Looking for something fun to do on weekends or on your next family movie night. Find a list of best-recommended board games for kids according to age groups!

I love playing board games all the time. Even long before our daughter came into our lives, my husband and I would love hosting board games nights with friends. We would spend hours scouting through the board games section in Barnes & Noble, Target, etc., and keep updating our board games library at home with new additions all the time.

Nothing has changed much yet. Now that our daughter is a toddler, we have slowly started to introduce her to the fun of board games. We had started her off with first words flash cards and lately we have been slowly getting her used to the snacky, sneaky squirrel which has become my favorite too.

Best Board Games for kids

These are a list of some of the most recommended board games for kids separated by age groups. Also, find a list of my favorite board games that have been a big hit at our friends board games nights.

Best board games for toddlers

With toddlers, you need something that is very simple but still colorful and bold that can attract their attention easily.

  • Pete the cat – Join Pete the Cat and his friends as they work together to get the missing cupcakes back from Grumpy Toad. A game of luck, memory, and cooperation for kids.
  • Goodnight moon game – A fun matching and memory skill game for kids
  • Thinkfun roll & play game – Entertaining game to roll the cube and match the characters of each color. This toddler game encourages creativity, active play, and gross motor skills. 
  • First orchard – This is a very simple toddler game. Working as a team, the children try to pick the fruits from the trees before the raven reaches the end of the path.
  • Monkey around: Wiggle & giggle game – A wonderful game to get your 2 -year olds moving.  From hugs to high fives to simple skills like balancing, hopping, & marching, the cards in the game will prompt you & your toddler to get on the move! 
  • Qwirkle – Great game for young minds. Teaches kids patterns & color combination by building lines by matching tiles based on either color or shape, and score points for doing so. 

Best board games for preschoolers

  • Sneaky, snacky squirrel toddler game – This is our favorite board game to play with our 3 year old. Spin the spinner, pick the matching color acron and place it in your log.
  • Gobblet gobblers – Think of this game like tic-tac-toe. Players can gobble up their opponent’s pieces to take their place. Gobblet tests critical thinking while training memory skills and spatial awareness.
  • Stack up – This is a stacking, spinning cooperative game. The cooperative game means players work together to win. One of the best ways to teach teamwork and unity.
  • Hi Ho! Cherry – This is a fun counting board game where the kids will have a blast picking pretend fruit from the trees on the game board, and filling their buckets.
  • Zingo – This is every family's favorite! Perfect for pre-readers and early readers builds language and matching skills in preschool kids through fun, fast-paced play. 
  • Busytown – Just like Orchard, this is another co-operative game for toddlers. A fun & entertaining game for 3 year and ups.
  • Hoot Owl Hoot – Another fun cooperative game for preschoolers. Very similar to Orchard & entertaining for the whole family.
  • Zingo – Award winning preschool game with over 50 million sold worldwide. Exciting matching game for preschoolers which helps develop their critical skills.
  • Candyland – Classic board game. Players encounter all kinds of delicious surprises as they move their cute gingerbread man pawn around the path in a race to the castle

Best board games for school aged kids

These are board games that are perfect for kids aged 5 and up!

  • Cat crimes – Another exciting game by Thinkfun. It's a cat-themed logic game with challenging activities that help develop critical thinking in kids
  • Exploding kittens – This is a card game and is perfect for adults, teens and kids who are into kittens and explosions and laser beams.
  • Catan junior – This game will teach your kids about the world and will also introduce your child to the Settles of Catan family game, which is our favorite board game on our movie nights.
  • Suspend family game – This award hand-eye co-ordination skill is a lot of fun to play with. Take turns hanging the notched, rubber-tipped wire pieces from the tabletop stand. With each added piece, the balance shifts and the sculpture transforms. 
  • Jenga – Never gets boring! This is a great hit with adults as well as kids of any age.
  • IQ Twist – An easy travel friendly game. This puzzle is perfect for kids and adults alike. With 120 challenges, you’re sure to find a puzzle that tests you and pushes you to think outside the box.
  • Ticket to ride first year – A part of the ticket to ride series. Build trains and travel around the world is a very famous game among kids. Best for 6 years +.
  • Ticket to ride – Another great fast-paced wordly game for 8 years and up. Very similar to the Catan junior.
  • Moving maze – A complicated maze where the aim is to reach all your treasures and targets as you move through the Labyrinth.

Best family board games

Although over the years we have tried many board games these are a few of my favourite that we love playing with our friends over and over again.

  • Jenga – Never gets boring! This is a great hit with adults as well as kids of any age.
  • Monopoly – Buy, sell, and scheme your way to riches. My mos favourite and a great hit with all our friends too.
  • Game of Thrones Monopoly – Who doesn't love Game of Thrones and combine this with the amazing Monopoly, this game will keep you hooked on for a really long time.
  • Catan – An adventurous game that will take you through the world civilizations and worldly experiences. They come with the Catan Jr. as well that you can play with your school going kids.

Which one is your favourite board game with your kids? Do share it with me. I am always looking to add new games to our list! 🙂

totallymomsense