Best Board Games for Kids and Families

I grew up in a family that loved playing board games together, and I’m so pleased that now my children enjoy this family pastime as well. We have had the chance to try out quite a few together over the years. Here are the best board games for kids and families that we have found, for both little ones and older children.

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Best Board Games for Kids and Families

Here are some of our favorite family board games! And don’t miss our other favorite activities for family game night.

Trouble Game is a classic game I remember from my childhood, so it’s fun to play it now with my kids. It is easy for young children to understand and uses a nice mix of luck and strategy. We actually have the Despicable Me version of Trouble, which my kids love because it comes with little Minion game pieces and a Siren Bob figurine.

A friend once gushed to me about how much fun her family had playing Marvel Hedbanz Board Game. It was something that everyone in the family loved to play. Although the listing states this is for ages 7 and up, it is often played with much younger children, especially since it is picture based.

Don’t Break the Ice Game is a really fun hands on game we first discovered thanks to a board games club at our homeschooling group several years ago. Kids have to try to pop out pieces of “ice” without letting the penguin on top fall through. At the board games club, there was always a line to play this one!

Want to teach your child chess but afraid it will be overwhelming? The board games club also introduced us to No Stress Chess, with a board that offers hints and a deck of cards that teaches the moves to new players. It is a easy way to teach kids chess, while letting them get started playing right away. I also liked how you can play at different levels of difficulty, as the children begin to learn the game.

Hasbro Battleship is another classic game that seems to never go out of style. Let’s be honest – I still find it really fun to play! We have Battleship Game: Star Wars Edition, which my little Jedi knights love to play together.

Peacable Kingdom Cauldron Quest is an award-winning cooperative game for ages 6 and up. Players work together to find the ingredients to make a special potion while avoiding obstacles – perfect for any magic-loving kids! Great for learning strategy and teamwork.

I’m always surprised at how much kids love to play Hasbro Monopoly Classic Game, considering how long game play can take – yet kids always want to play for hours! (Pro tip: if you read the instructions carefully, you’ll find rules for shorter versions that you play). This long-time favorite board game has inspired many versions, several of which can be found in our games closet! My boys’ current favorite is Star Wars Monopoly. (Did you know there’s actually a Fortnite Edition of Monopoly?) What is your family’s favorite version?

Days of Wonder Ticket To Ride is one I had heard of from friends with older kids, so we decided to try it out, now that my kids are ready for more complicated games. It was so much fun! Even my 5 year old had no trouble playing once he had some practice – though my little one kept stealing all of the train tokens! This board game is now so popular that you can find it in numerous variations, such as Ticket To Ride – Europe, Ticket to Ride: Asia, and Ticket to Ride: Africa.

This is next on our list of games to try out! Whether your child loves chemistry or you are hoping to spark an interest, Valence Plus – Use Real Chemistry to Break Down Your Opponents’ Molecules and Be a Science Ninja! is a fun way to learn about chemistry and the periodical table even you start with only a basic grasp of the concepts. Created by two chemical engineering PhDs and a New York Times best-selling cartoonist, this unique game is designed for kids of all ages.

Pandemic is my oldest son’s current favorite board game, and I’m always happy to oblige when he asks to play. I know of adults that gather to play hours long games of Pandemic, but it can also be enjoyed by the younger set, as you can play at different levels of difficulty. Again, my 5 year old has also played, with a little coaching. It has now spawned variations like Pandemic: On the Brink and Pandemic: State Of Emergency.

What are your family’s favorite board games?