42 Best Board Games for Families

Ticket to Ride is such a blast! Great for the entire family, award-winning Ticket to Ride comes highly rated. It’s a race to dominate the railways – easy to learn and so fun to play, get Ticket to Ride today! Check out the board game trailer from Days of Wonder below. Get it on Amazon here. You can also grab Ticket to Ride – First Journey for the little ones, ages 6+, also highly rated on Amazon! Get Ticket to Ride from Amazon here.

Apples to Apples is a super fun game, especially for families with preteens and teens. Although the game box says 12 and up, I’ve definitely played it with kids as young as 9. Choose the best card from your hand to match the judge’s card in order to win the round. But choose wisely – everyone gets a turn to be the judge! Get it on amazon here.

Pictionary is such a classic, you probably played it when you were little! Take turns drawing and try to get your team to guess the clue. You don’t need to be an artist to enjoy the fun drawing challenges. This kind of game not only taps different parts of your brain, it allows your family to play in teams, which promotes bonding and lots of fun! Whether your family is large or small, allowing for 3-16 players, Pictionary is super versatile. Get it on amazon here.

Catan is a great game for all around family fun. Use resources to build settlements, cities, and roads to claim dominance on the isle of Catan! Classic Catan is for 3-4 players, but you can get an expansion pack like this one for even more fun! Get Catan from amazon here.

Yahtzee is easy to learn and it’s such a classic! It’s a dice-rolling, bucket-shaking, betting-the-odds battle game. You simply can’t go wrong with a Yahtzee game night! Get it on Amazon here.

Barenpark is a super family-friendly game where each player designs and builds their own fantastic bear park! The more beautiful, functional, and enjoyable you make your bear park, the more points you stand to gain at the end of the game. In their recent review of Barenpark, The Board Game Family said “whether you win or lose…it’s fun to see your different bear park configurations at the end of the game. There’s still a sense of accomplishment even if you don’t get the best score.” Get Barenpark on Amazon here.

7 Wonders just might be my all-time favorite board game for multiple players. It’s a perfect board game for 6 players or 7 players. And I’m not the only one who thinks so – 7 Wonders has won so many awards! It’s a card development game where you build up an ancient city to grab the most points. Find out why one Amazon reviewer said that 7 Wonders is “probably one of the best board games ever”! Get it from Amazon here.

One Night Ultimate Werewolf is such a blast and so easy learn. This game is great for parties and multiple players, and it’s the perfect board game for 10 players, which is tricky to find. In One Night Ultimate Werewolf, the werewolf lurks among you, & there may be more than one! Work together (or against each other) to unmask the werewolf before time runs out! You definitely need to check out the video below from Ted Alspach for an entertaining glimpse at how this kick-ass game is played. Get it on Amazon here.

Sushi Go Party! is one of the best board games for multiple players! You can have up to an 8 player game. Earn points my making delicious sushi combos in this pick and pass card game. Find out why one popular Board Game Geek reviewer from iSlaytheDragon recommends “this game for everyone, unless you either hate adorable sushi or you’re looking for a brain burning, epic game. For everyone else, it’s a terrific filler, party game, and family game.” Get it on Amazon here.

Dixit Odyssey is a beautiful, award-winning game that taps your creativity and sparks your imagination. The perfect board game for multiple players, Dixit Odyssey lets you play with up to 12 people! It’s an expansion on the original Dixit (get the original on Amazon here), but can be played as a stand alone game. From the product description: “Dixit Odyssey gives players the chance to choose the whimsical and dreamlike art that matches the storyteller’s tale, and then see if they can find the storyteller’s card among all those before them.” Get it on Amazon here.

Telestrations is a hilariously fun drawing game where a sense of humor and stick figures go a long way! Imagine a game of telephone, but instead of passing the message along with whispers, you pass it on with scribbles. A perfect board game for 8 players! Pick up Telestrations today and see how “creative” things can get! Get it on Amazon here.

Cranium is multiple games in one and it’s the perfect board game for multiple players! It’s a combination of drawing, performance, trivia, & word challenges, where the object is to get around the board first by succeeding at the most challenges. Cranium is simple to learn and fun to play. It fosters communication skills on multiple levels which makes it a good board game for families. While it says ages 16+ on the box, the Board Game Geek community says 10+ feels more accurate. Get it on Amazon here.

Between Two Cities is a simple and creative tile-drafting game where you work with the players on either side of you to build cities. If that sounds complicated, never fear, Between Two Cities is really easy to learn! Partner up with the kid on your left to build one city, while you work with your other kid to build a second city. Partnership and cooperation are part of the game, but only one player can win. Will it be you? Get it on Amazon here.

Beat the Parents is such a good time, and a great board game for your young ones. Kids love that they can team up against their parents in this super fun trivia battle! And what better way to foster sibling bonding and reduce conflict between them than to give them a common enemy? 🙂 The Board Game Geek rating may be on the lower side, but don’t let that deter you – kids love it! As Vincent Paone, creator of Dad’s Gaming Addiction, says in his review, “it’s a fun, family-friendly trivia game that our family enjoyed playing, and we have a feeling that you would to.” Get it on Amazon here.

Race to the Treasure is an exciting game that is probably the best board game for 5 year-olds (and up)! (What’s more, lots of reviewers say that Race to the Treasure is a also a good board game for preschoolers, too.) In this cooperative board game, family members work together to beat the dreaded Ogre to the treasure. From the Amazon description: “Players strategize, cooperate & build the path together. Building onto a path encourages kids to think 2 steps ahead & examine options.” Such a great game that fosters learning, communication, and cooperation! For more on how to play, check out the video below from the Peaceable Kingdom YouTube channel. Get the game on Amazon here.

Richard Scarry’s Busytown: Eye Found It game is based on the popular book series from beloved children’s author and illustrator author, Richard Scarry. (We have several of his fantastic books in our house and our daughter adores them. You can grab the Busytown collection from Amazon here.) This cooperative board game for preschoolers is really easy to learn and has won several family gaming awards over the years. Players ride through Busytown on their way to Picnic Island, finding hidden objects. This game encourages teamwork and observational learning. Discover why one Amazon reviewer named it the “greatest game ever for little ones!” Check out the adorable video below from Cash’s Toy Time for an inside glimpse at how the game is played. Get the game on Amazon here.

Hoot Owl Hoot! is a fabulous board game for 4 year-olds and up! Work to get all of the adorable owls back to the nest before the sun comes up. Hoot Owl Hoot! is loved by kids and parents alike. It’s a cooperative game that puts siblings on the same side, fostering connection and teamwork, as one Amazon reviewer explains: “I don’t feel that the game is teaching that ‘everyone is a winner, everyone deserves a trophy‘ because you don’t always win. It’s a group effort but the group can definitely lose. It teaches them that when we work together, we can accomplish so much more.” Get Hoot Owl Hoot! on Amazon here.

Pete the Cat Missing Cupcakes board game is a fabulous board game for toddlers and preschoolers! Players work together to retrieve the missing cupcakes from Grumpy Toad. (For an added dose of fun, get the highly-rated, accompanying book, Pete the Cat and the Missing Cupcakes on Amazon here.) While there aren’t any ratings on BGG yet, Amazon reviewers absolutely love this game! For an easy to follow rundown on how to play, watch the helpful video below from The Rules Girl via popular game review channel, The Dice Tower. Get it on Amazon here.

Exploding Kittens is an excellent board game for 7 year-olds and up. Kids learn to play it really quickly and families love the suspense the game creates! According to the publisher, Exploding Kittens is “a kitty-powered version of Russian Roulette”. That may sound a little dark, but don’t worry, this game is loaded with lighthearted fun. The publisher also indicates that “Exploding Kittens is the perfect card game for adults, teens and kids who are into kittens and explosions and laser beams and sometimes goats.” Get it on Amazon here.

Cauldron Quest is a fantastic game for 6 year-olds and up. Work together to get the potion bottles into the cauldron before the evil wizard blocks your path! I adore this game and I’ve used it in therapy with families to help improve cooperation and encourage teamwork. Another excellent cooperative board game from Peaceable Kingdom! Check out their video below for more information on how to play this amazing game. Get it on Amazon here.

Codenames is the kind of game you will want to play again the second you finish a game. To play, split your family into two teams. Pretend to be spymasters and make contact with your agents. But be sure to avoid the assassin and opposing team’s agents! Communicate in coded clues to get your team to guess all of the correct words to win. Check out the video review below from The Board Game Family for more info on how to play. Get this highly-rated, award-winning game on Amazon here.

Splendor is definitely in my top ten most favorite board games of all time. So easy to pick up and so much fun, you will want to play it again and again. Gorgeous artwork and creative game mechanics make Splendor a perfect board game to play with your teenagers. Check out the board game trailer from Asmodee Digital below for more information. With a near perfect rating average from Amazon, you really need Splendor in your life. Get it on Amazon here.

Scattergories is a classic game from my childhood that I absolutely love, and despite its age, is well-deserving of a spot on this list. Pick a category list card, roll the letter dice, set the timer and go! Come up with as many words starting with the assigned letter to match the categories on the list card as you can before time is up. But be sure your words are unique. You only get points if no one else guessed the same word. Scattergories was first published in 1988, but it’s such a blast, it never gets old! Get it on Amazon here.

Taboo is a perfect board game for teenagers because they will relish the chance to correct your mistakes. Only this time they get to use a loud and obnoxious buzzer! If that sounds annoying, don’t worry. You get a turn with the buzzer, too! Teams compete in this word game to get their teammates to guess as many words as they can without saying the word itself, OR the other words on the card. What makes Taboo so fun and challenging, is that the list of words you aren’t allowed to say are usually the very first words you think of. And if you say one of them, your opponent will buzz the heck out of you to let you know. This game will get your family laughing, and buzzing, in no time. Get it on Amazon here.

Betrayal at House on the Hill is a spooky cooperative game where players explore a haunted mansion. Experience a new game every time with this tile-building board game that’s perfect for the horror-loving teens in your family. One Amazon reviewer explained that they use Betrayal at House on the Hill as a tool in their parental tool box “to combat the digital age and losing touch with [their] children on a very personal level…a great addition and will be played for many years.” Get it on Amazon here.

Balderdash is one of the best board games for families that offers your know-it-all teens a chance to shine. 🙂 Tap your imagination to make up word definitions, describe movie plots, explain why a person is notable, and define unknown acronyms to get points. The more believable your fictional answers are, the more other players will vote for them. I have loved this game for years and every time I play, I have a blast. Get it on Amazon here.

Forbidden Island is an exciting cooperative board game that features visually-stunning artwork. A popular board game among therapists and families alike, Forbidden Island encourages teamwork and communication. Imagine your family is trapped on a sinking island filled with ancient ruins and sacred treasure. Work together to recover the treasure and escape the island before it sinks! Get it on Amazon here.

Pandemic is one of the best cooperative games ever created. I know it might feel like a weird time to play a game about a global pandemic, but this game is too good not to include on the list. And trust me, playing Pandemic will feel therapeutic, not to mention fun! Players work together, using their unique and special abilities, to squelch a pandemic and save the world. The video below from The Rules Girl provides an excellent, short and sweet, tutorial on how to play. Get Pandemic on Amazon here.

Pathfinder: Rise of the Runelords is a deck-building, adventure-based, role-playing card game reminiscent of Dungeons and Dragons, but with a more accessible, welcoming, and straightforward feel. If your family is made up of serious gamers who are into long-form play where games can span weeks, months, even years, building decks and leveling up characters over time, then Pathfinder is definitely for you! You will love the fantasy elements, beautiful artwork, and breathtaking game play. When you and your family begin a Pathfinder adventure, you embark on a rich, exciting, and emotional journey filled with strategy, success, and defeat. Play for an evening, or play for a decade – Pathfinder is 100% worth the investment! Get it on Amazon here.

Dungeons and Dragons: Castle Ravenloft is role-playing cooperative board game where you work together to defeat enemies of all kinds. Choose your hero character (rogue, wizard, cleric, or warrior), slay monsters, find treasure, and gain experience points, as you quest through the dungeons of Castle Ravenloft. You don’t have to be an experienced RPG gamer to play and love this game! Check out the review from General Collectibles below for very helpful info on how to play. Get it on Amazon here.

Legends of Andor is set in the rich fantasy realm of Andor, a land of sword and sorcery where a small band of heroes must unite to protect king and castle from an endless throng of enemies. Game play encourages strategy, communication, and teamwork. An excellent cooperative game, Legends of Andor delivers a fun and exciting challenge for the whole family. Watch the awesome board trailer below from Thames and Cosmos to get a feel for this fantastic game. Get it on Amazon here.

Dominion is amazing. In this deck-building card game, the goal is to win dominion over the land. You use strategy and creativity to collect as many victory points as you can. With Dominion, game play always feels new and exciting and once you learn the rules, you will want to play this game over and over. (I have played Dominion dozens of times) Check out the video below from The Rules Girl to watch a quick rundown on how to play. Don’t let all the piles of cards scare you – Dominion is fairly easy to grasp. Get it on Amazon here.

Codenames: Disney Family Edition is a fabulous take on the original Codenames that’s fun for the whole family. The Disney version includes cards with a combination of words and pictures that feature your favorite Disney characters, locations, and items. But don’t let the delightfully-sweet Disney facade fool you – Codenames: Disney Family Edition is just as competitive as its predecessor. Players use creative word clues to get their team to guess the correct cards. Codenames: Disney Family Edition is sure to be a hit at your next family game night! One Amazon reviewer shared that the Disney imagery brought back “happy memories of watching all the Disney movies as a family–twelve-thumbs up from the six people in our family!” Get it on Amazon here.

Monopoly is an utter classic, first patented in 1935! With over 250 million Monopoly games sold, no board game closet is complete without it. If you’ve never played, there is no time like the present. But if you have, you know that Monopoly can get pretty intense. You can make loads of money charging exorbitant rent, then lose it all later when you land on Boardwalk! Speaking of money, this game gives you a lot of bang for your buck. The longest game in recorded history allegedly took 70 days! But for most of us, the average game can take anywhere from 1-3 hours. 🙂 Phew! Monopoly not only teaches your kids about money, math, and strategy, but it teaches patience and attentiveness, too! There are so many editions, you are bound to find one to please. Here are a couple of my favorites you can get on Amazon: Monopoly: Star Wars Edition, Monopoly: Disney Animation Edition, Monopoly Junior Electronic Banking, Monopoly National Parks 2020 Edition, and the Monopoly: Black Panther Edition. Or simply get the classic version here.

Bananagrams is an absolute blast. It’s basically speed scrabble where you create your own board. To win the game, be the first to complete your crossword grid when the letter tiles run out. Bananagrams fosters learning and is fun for all reading levels. You can’t go wrong with this super portable, family-friendly game! Get it on Amazon here.

Jenga is a simple yet challenging game, loved by kids, teens, and parents! Additionally, Jenga is a great game for therapists to have in their toolbox. I once bought an old Jenga set from a thrift store and used a sharpie to write therapeutic questions on some of the blocks so that when a family member picked one, they had to answer the question. (There are lots of other fun ways to use Jenga in therapy. Check out this example from Childhood 101 on how to create an Emotions Jenga game, or this post from The Chaos and the Clutter for two Feelings Jenga ideas). Get it on Amazon here.

Avocado Smash is easy to learn and such smashing, clean fun! It’s a simple game with simple rules and it’s perfectly portable, too! Your kids will love the fast-paced excitement Avocado Smash will create. Check out the fun video below from CoolThings Australia for a brief tutorial on game play. Get Avocado Smash on Amazon here.

Disney Villainous is an award-winning sensation! Play as your favorite Disney villain and complete your objective before your opponents. The game instructions are clear and the game play is super enjoyable. Villainous does have a bit of a learning curve at first, but don’t let that stop you – reviewers simply can’t get enough of this game. And as one Amazon review put it, Villainous “is very easy to learn but a challenge to master, which makes it accessible for those who are casual board gamers but enjoyable for the more “hardcore” enthusiast.” Watch the wickedly fun video below from Geek and Sundry for an brief but in-depth review of the game. Get Villainous on Amazon here.

Clank! In! Space! is, simply put, amazing! A super fun deck-building game, Clank! In! Space! features a really cool game board and creative game mechanics. Players burgle their way through the evil Lord Eradikus’s spaceship, collecting allies and treasure along the way. But careful not to make too much noise, or you’ll never make it to the escape pod in time! Get this fantastic game on Amazon here.

Star Wars: Rebellion is set in the light-sabery realm of Star Wars and a civil war is brewing. The Star Wars fans in your family will adore this game for it’s epic story and out-of-this-world game play. The game includes over 150 miniatures and some of the coolest game boards in the galaxy! According to the publisher, whether you choose to control the Galactic Empire or the Rebel Alliance, “you must command starships, account for troop movements, and rally systems to your cause.” Your kids will absolutely love this game! How could they not? It’s Star Wars! The amazing video below from Fantasy Flight Games will not only give you a sense of this awesome game, but will make you want to play it immediately! Get it on Amazon here.

Mission: Red Planet is a gorgeous, steampunk board game with easy to learn game mechanics. Your family will love the story and the way this game is played. Victorian-era Earth is in need of resources and you must send your astronauts to Mars to claim the most mineral-rich lands before time runs out. There is so much to love about this game, from it’s super cool game board, to the eccentric character cards, to the colorful astronaut miniatures, this game rocks. The video below from 3 Minute Board Games provides a concise summary on how to play the game. Get it on Amazon here.

Space Base is an easy to learn, seriously fun, dice-rolling, card-drafting game set in space. From your own “space base”, you build and control the ships in your fleet to earn rewards and grow your influence until a winner is named Admiral of the fleet. This game is so completely awesome, with amazing artwork and super cool game pieces – your family is going to love it! For more details on how to play this awesome game, check out the video below from Board Game Geek. Get it on Amazon here.