The Best Board Games For Kids—That Are Fun For The Whole Family, Too

Toddlers are known for their (developmentally appropriate) inability to sit still for an extended period of time. That’s why this game—which gets them up, moving and doing silly actions—is a hit. Kids and adults work together to fill the tree, which means this is a cooperative game with no winners or losers. All of these elements combined make it the ideal toddler game. 

Recommended by Khan, Candy Land was one of my favorite games as a kid. There is no strategy—the winner is determined purely by the luck of the draw. As such, this is a good game for helping kids learn to lose gracefully and celebrate their family and friends when someone else wins. Though I sorely miss the Queen Frostine and Gloppy of my childhood, this updated version is pretty good, too.

Another cooperative game, Count Your Chickens gets players to work together to bring Mama Hen’s chicks home. “Cooperative board games are especially helpful for younger children or kids who get easily discouraged, because everyone works toward the same goal,” says Khan. This was one of the first games I played with my kids because the gameplay is super simple, and it helps toddlers learn turn-taking and early counting skills. 

My kids have a blast playing this game that tasks players with feeding the Woozle disgusting food—like toenail toast and booger chili—while completing a silly action like hula dancing and walking backwards. As if it needed another twist, they have to carry the food to his mouth on a spoon. It’s easy to modify the game for younger players, and I like the way it challenges toddlers’ motor skills. 

Banana Panda makes some of my favorite games and activities for toddlers because the materials are thick and high-quality, and the games are simple. This simplified version of Bingo tasks toddlers with matching food game pieces to the pictures on their Bingo card. 

Don’t Step In It is full of silly fun and super simple to play. After you load the game field with pretend poop, players take turns traipsing through the game while blindfolded, trying not to step on any poop. 

Another Bingo variation, players in this game match chips to the images on their card until they get three in a row. Because there are words to accompany the pictures, this game is really educational for kids who are starting to read and recognize sight words. “My 4-year-old loves this game, and always wants to play until someone fills their entire card,” says Margaret Badore, senior baby and kids gear editor. 

Unlike most charades games, kids don’t have to know how to read to play Kids On Stage, which is a competitive game. “Competitive games also have real benefits,” says Khan. “They help kids learn sportsmanship, patience, self-regulation and how to handle disappointment without becoming overwhelmed.” In my experience, preschoolers and early elementary schoolers are working really hard to develop these skills. 

My kids like this game because it’s so simple—there aren’t any convoluted or confusing rules to learn. While gameplay is easy, there are winners and losers, so this is a good one for practicing being a good sport. 

As kids start to get a bit older, they can learn to play strategy games with slightly more complicated rules. Qwirkle, which reminds me of both Dominoes and Scrabble, challenges kids to think ahead as they plan their moves. The wooden tiles are durable, and the included bag makes it a good travel game, too. 

A cooperative game, Race To The Treasure! pits players against an Ogre to work together to reach the treasure before he does. I like that this game has a bit more strategy to it than many other cooperative games, so families can work together to talk about what to do next and how to complete the game successfully. 

Another cooperative game recommended by Khan, Outfoxed! has players searching for clues as they try to find the guilty fox. A decoder helps kids examine the clues as they play the game, which adds an exciting element for young sleuths. 

To win this game, players need to use strategy and forethought to create routes that connect cities on their map. “Games that encourage choices, strategy and interaction tend to offer more developmental value than games that rely only on luck,” says Khan, who recommends this game for kids. This junior version has shorter routes and simpler rules compared to the original version of the game.

Mancala is a classic, calm game that I remember playing a lot as a kid. Players move their stones around the board while following a few simple rules. Though simple, it’s enjoyable for kids and adults alike. 

A card game that also requires you to chuck a squishy burrito across the room couldn’t be more perfect for big kids who are full of energy and eager to do anything that feels like it might be a little bit against the rules. It’s a fast-paced active card game that spans ages really well. 

The Game Of Life from Hasbro is one of my all-time favorites, and my kids and their friends always have a good time playing, too. The game challenges players to make tough decisions as they travel through life, and it’s a smart way to teach kids about money, saving and investing.

The concept is simple: Play cards in your hand to wake up the queen. Players can use mental math to try to upgrade their hand, so it’s an excellent way to incorporate some math skills while enjoying a game. The card game is part luck, part strategy—making it ideal for various ages and skill levels. 

Think you know your colors? Find out in this game where you give clues to a hidden color and the other players guess which color you’re talking about. It’s more difficult than it sounds (just how red is a fire truck?). Players earn points by guessing the correct color. 

Similar to the popular party game Cards Against Humanity, Kids Against Maturity is a family-friendly game. Players use the cards in their hand to complete a card another player sets down. For example, the card in play might say “Let’s all play rock, paper _____,” and players complete the phrase the best they can with the cards in their hand. It always elicits laughter and friendly debate. 

In this fast-paced word game, players take turns naming items within a specific category. The catch: the beginning letters of the words can’t repeat, so gameplay gets more difficult the longer it goes on. 

Clue is a beloved favorite where players try to figure out who committed a murder in the mansion. To succeed, kids have to use deductive reasoning skills to be the first to put all of the clues together. 

“The biggest benefit usually comes not from the game itself, but from the shared experience around it,” says Khan. That’s why I love games like this that are designed to bring families together to have fun. Through the game, you answer trivia questions about your fellow players and compete in challenges. 

You don’t have to be a good singer to play this game—you just have to know a lot of song lyrics. During each round, players are shown a word and then race to sing a song lyric containing the word. 

This game has made the rounds on social media, meaning it’s popular with teens. Players try to get on the same wavelength by guessing where other players place an item on a spectrum. The answers are always subjective and can definitely help you get to know the people you’re playing with. 

Another one that has become popular on social media, The Chameleon challenges players to figure out which person doesn’t know the secret word. Players give clues to the word, with the Chameleon doing their best to blend in and play along. 

For teens who are ready to move on to more advanced strategy games, Catan is an engaging game that challenges players to build up an uninhabited island. Kids who are into fantasy and storytelling appreciate the gameplay, which can last an hour or two. 

If you’re looking for something you can play quickly, Codenames is a great option—games can last as little as 10 minutes. The goal is to find your team’s secret words by deciphering clues, but you have to be careful not to choose the assassin, or the game ends and you lose. This game is popular with adults, too.