Besides dolls, action figures and stuffed animals, a board game is one gift that can actually impress the kid in your life. The best ones are entertaining and skill-building, whether they’re classics like Candy Land , Chutes and Ladders and Operation, brain-teasers like Scrabble Junior or something newer like Sushi Go Party!
To compile a list of the most versatile and popular options available, I spoke with experts, including child and family psychologists and a professional playroom designer, for their guidance and product recommendations.
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The best board games for kids
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 other amounts of points. In addition to teaching kids about different cuisines, it incorporates elements of math by adding points and allows for creativity, since players can make unique combinations of sushi ingredients.
This kid-friendly board game is modeled after the classic Sequence game, which is all about creating a matching sequence based on 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.
With an active and easy-to-learn gameplay, Trouble is a board game for kids who want something fast paced. Players compete to get all of their pieces around the board before their opponents. You can also play a different version of the game (with instructions) to make the game more challenging and unexpected. The board includes the traditional Pop-o-Matic dice roller, and the same usual board setup, with players divided between red, green, blue and yellow.
The objective of this two-player game is simple: Each player tries to “sink” the other’s ships before the other. It comes with a compartmented case to hold all of the pieces, making it a great option for those who want something travel friendly.
This 2-in-2 game set is perfect for any kid who is a fan of both Super Mario Brothers and checkers. Instead of the traditional round disc 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.
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. 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.
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 six points, called a “qwirkle”, if they line up six tiles with matching attributes.
Castle Panic is a great board game for kids who enjoy medieval-themed shows or games. The object is to save a castle under attack by working 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.
Story Time Chess is a good way to help kids learn the basic rules of traditional chess at their own pace with kid-friendly tweaks. It uses the dynamics of the original game, but replaces the usual pieces with fictional characters that help the player learn the attributes of the piece it represents.
Modeled after the traditional board game 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.
Ticket to Ride is a great game for helping kids build thinking and geography skills. It’s also perfect for kids who love trains. This game has a collapsible board that displays a railroad map of Europe with multiple train routes. Players venture from one destination to another, building railways across cities and territories and earning points along the way. Aside from the board, the game has multiple train car playing pieces, 46 destination tickets and 100+ playing cards and 240 train cards.
How I picked the best board games for kids
Aside from simply choosing an entertaining game, there are a few factors to consider when choosing board games for kids. Here is what I kept in mind when curating this list:
- Age range: One important factor in choosing a board game for kids is whether or not it’s a fit for their age group, according to Karri Bowen-Poole, a professional playroom designer and the CEO of Smart Playrooms. “Ensure the game is suitable for the age group you’re targeting,” she says. “Games should have rules and content that match the cognitive and emotional development of the children.” This means making sure the entertainment or humor of the game is appropriate and engaging and that the rules are simple enough for kids but also advanced enough for older children.
- Educational value: The educational value and learning aspects of a board game are also important when shopping because while games should be entertaining and engaging, they should also help foster growth of different developmental skills. “Look for games that incorporate learning into their mechanics,” says Bowen-Poole. “This could include aspects like math skills, language development, problem-solving, critical thinking or social skills.”
- Replay value: While many board games are meant to be played more than once, some aren’t always interesting or unique enough for kids to want to play them repeatedly. “A game with replay value keeps kids interested over time,” she says. “Look for games with different scenarios, multiple ways to win, or adjustable difficulty levels.” This will also increase the shelf life of the game itself, meaning you’ll spend less time having to replace it after each year.
- Themes: Bowen-Poole also recommends looking for games with thematic elements, such as ones that revolve around food, cartoons, fun or hypothetical situations or ones that are modeled after classic games, such as Monopoly, but have characters pulled from popular movies or television shows. “A game that aligns with the interests of the children can be more engaging,” she says. “Themes could range from fantasy worlds to real-life scenarios like running a restaurant or solving mysteries.”
How to shop for the best board games for kids
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.
Listen to your child
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.”
Emphasize learning opportunities
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 that they can develop as they grow. “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.
Meet our experts
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.
- Karri Bowen-Poole is a professional playroom designer and the CEO of playroom design firm Smart Playrooms and playroom retailer Project Playroom.
- Dr. Laura Purdy is an entrepreneur and board-certified family medicine physician at Swell Medical.
Why trust NBC Select?
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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