Creating our kids’ board game gift guide each year is one of my favorite holiday traditions. There is something so special about finding the games that bring everyone together, laughing, learning, and making memories that last long after the decorations come down. Board games help kids practice math and language skills, build social awareness, and learn how to win and lose with grace, all while having fun.
This list includes the best new games we played this year along with our tried and true favorites that never get old. Starting age recommendations are listed for each game. These reflect the youngest age we would feel comfortable gifting the game to, though plenty of kids will enjoy them earlier or later depending on their interest and experience.
If you would like even more age-based recommendations, you can find those here.
Hanna Honeybee
Our two year old is obsessed with this game! A cute theme and pieces perfect for little hands, it’s a great pick for little gamers ready to start learning the fundamentals of gaming and following simple rules. Ages 2+
Mr Postmouse’s Picnic
I love how gentle the theme of this game is. Based off of a beautiful picture book, the game feels whimsical and nostalgic. Easy rules, cooperative gameplay, and grow-with-your-confidence variants that increase the difficulty. One of my favorites from the year! Ages 4+
Mooki Island
Mooki Island is easy to teach, genuinely fun to play, and full of thoughtful little moments that grow with your child. It’s rare to find a game that works so well for both younger kids and older siblings, but this one delivers every time. Ages 4+
Forest Festival
A unique memory game perfect for preschoolers and lower elementary players! Easy to set up and play quickly, everyone examines a picture scene and tries to remember all the characters they saw. The more you guess correctly, the more points you earn. Ages 4+
Mmm!
A cooperative hit! You’re working together to get the food from the pantry before the cat gets to you. This is a quick to learn game filled with excellent choices that have kids thinking through ways to mitigate the luck of the dice and increase their chances of winning. My 6 and 8 year old have absolutely loved this one. Ages 5+
Water Dragons
A cute, competitive racing game our kids have been loving this year. Move different sections of your water dragons to cross the finish line. This is a fun one where kids will need to manage their whole dragon rather than just racing a head as fast as they can. Ages 5+
Super Meow
On the surface Super Meow is a lovely kids game that plays quickly. But underneath it’s teaching players the fundamentals of deck building strategies and turning them into smart, strategic players. Ages 6+
Duck and Cover
My kids’ most played game of the year and it’s not close! Duck and Cover works for everyone, kids and adults and has been one of the biggest hit with our community this year! I love that it plays up to 7 making it a great option for families big and small! Ages 6+
The Sandcastles of Burgundy
Stop it right now this game is too cute! It does such a great job of distilling the complex mechanics from the Castles of Burgundy into a kid friendly game with hidden depth and plenty of learning opportunities! Ages 6+
Cascadia Junior
From its approachable gameplay to the delightful panorama board that sparks storytelling, every element has been designed with kids in mind — while still offering enough depth to keep the whole family engaged. It teaches multi-step planning through simple drafting and puzzle-like placements, striking the perfect balance between accessibility and challenge. Ages 6+
Foxy
I love memory games for kids and this one in particular is exceptional. Simple to learn, tricky to master, but a game all players, young and old, will get better at with each play and grow in confidence! I love it so much I filmed a play along so you and your family can enjoy a game with me to check it out! Ages 6+
Splendor Kids
I love how this game perfectly grabs the elements of Splendor’s gem collecting and planning but in it’s own unique game that feels worth playing on its own regardless of its connection to Splendor. You can even adjust the board to play a shorter or longer game which has been *chef’s kiss* to make work for however long you have for game night. Ages 6+
MicroMacro Kids
Everything I’ve been begging for and more! I couldn’t be more thrilled with Micro Macro Kids. If your kids love hidden picture games and where’s Waldo books, this game is a must! Kid friendly mysteries to solve and tons of seek-and-find fun! Ages 8+ (younger with help)
Toy Battle
A two player war game that manages to be both cute and cunning. I absolutely love the challenge of choosing the right toy for your current mission and that you choose from the multiple included maps for a new feel each game. Ages 8+
Dragon Isles
Perfect for fans of Dragonwood! Increase your skills throughout the game to improve your fighting ability. A great addition of strategy to the classic Dragonwood game and still just as wonderful for a little bit of math practice too! Ages 8+
Murdle Jr.
Murdle continues to be a great blend of both reading and gaming. These are perfect for kids who enjoy a cozy activity they can relax and play anywhere. Great for traveling, too! Murdle Jr is good for kids between ages 8-12 while the standard Murdle books which have more challenging puzzles are a good for for kids 13+.
Star Realms Academy
Just enough strategy to feel clever, but with streamlined rules so younger players can jump in and learn deck building! With no reading required and minimal math, it’s perfect for family game nights when you want something light, quick, and fun. Ages 7-8+
10 Days in the USA
10 Days in the USA feels like a mini road trip in a box. You’re racing to plan your perfect route across the country using cars, planes, and walking paths, and it’s just the right mix of strategy and luck. Every game feels different, and it plays fast enough to fit into any family night. Ages 8+
Ghost Fightin’ Treasure Hunters
This cooperative, kid-friendly adventure lets your family team up to chase ghosts out of a haunted house before you all get overwhelmed! With simple, luck-driven dice rolls and colorful miniatures, it’s perfect for younger players but challenging enough that even adults will get caught up in the fun and suspense. We absolutely LOVE the new edition; the 1 vs All game mode is incredibly fun! Ages 8+
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