Update: This article was last updated on 11th January 2024 to reflect the accuracy and up-to-date information on the page.
Tabletop games have been around for ages, and even in this technology-dominated era, it still holds a special place in kids’ hearts. From the sounds of little hands rolling dice to the sounds of strategy being played out, there’s something magical about playing board games.
But it’s not just about the fun – there are also hidden benefits to playing board games. These games can help you collaborate, sharpen your kids’ minds, and make them laugh like they know a secret language.
Nowadays, it can be hard to find the perfect game for your little explorer, since there are so many to choose from. But don’t worry – we’ve got you covered! We’ve put together a list of the top 20 games for tabletop gaming that will keep your kids entertained, help them learn, and make lasting memories.
List of Tabletop Games for Children
| Game | Recommended Age | Players Required | Time Required |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Jenga | 6 and up | 1 or more (ideal for 2 to 6 players) | 15-30 minutes |
| 2. UNO | 7 and up | 2 to 10 players | 15-30 minutes |
| 3. Ludo | 6 and up | 2 to 4 players | 20-30 minutes |
| 4. Chutes & Ladders | 3 and up | 2 to 4 players | 15-20 minutes |
| 5. Candy Land | 3 and up | 2 to 4 players | 15-20 minutes |
| 6. Sorry! | 6 and up | 2 to 4 players | 30-45 minutes |
| 7. Clue Junior | 5 and up | 2 to 6 players | 20-30 minutes |
| 8. Sequence for Kids | 3 and up | 2 to 4 players | 15-30 minutes |
| 9. Moonpreneur Board Game | 8 and up | 2 to 6 players | 30-60 minutes |
| 10. Forbidden Island | 10 and up | 2 to 4 players | 30 minutes |
| 11. Ticket to Ride: Journey Around the World | 8 and up | 2 to 5 players | 30-60 minutes |
| 12. Bananagrams: Word-building Fun | 7 and up | 1 or more (ideal for 2 to 6 players) | 15-30 minutes |
| 13. Sushi Go!: Card Drafting Delight | 8 and up | 2 to 5 players | 15-20 minutes |
| 14. Zingo!: Bingo with a Zing | 4 and up | 2 to 6 players | 15-20 minutes |
| 15. Rush Hour: Traffic Jam Challenge | 8 and up | 1 player | 15-20 minutes |
| 16. Outfoxed!: Cooperative Detective Game | 5 and up | 2 to 4 players | 20-30 minutes |
| 17. Battleship: Classic Naval Strategy | 7 and up | 2 players | 30-45 minutes |
| 18. Qwirkle: Color and Shape Matching | 6 and up | 2 to 4 players | 45 minutes |
| 19. The Game of Life: Junior Edition | 5 and up | 2 to 4 players | 30-45 minutes |
| 20. Robot Turtles: Coding for Kids | 4 and up | 2 to 4 players | 15-30 minutes |
1. Jenga
Recommended Age: 6 and up Players Required: 1 or more (ideal for 2 to 6 players) Time Required: 15-30 minutes |
Jenga requires both strategy and talent. The object of the game is to stack wooden blocks and then take them out one at a time without knocking the tower over. Those who enjoy testing their abilities and seeing how high they can build the tower will love this game.
2. UNO
Recommended Age: 7 and up Players Required: 2 to 10 players Time Required: 15-30 minutes |
The timeless card game Uno is ideal for young players of all ages. To eliminate all of your cards from the game, you must match colors and numbers. The colorful cards make it an enjoyable activity for kids, and the game is simple to learn.
Uno is ideal for larger families or groups of friends as it can be played by two to ten people.
3. Ludo
Recommended Age: 6 and up Players Required: 2 to 4 players Time Required: 20-30 minutes |
The object of the Ludo is to cross the finish line as quickly as possible by rolling dice and moving game pieces around a board. The game board is a cross-shaped track separated into four colored regions, with each color denoting a player’s starting position.
Each player has four game pieces that they move across the board. Moving all of your game pieces from the starting position to the finishing position before your rivals is the goal of the game. The game requires strategy because players can position their game pieces in different ways to obtain an edge and block their rivals.
4. Chutes & Ladders
Recommended Age: 3 and up Players Required: 2 to 4 players Time Required: 15-20 minutes |
Another well-known game that is simple to play and ideal for kids is Chutes & Ladders. Moving across a board with squares that include either ladders or chutes is required to win the game.
Participants move their game piece in response to the spin of a spinner. It teaches children numbers, counting, and taking turns.
5. Candy Land
Recommended Age: 3 and up Players Required: 2 to 4 players Time Required: 15-20 minutes |
Candy Land is a well-known game that has long been popular among young people. It’s a straightforward game where you draw cards and advance toward the goal. Kids will enjoy the game’s brilliant colors and candy-themed characters and visuals.
The game is simple to learn and aids in developing children’s counting and color-recognition abilities.
6. Sorry!
Recommended Age: 6 and up Players Required: 2 to 4 players Time Required: 30-45 minutes |
Sorry! is a game that blends luck and strategy. Moving all of your game pieces from the start to the home before the other players is the goal of the game. The game entails drawing cards and adjusting the placement of playing components.
Players can send their opponents’ game pieces back to the beginning, which adds a strategic component to the game.
7. Clue Junior
Recommended Age: 5 and up Players Required: 2 to 6 players Time Required: 20-30 minutes |
The original Clue game has been simplified in Clue Junior. By figuring out who committed the crime, where it happened, and what weapon was used, players must solve a mystery.
To solve the mystery, players check cards and provide suggestions. Whoever properly guesses the answers first wins. Those who enjoy puzzles and exercising their critical thinking abilities will enjoy this game.
8. Sequence for kids
Recommended Age: 3 and up Players Required: 2 to 4 players Time Required: 15-30 minutes |
Sequence for Kids combines skill and chance. Becoming the first player to collect four chips in a row is the aim of the game. To play the game, players draw cards and place chips on the board as necessary.
The game also incorporates aspects of strategy because players can prevent their rivals from obtaining four consecutive chips.
9. Moonpreneur Board Game
Recommended Age: 8 and up Players Required: 2 to 6 players Time Required: 30-60 minutes |
Moonpreneur board game is an educational board game that has helped hundreds of children, young adults, and adults gain financial literacy and stimulate an entrepreneurial mindset in a fun way.
Financial literacy is crucial and should be nurtured in children right from a young age.
10. Forbidden Island
Recommended Age: 10 and up Time Required: 30 minutes |
Forbidden Island is a cooperative game that involves working together to prevent a disaster. The game involves collecting treasure and escaping an island before it sinks into the ocean. The game is great for kids who love working in teams and developing problem-solving skills.
11. Ticket to Ride: Journey Around the World
Recommended Age: 8 and up Players Required: 2 to 5 players Time Required: 30-60 minutes |
Ticket to Ride invites players on a global adventure, collecting train cards to claim railway routes and complete destination tickets. This board game not only tests geography knowledge but also enhances strategic thinking and a bit of luck in a visually captivating setting.
12. Bananagrams: Word-building Fun
Recommended Age: 7 and up Players Required: 1 or more (ideal for 2 to 6 players) Time Required: 15-30 minutes |
Bananagrams is a fast-paced word game that sparks excitement in language enthusiasts. Racing to build a crossword grid encourages vocabulary expansion, word recognition, and quick thinking. Its portable nature makes it a perfect companion for language-loving kids on the go.
13. Sushi Go!: Card Drafting Delight
Recommended Age: 8 and up Players Required: 2 to 5 players Time Required: 15-20 minutes |
Sushi Go! introduces kids to the world of card drafting in a delightful way. Collecting sets of sushi to earn points not only encourages observation but also strategic planning. The adorable illustrations add an extra layer of charm to this engaging and educational game.
14. Zingo!: Bingo with a Zing
Recommended Age: 4 and up Players Required: 2 to 6 players Time Required: 15-20 minutes |
Zingo! puts a fresh twist on the classic bingo-style game. Matching tiles to Zingo! cards add an element of excitement to the traditional game. It’s a fun and educational experience that enhances pattern recognition, memory, and concentration in young players.
15. Rush Hour: Traffic Jam Challenge
Recommended Age: 8 and up Players Required: 1 player Time Required: 15-20 minutes |
Rush Hour is a single-player puzzle game that challenges players to navigate a red car through a gridlock of other vehicles. This brain-teasing game enhances spatial awareness, problem-solving, and critical thinking in an engaging and entertaining format.
16. Outfoxed!: Cooperative Detective Game
Recommended Age: 5 and up Players Required: 2 to 4 players Time Required: 20-30 minutes |
Outfoxed! takes players on a cooperative detective journey, working together to solve the mystery of a missing pie. Collaborating to gather clues and eliminate suspects fosters teamwork, deductive reasoning, and a sense of shared achievement.
17. Battleship: Classic Naval Strategy
Recommended Age: 7 and up Players Required: 2 players Time Required: 30-45 minutes |
Battleship, a classic naval strategy game, pits players against each other in a quest to sink the opponent’s fleet. Logical thinking, strategic planning, and a bit of luck come into play as players call out coordinates to locate and destroy enemy ships in this timeless game.
18. Qwirkle: Color and Shape Matching
Recommended Age: 6 and up Players Required: 2 to 4 players Time Required: 45 minutes |
Qwirkle is a tile-laying game that challenges players to match colors and shapes to score points. The game encourages pattern recognition, strategic thinking, and planning to create combinations that maximize points. It’s a visually stimulating game that combines fun with cognitive development.
19. The Game of Life: Junior Edition
Recommended Age: 5 and up Players Required: 2 to 4 players Time Required: 30-45 minutes |
The Game of Life: Junior Edition simplifies the classic game, guiding players through various life adventures. This entertaining journey introduces kids to decision-making, consequences, and the concepts of career and financial planning in an age-appropriate format.
20. Robot Turtles: Coding for Kids
Recommended Age: 4 and up Players Required: 2 to 4 players Time Required: 15-30 minutes |
Robot Turtles is a board game designed to introduce basic programming concepts to young children. Using cards to navigate turtles through a maze, the game lays the foundation for understanding the fundamentals of coding in a playful and accessible way.
To sum up, tabletop games are not only fun to play with your kids, but they also help them develop critical skills. Whether it’s strategic thinking, problem-solving skills, social skills, or language skills, there’s something for everyone in this list of top 20 tabletop games. With so many options to choose from, you’re sure to find a game that’s not just fun to play but also adds to your child’s educational experience.
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Are there any educational tabletop games?
Definitely! Games like Bananagrams build vocabulary, Sequence for Kids teaches strategy, and Rush Hour challenges logic and problem-solving. Look for games that align with their learning interests.