Gift guide: Our favorite board games for kids
If you love a good family game night but are in a rut, this gift guide has you covered. These are our family’s favorite board games for kids, complete with age recommendations.
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Before we had kids, my husband and I loved playing strategy games together. We spent many evenings huddled around our tiny kitchen table playing Settlers of Catan, Ticket to Ride, and Dominion with our other childless, newlywed friends.
Now that kids have entered the picture, we don’t often have time to spend hours in the evenings playing complex games, but we still love a good game night.
Our oldest son is borderline obsessed with playing games, and has been since we first taught him Candy Land when he was three years old.
Below, you’ll find a list of our favorites. This list goes beyond the classics (though some of those make an appearance because they’re just SO good). These are the games that we have played over and over. They are the ones that I enjoy playing with my kids, too (unlike Chutes and Ladders, which I really can’t stand…sorry).
If you’re looking for a spot-on Christmas or birthday gift or just want to change things up during your next family game night, these board games for kids are sure to please!
FYI: If you have preschoolers, these card holders for kids are a must-have. They’re pretty inexpensive, and they make playing card games so much easier. We use them for Uno, Old Maid, Crazy Eights, and a bunch of other family favorites.
Our favorite board games for kids
PERFECT FIRST GAMES FOR AGES 3+
Spot It! (ages 3+)
I love this game, and I’m amazed that sometimes my kids legitimately beat me! It’s basically just a stack of cards with pictures on them. Between any two cards there is always one and only one matching symbol. The first person to spot the match gets the cards. This is the classic version one, but there are lots of other versions, too.
Tenzi (ages 3+)
I’ve written before about our love of Tenzi in this post about our made-up game: Dice Wars. It’s simple enough that a three-year-old can play, but entertaining for adults, too. There are a bunch of different ways to play to make it more or less complex for older or younger players. ***HIGHLY recommended***
The Sneaky, Snacky Squirrel Game (ages 3+)
This game has a simple goal: be the first player to collect an acorn in each of the five colors. It’s great for young preschoolers since it doesn’t require any reading skills, and it helps teach colors, turn-taking, and fine motor skills. It’s not a thrilling game for me to play, but it’s a short and sweet game that effectively introduces little ones to the core skills of game playing.
Candy Land (ages 3+)
Did you know that Candy Land has been around since 1948? Fun fact: it was invented by Eleanor Abbott while she was recovering from Polio because she wanted to create pastimes for children who were also recovering. Cool, right? In any case, there’s a reason people have been playing Candy Land for 70 years. It’s simple, it’s quick, and there’s something exciting about knowing that at any moment you might jump forward or be sent back by drawing a tasty treat. This was the very first game we bought our oldest son, and we played it hundreds of times.
GAMES FOR OLDER PRESCHOOLERS 4+:
Enchanted Forest (ages 4+)
We bought this game several years ago at the recommendation of Mel (from Mel’s Kitchen Cafe). It’s like a more complex version of memory, and it’s made by one of my favorite games-makers: Ravensburger. My kids LOVE it, and it’s a great one for stretching your brain.
Uno Attack (ages 4+)
Uno says ages 7 and up, but my kids played it much younger—it was my four-year-old’s favorite game for a long time! The simple color and number matching actually makes it perfect for preschoolers. When we first started, we kept our cards face up so I could help, but now we play the standard rules. And if you’ve never played the “attack” version of Uno, you need to. The little kid giggles that erupt when the machine spits cards are hilarious.
Outfoxed (ages 4+)
This is one of my favorite games to play with preschoolers. It’s a cooperative game, which is fabulous because, let’s be honest, we need all the practice we can get learning to work together instead of competing against each other. (Anyone else struggling with sibling rivalry?) It’s a whodunit challenge (like the classic Clue, but much less macabre) to find which of the 16 suspects stole Mrs. Plumpert’s prized pot pie. It’s recommended for kids 5 and up, but my four-year-old plays with us just fine with a little help. ***HIGHLY recommended***
Guess Who? (ages 5+)
Another classic, and for good reason! Guess Who is a great game for teaching kids about deductive reasoning and strategic questioning. It’s officially recommended for ages six and up, but I think most five-year-olds would do just fine. My four-year-old likes to play, too, but he does best when playing on a team with someone older.
GAMES FOR SCHOOL-AGED KIDS (6+):
Sleeping Queens (ages 6+, younger with help)
Although it’s supposedly meant for older kids, my kids have successfully played this fun card game much younger than the recommended age of 8. In fact, I have been legitimately beaten by a four-year-old on more than one occasion. This has become one of our family’s all-time favorite games! We actually need to buy a new copy because we’ve worn the cards down so much! It’s cheap, easy to learn, and is a great sneaky way of teaching math skills. Plus, it was invented by a kid! How cool is that?!
Dragonwood (ages 6+)
Of ALL the games we own, this is the one I choose when it’s my turn to pick for family game night. It’s not too long (most games take around 30 minutes, and it has a great balance of strategy and luck. The basic premise: collect cards to roll dice and attempt to earn points by capturing creatures from Dragonwood, like the Gooey Glob and the Angry Ogre. The illustrations are fabulous and it’s a great game for families with kids of varying ages. The box recommends it for ages 8+, but we’ve used it successfully with younger kids, too. ***Highly recommended***
Ticket to Ride (ages 8+, younger with help)
This is one of my favorite strategy games (and we have plenty!). I never really thought of Ticket to Ride as a kids’ game, until one Christmas break when my five-year-old asked to learn. I was sure it would be too complicated, but with a few tweaks, he did great! Back then, we’d keep everyone’s cards face up to help him strategize a bit. Years later, we have added several expansions, and we still play it often!
Labyrinth (ages 8+, younger with help)
This game is easy to learn, but has enough strategy and complexity to make it really enjoyable. The premise: move your character through the labyrinth to collect certain treasures. Once you’ve collected them all, exit the labyrinth to win! This would be simple, except for that fact that—like the labyrinth from Greek mythology—this maze is constantly moving as players shift tiles on the board. The game doesn’t require any reading skills, so younger kids can play, too! They just might need some help with strategy.
Want MORE game ideas? Click here for more of our favorites!
Now it’s YOUR turn…What are your favorite games to play with your kids?
My family love playing Kingdomino. Another sneaky math game. My 6 and 7 year old play. It is quite competitive for the whole family.
I’ve seen this one and thought about getting it. It looks really fun, and gets good reviews, but is it significantly different than Carcassonne? I wondered if it would be too similar.