Best Board Games for Kids Who Hate Losing (and How to Help Them)

Best Board Games for Kids Who Hate Losing (and How to Help Them)

If you’ve ever had a child burst into tears after losing a game of Candy Land or storm off halfway through Monopoly, you’re not alone. Losing is tough — especially for kids. Often times, it’s less about being a sore loser, and it more about playing the wrong kind of game.

When kids face pile-ons in UNO or get sent back to the start in Sorry! Over and over, it can feel discouraging and often aggravating. The right games though, create safe, low-stakes ways to practice losing without testing your patience. Quick, competitive rounds let kids try again right away, while cooperative games remove the me-vs-you pressure and teach how to handle setbacks together.

Both styles have their place, which is why this list includes a mix of competitive and cooperative games — all chosen to keep the fun high and the frustration low.

Here are my top recommendations for board games that help kids learn how to lose gracefully.

For more tips on how to help kids learn to lose gracefully, check out this post.

Competitive Games

These competitive games give kids a chance to practice losing in a low-pressure way. They’re competitive without being combative: no pile-ons, no unfair luck, just quick rounds that let players learn, try again, and keep the focus on fun.

For Kids:

Gobblet Gobblers

This game plays like a more advanced version of Tic-tac-toe taking just a minute or two. Good for building up tolerance for losing while trying again.

There’s also a more timeless, wooden version with more challenging gameplay for adults. We love this version as well!

Super Meow

A quick playing first deck building game. There are no scores in this game, the winner simply wins and the game is over. Good for not inviting a comparison of outcome.

Sequence for Kids

Try to get four of your chips in a row. Quick playing classic.

Cascadia Junior

Draft animals into your habitat. Combines a great mix of strategy and fun as you collect your favorite animals. Easily adjust difficulty up or down for players to have the game work for them.

For Families and Adults

Duck and Cover

This game plays like a solitaire game while still having an overall winner. A bit like BINGO, you’re able to enjoy playing without anyone ever impacting your game. This game has earned our Top Choice seal!

Karuba

A puzzle-y race game where everyone works on their own board. No fighting, lots of replay value!

Qwixo

A quick and clever game. Beautiful wooden blocks are inviting to play with and manipulate during the game while having an air of calm about them for less intense games and emotions.

Any of the games in this series would be great for this!

Point Salad

Draft your scoring objectives and then draft the vegetables you need to meet them. Everyone is playing against each other while also mostly focusing on their own game.

Foxy

A memory game for a group! Try to remember the number of animals you’ve seen. Want to give it a try? I’ve filmed a play-along for our YouTube channel so you can play with us right from home!

Cooperative Games

Cooperative games shift the focus from player vs. player to team vs. the game. Everyone works together toward a shared goal, which encourages problem-solving, communication, and handling setbacks — all without the pressure of losing individually.

It’s important to know that these games aren’t always the answer and shouldn’t be seen as a one-size-fits all fix guaranteed to help with losing. I talk about why in detail in this post.

Tip: Encourage everyone to play their own turn and offer guidance sparingly — even cooperative games can frustrate when players feel like passengers in someone else’s story.

For Kids

Mr. Postmouse’s Picnic

A delightful path building game with a whimsical air about it.
I’ve loved this game more each time we’ve played particularly for it’s gentle theme. It feels like old school kids’ cartoons in the best way.