Before purchasing a board game, consider looking for games that appeal to your children’s ages, interests, and learning levels. We carefully considered any age recommendations, rules, number of players, challenge level, and entertainment value when reviewing products. We also consulted our team of editors (and parents) for their recommendations on board games their families love.
Here are the best family board games to keep everyone entertained and having fun together.
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For a high schooler, this could be their chance to show off and take down a parent. Scrabble is designed for two to four players who are ages 8 and up.
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What to Look for in a Family Board Game
Entertainment Value
Family game nights should be fun for everyone involved, so you’ll want to find a game that’s entertaining, no matter the age difference. Consider how old your children are and the game’s suggested age range, to make sure it will engage them. You’ll also want to think about your children’s interests when it comes to board games or card games. Some games, like Scrabble, are best for older children who are able to spell. A child who cannot spell yet would more than likely enjoy a simpler game that involves their participation more, such as Yeti in My Spaghetti.
Simple Rules
It’s no secret that board games are a ton of fun, but some of them are just difficult to learn. Before purchasing a board game, consider looking for games that appeal to your children’s ages, interests, and learning levels. This will make the game easier to learn, especially if it’s an age-appropriate game for everyone. For families with younger kids or a mix of ages, board games with straightforward rules will ensure that everyone playing understands their role in the game. Families with teens or tweens may enjoy a board game with more complex rules. If you’re ever unsure about a game, look at reviews to see what other families have to say. If you feel it will be too difficult to learn or too advanced for a member of your family, skip it.
Challenge Level
There are dozens of great benefits to playing board games, such as encouraging early learning, boosting language skills, and soothing anxiety. But if a board game is overly challenging, it can become overwhelming and unenjoyable. Look for games that will challenge the members of your family without being too much. For example, if you have children over the age of 6, consider Rummikub. Children will practice their planning skills and learn about sequencing and pattern recognition, but they’ll also have fun in the process.
Why Trust Verywell Family
Maya Polton is a former marketing manager and current freelance writer who covers food, home, and parenting. She’s also the mom of a 10-year-old son, a 6-year-old son, and 2-year old daughter. Sadly, her husband is a rare person who does not like family board games. While Maya enjoys them, she is left to play them alone with the brood, which never seems to end as well as intended. Maybe that’s why he doesn’t like them. Phoebe Sklansky is Verywell Family’s Associate Commerce Editor. As a commerce writer and avid shopper herself, she enjoys helping readers find the best products for their unique needs. Prior to joining the Verywell Family team, Phoebe Sklansky was a freelance writer for multiple home and entertainment outlets. She holds a B.A. from Vanderbilt University and is partial to word games like Scrabble and Wordle.
