half of it. It could have been better designed, in my opinion.
Dragomino
Players: 2-4
Playing time: 15mins
Welcome to Dragomino! As a new dragon trainer, you’re eager to explore the lands, build your kingdom, and discover as many dragon eggs as possible.
Each round, players can draft tiles to add to their landscape and expand their territory. By strategically placing matching landscapes adjacent to pieces already in play, you will earn dragon eggs.
Each dragon egg collected will earn you a point, while empty shells will award you with the first pick in the next round.
What we liked
This fantasy game is a true balance of gambit and luck. The adorable theme makes it a great game for younger kids. It’s basically a simplified Kingdomino so once it’s mastered, you’re sure to have a lifelong board game partner.
What could be better
Sometimes players can get stuck in last place for a good long while if they aren’t able to collect dragon eggs, which could get frustrating for little ones.
Andor: The Family Fantasy Game
Players: 2-4
Playing time: 30-45mins
A devastating storm has separated a mother wolf from her precious cubs. Being the good Samaritans that you are, you gather your crew of a magician, an archer, a warrior, and a dwarf to search for them.
But what is that rumbling off in the distance? Could it be the fearsome dragon planning its attack on the castle of Rietburg? Sadly, that’s not the only challenge you’ll face.
Along the way, you’ll complete several missions before you’re allowed to pass Mart, the bridge guard. Will you be able to find the three cubs before the dragon reaches the castle?
What we liked
Andor: The Family Fantasy Game is a cooperative game that offers exciting new challenges every time you play it. Kids will love the fantastical quests and it is yet another example of an original board game that has been specifically adapted for children to play.
What could be better
This is a pretty easy game to win and you’d have to be very unlucky not too. There’s not a ton of challenging aspects, but it’s good fun for young children to introduce them to board games.
So, what are you waiting for? Adventure awaits.
Concept Kids: Animals
Players: 2-12
Playing time: 20mins
What lives in a forest, is gray, large, and eats plants? An elephant of course! Concept Kids: Animals is a guessing game where players work together to win together.
Begin the game by drawing 12 cards — no peeking! Flip the cards over so the kids can see the animal. They will take turns placing a ring on a space that shows a defining feature of the animal, such as their color, habitat, what they eat, or any distinguishing characteristics.
Once you’ve pondered the clues, guess what animal it could be!
What we liked
With 110 animals to choose from and two difficulty levels, children can discover well-known animals and those less common. Because reading is not a necessity for this game, it’s accessible for gamers as young as 4 years old.
What could be better
It’s a very simple game that’s basically inverted “Twenty Questions”. Otherwise, not too much bad to say about this one!
Wildcraft! An Herbal Adventure Game
Players: 1-4
Playing time: 45-60mins
One part adventure, mixed with one part learning seems to be nature’s remedy for the perfect board game. In Wildcraft! kids will learn important information about medicinal plants as they make their way through the mountainous ecosystems back to grandma’s house.
As you and your friends venture through the wilderness, you’ll learn about 27 plants with extraordinary capabilities. These will come in handy as your group gets struck with ailments like headaches, mosquito bites, and sunburn.
Luckily, you’ve learned how to heal yourself using the very plants that surround you. The scenic route won’t always be easy, but it’s definitely worth it.
What we liked
Teach your kids the power of plants and the beauty of nature while sparking their interest in science and the outdoors. The beautiful illustrations will grab their attention, while the wild adventure will keep it.
What could be better
The educational aspects of this game don’t integrate super well with the mechanics, but it is a great opportunity for kids to learn about medicinal plants.
My First Stone Age
Players: 2-4
Playing time: 15mins
Experience the Stone Age through the eyes of a child. Two children, actually, and their woolly mammoth friend. Follow Jonon, Jada, and Martin to the prehistoric era and learn how the first human settlements were created.
Players will take turns flipping the forest tokens to collect resources like fish, berries, and arrowheads. As you gather and trade resources you can build huts to add to your growing settlement.
It’s time for your little Pebbles and Bamm-Bamms to put down the devices and revert to our prehistoric caveman ways with a nice game fit for a modern Stone Age family.
What we liked
Every hut requires a different set of goods to build, and the goal is to be the first player to construct 3 huts. This game is great for teaching the importance of memory, planning, and resource management.
What could be better
Some players aren’t a huge fan of the memory component of this game and that bit could be frustrating for young kids.
Magic Maze Kids
Players: 2-4
Playing time: 15-25mins
The king has croaked! By that we mean he’s been turned into a frog and he’s trying to tell you that only you can create the anecdote needed to reverse his fate!
In this maze, players will share control of the heroes, but each person is only allowed movement in one direction. You’ll need to work together to move through the forest completing missions and collecting ingredients to brew up potions that will turn the king back into his glorious form. Everyone has special abilities and you can use these to your advantage as you race the clock in search of the anecdote.
What we liked
Magic Maze Kids is a great gateway game as it comes with multiple tutorials that introduce rules and mechanics in a way that was clearly developed for children. The game can evolve with kids as their abilities progress and it’s sure to form the building blocks for an avid board gamer.
What could be better
There is really no lose condition in this game, unless you add in the sand time. This could be a pro or a con, depending on your perspective!
Wrap-Up
We hope you enjoyed our list of the best kids’ & children’s board games. Each one of these titles offers kids a new way to play, an interesting theme to discover, and a strategic challenge to conquer. Make family game night a tradition in your home with one of these great children’s games! Why not also check out the best RPG Games for Kids next?
Have you tried any of the games on this list? Did we miss any of your kids’ favorites? Drop a comment below and let us know what you think! We’d love to hear from you.
Liz has no objections to being referred to as “nerdy.” Maybe it’s the educator in her — or her maturity level— but when it comes to board games, those best suited for children are the ones that spark her interest. When she’s not looking for the next game to incorporate into the classroom or play with her niece and nephew, you can find her trying out nature-themed games like Wildcraft or Trekking the National Parks.