When thinking of the best gifts to give a kid in your life, whether for birthdays or holidays, you may reach for the popular dolls, action figures or stuffed animals, but the other option you should consider is a board game. In fact, the best board games for kids are ones that keep them entertained while also teaching them important skills. Whether they enjoy more familiar titles like Candy Land , Chutes and Ladders and Operation, brain-teasing options like Scrabble Junior or something on the newer side such as Sushi Go Party!, there’s a board game for every kid’s personality.
To find the best board games for kids, I spoke with experts, including child and family psychologists and a professional playroom designer, for their guidance and product recommendations.
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Aside from simply choosing an entertaining game, there are a couple of factors to consider when choosing board games for kids. Here is what our experts recommend I keep in mind when curating this list:
Sushi Go Party! Is both a board game and a card game, which revolves around the culinary practice of making sushi. The set includes a square-shaped board upon which you place cards that have illustrations of different types of sushi dishes and ingredients, such as sashimi, tempura, edamame, eel and tofu, as well as different amounts of points. In addition to teaching kids about different cuisines, it mixes elements of math through adding points and allows for creativity, since players can make unique combinations of sushi ingredients.
Age recommendation: 8+ | Player amount: 2-8
What we like
This is a kid-friendly board game, which has a 4.8-star average rating from 7,299 reviews on Amazon, is modeled after the classic Sequence game, which is all about creating a matching sequence based off of cards that players draw. Instead of the usual face card-themed board (think kings, queens and aces), this version of the game has cards with colorful illustrations of animals like cats, sharks, giraffes and foxes. The object of the game is to match the animals on the cards to ones on the board to create a sequence of four spaces in a row, either horizontally or diagonally. It helps kids identify different types of animals and develop logical thinking skills, according to the brand.
Age recommendation: 3-6 | Player amount: 2-4
What we like
Something to note
This 2-in-2 game set, which has a 4.7-star average rating from 1,425 reviews on Amazon, is perfect for any kid that is a fan of both Super Mario Brothers and checkers. Instead of the traditional round discs playing pieces, players use coins with either Mario or Bowser. On one side of the board is the checkered grid and the other has a 3 x 3 grid for playing tic-tac-toe, which means kids can play both and switch in between the two at any time. The board folds into a small tin case that’s easy to store and has a fun illustration of Mario and Bowser.
Age recommendation: 6+ | Player amount: 2
Something to note
The Genius Square board game is a simple-to-follow option that is ideal for kids who love building block-style or geometric toys, such as Legos. The game has a small square-shaped board, multiple sets of dice and small blocks. Players roll dice and use the results to add the blocks to the board in different ways. With a 4.8-star average rating from 6,330 reviews on Amazon, the set is also small and easy to set up, so you can travel with it without worrying about it fitting in a backpack or suitcase.
Age recommendation: 6+ | Player amount: 1-2
What we like
Something to note
Recommended by Bowen-Poole, the Qwirkle board game helps kids with learning pattern recognition and strategic planning. The layout of the game is similar to dominoes since you connect blocks with similar shapes and colors to build a table full of different tiles. Players earn points by matching tiles with the same attributes and earn up to 6 points, called a “qwirkle”, if they line up 6 tiles with matching attributes.
Age recommendation: 6+ | Player amount: 2-4
What we like
Castle Panic is a great board game for kids who enjoy medieval-themed shows or games. The object is to save a castle that is under attack by working together with other players. Aside from the board, the game has a set of playing cards with characters called castle cards, monster tokens, walls, towers and a rulebook. Kids can play the game with just a couple of friends or with family members. It has a 4.8-star average rating from 2,653 reviews on Amazon.
Age recommendation: 8+ | Player amount: 1-6
What we like
Something to note
Story Time Chess is a good way to get kids started with learning the basic rules of traditional chess. It uses the dynamics of the original game, but replaces the usual pieces with kid-friendly characters such as King Shakey, Cranky Princess and Casanova the Dragon. The game, which has a 4.9-star average rating from 51 reviews at Uncommon Goods, makes it easy to teach kids how to play chess at their own pace while also making it interesting and entertaining.
Age recommendation: 3+ | Player amount: 2
What we like
Something to note
Modeled after the traditional board game of Chutes and Ladders, this version of the game replaces the main characters with ones from the popular children’s cartoon Peppa Pig. In addition to Peppa Pig herself, players can act as other characters such as Suzy Sheep, Danny Dog, Freddy Fox, Rebecca Rabbit and Gerald Giraffe, as they move around the board’s different paths. Since the game board has spaces with numbers, it also helps kids recognize and learn numerals, according to the brand.
Age recommendation: 3+ | Player amount: 2-4
What we like
Something to note
Many kids are huge fans of Pixar’s many animated films and characters and this board game brings them into the world of Monopoly. The game, which has a 4.6-star average rating from 2,669 reviews on Amazon, has themes from movies such as The Incredibles, Toy Story and Coco and more. It follows the basic rules of Monopoly, except it includes spaces along the board inspired by different locations, objects and settings from Pixar’s famous movies, such as Radiator Spring (Cars), Clawtooth Mountain (The Good Dinosaur) and Marigold Bridge (Coco). Other themed Monopoly games include a Marvel Avengers Edition, a Harry Potter Edition and a Barbie Edition.
Age recommendation: 8+ | Player amount: 5
Something to note
Scrabble Junior is a simple but entertaining educational game that helps people build children’s vocabulary. This version of the game is made for kids, but it still has the same dynamics as the original game. The main difference though is that one side of the board has pre-written words on the board that help kids learn how to spell and identify words and objects. On the other side is a blank board that allows kids to make their own words and learn to spell on their own.
Age recommendation: 5+ | Player amount: 2-4
What we like
Inspired by the popular movie from the 90s, this adventure-based board game uses concepts from the film, such as solving riddles and survival quests and more. With a 4.6-star average rating from 4,441 reviews on Amazon, the set also includes an electronic green dome light in the middle of the board which creates drumming sounds, inspired by the film. Aside from the electronic board, the game has 100 playing cards, 4 sets of dice and a sand timer.
Age recommendation: 8+ | Player amount: 2-4
What we like
Something to note
This game was recommended by Bowen-Poole, who says it’s a great game for helping kids build thinking and geography skills. Ticket to Ride is a fun adventure game perfect for kids who also love trains. This game has a collapsible board that displays a map of North America and several railroads and train routes. Players venture from one destination to another, building railways across the states and earning points along the way. Aside from the board, the game has multiple train car playing pieces, 30 destination tickets and 100+ playing cards.
Age recommendation: 8+ | Player amount: 2-5
There are a few crucial aspects to keep in mind when shopping for a board game for a child. Here’s what our experts say to prioritize when shopping.
While you may find yourself buying a board game for kids who may not be your family, if you can, it’s a smart idea to interact with your kids to learn about what types of games and themes they enjoy, according to Dr. Laura Purdy, a board-certified family medicine physician at Swell Medical. “For example, if your child is into animals or the solar system, search for a game that will engage those interests,” she says. “Opting for a game with an educational or developmental tilt like memory or counting should also be a consideration.”
In addition to finding a fun board game for kids, it’s important to remember that the games should provide kids with learning opportunities, especially ones they can develop more when they’re older. “Board games are a great choice for an end of the day family activity that is both mentally engaging and low stimulation, this combination helps to encourage a calming wind down to the day and a good night’s sleep,” she says. “It also teaches kids how to deal with competition, as they may get upset when losing, you can redirect and let them know it’s ok to lose.” Board games are a chance to teach the importance of camaraderie as well.
At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
I’m a commerce editor at NBC Select, where I write about home and kitchen topics, such as home life, kitchen appliances, cleaning, bedding and more. I spoke with two experts for their guidance and product recommendations for this story.
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