Best Board Games and Gifts for Dad this Father’s Day

If the dad in your life lights up at the sound of dice hitting the table and the ruffle of cards shuffling, this Father’s Day is the perfect time to lean into that hobby with some of the best board games and gifts for dads. Whether he’s a lifelong gamer or just starting to discover how fun modern games can be, the gift of a game this Father’s Day tells shows him how much he’s loved and that you appreciate the time you spend playing together. 

From quick two player duels to strategy showdowns, here are some of the best board games and gifts for dads who love to play!

Best Board Games and Gifts for Dad this Father’s Day

Hot Streak

Nothing says “Happy Father’s Day” quite like betting on racing mascots! We love this game for how much fun it packs into a simple racing game. Players can influence the race and then laugh as the cards flip out and things go according to plan…or not. The game is perfectly camp with hilarious mascot figures, and a long pull out race track that’s build into the game box. It’s perfect family fun! 

Gardlings

In this push your luck tile placement game, you’re racing your opponents to build a high scoring garden first. Each turn you’ll build a garden by drawing tiles out of your bag until you choose to stop or bust. Then you’ll buy a new title to add to your bag and do it all over again until someone builds a garden capable of drafting the winning tile. Games play fast and work well for kids and adults alike. The easy to learn rules make for smooth gameplay that new and experienced gamer dads will love. 

Gnoming a Round

I’d be remiss if I didn’t put my own father’s favorite game on this list! My dad is wonderfully willing to play almost any game we introduce to him, but the one game you can always count on him to pull out is Gnoming a Round. Based on the classic card game Golf, Gnoming a Round is the perfect modern twist on the classic for families. 

Each card game from Grandpa Beck’s Games makes a great gift for dad! We also love their classics: Cover Your Assets and Skull King! My code KELSEY15 will save you 15% on your order!

Garden Rush

Take on Dad in this head to head challenge. Simple to learn yet highly strategic, you’ll draft vegetables to plant in your garden. Harvest them at the right moment to earn the most points possible while playing defense and making sure your opponents can’t get the veggies they need! We especially love that the box is the board and that no two games ever feel exactly the same! 

The Crew: Family Adventure

The newest addition to The Crew card game series, The Crew Family Adventure has 35 missions for families to complete, but this time, instead of trick taking, you’ll be playing cards in the style of Crazy 8s. It’s clever, cooperative, and fun; perfect for a card loving dad!

Mountain Goats

A chill game rolling dice is the perfect activity for Father’s Day. Mountain Goats is a fun one where you’ll roll dice, combine their values, and move your goat up the mountain. You’ve got to time your moves well so you aren’t knocked off the mountain. It’s friendly fun that plays quickly which is great because you’ll definitely want to play a few games back to back!

Ticket to Ride

You can never go wrong with this classic! Ticket to Ride is the perfect game to gift dad. It’s easy to learn and fun whether you’re playing with the whole family or just two players. It’s strategic without the stress as players race to claim train routes on the map of North America. You’ll build connections from city to city to complete secret goals before an opponent takes the route you need and requires you to rethink your path! Bonus: There are tons of map expansions so if it’s a gift he loves, there’s tons more to explore!

Molkky

For the backyard dad, Molkky is the game that’ll make all your grill outs even more fun! Toss a wooden skittle into the wooden pins to earn points without missing or going over your target score. It’s a game you can play with a hot dog in hand and gets surprisingly competitive in the best way!

New Card Decks and a Rotating Card Tray

If your dad loves nothing more than playing classic cards, gifting a couple new decks with a rotating card tray is the way to go! These card trays are one of the most used game accessories in our home; once you play a card game with them, you’ll never want to play without them! 

Our favorite fun and unique decks of cards.

Crokinole, Carooka, Carrom

When I asked Adam what’s one of his favorite games to play as a dad, he without hesitating said that he loves the fun he has with our large wooden flicking games. They have all the fun of a pool table (some like Carooka even let you play pool!) but don’t take up all the space. He loves the fun atmosphere they each bring to a gathering. 

Star Realms

A head to head deck building game where you’re racing to craft the best star fleet to eliminate your opponent. It’s a great first deck building game with straight forward combos that create powerful turns. Perfect for new or experienced players.

Thunder Road Vendetta

This is a classic just like Dad! Few games light up my husband and sons faces quite like getting this game out and enjoying the chaos they create as they race, fire, and blast each other all around the road. Whether you played the original 80’s version or are discovering it for the first time now, this is a game you make memories playing every time. 

Mythical Dice

Mythical Dice takes a trick taking card game and turns it into a dice game and somehow it works SO WELL! You’ll draw dice out of the bag, guess how many tricks you think you’ll take, and then toss them to see if you’re correct. It feels familiar and new all at once!

Lord of the Rings the Fellowship of the Ring A Trick Taking Game

For more trick taking fun, the cooperative Lord of the Rings The Fellowship of the Ring Trick Taking Game is a delight. Work together to complete different challenges themed around the story of the Fellowship of the Ring. We love that you can play solo or with up to four players. 

Captain Flip

Push your luck to to assemble the best crew. Captain Flip is great for quick, simple turns that aren’t confusing or overwhelming yet strategically interesting. There are multiple ships you can play with to increase variety from game to game. It’s easy to learn family fun you’ll love playing again and again. 

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