Looking for something fun to do with the kids? How about playing a board game together?
Board games are a brilliant way to spend quality time as a family – and it’s amazing how competitive everyone gets, no matter what age they are! Whether you’re looking for ways to fill a rainy afternoon or planning a proper family game night, here are 22 of the best board games for families, recommended by MyKidsTime parents.
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Best Board Games for Families
#1. Monopoly
Buy! Sell! “Go directly to Jail!” Buy real estate, collect rents and build hotels – but don’t go bankrupt as you wheel and deal your way around the board in one of the world’s most popular games ever published.
2-8 players, ages 8+
Available on Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com
#2. Scrabble
The classic crossword game that millions of families continue to enjoy after decades of play.
Build crosswords for points, add to your score with special spaces on the board, and if you can use all seven of your letter tiles in one turn, you’ll bag an extra 50 points!
There’s also a Scrabble Junior version for younger players.
2-4 players, ages 8+ (5+ for the Junior version)
Available on Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com
#3. Connect 4
The well-known vertical game played with coloured checkers. Slot the board into its stand and take turns dropping checkers into one of the 7 columns – first to get four in a row, horizontally, vertically or diagonally, wins.
2 players, ages 5+
Available on Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com
#4. Frustration
The aim of Frustration is to move your four coloured pieces all the way around the board and “home” before anyone else. You’ll need to roll a 6 to get a piece started.
The frustration really kicks in when the dice won’t play ball, or when another player lands on your piece and sends it right back to the start – even if you were nearly home!
2-4 players, ages 5+
Available on Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com
#5. Pictureka
Find it fast! Find it first! This is a fun visual twist on everyone’s favourite game, hide and seek. Pick up a card and race to find the matching object among the 9 game board tiles.
It’s finders keepers – grab the card if you spot the object fast or first. Watch out though, the board can change at any moment, as special mission cards let players flip, rotate or swap a tile.
Take turns rolling the dice, drawing a mission card and hunting for objects. Three different card decks keep things fresh – sometimes you’re matching an exact image, other times you’re hunting for anything that fits a category like “things that can fly”. Collect enough cards and you’re the Pictureka champion!
2-4 players, ages 6+
Available on Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com
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Looking For More?
Don’t let the weather dampen the fun – we’ve also got 25 of the best indoor games for 8-12 year olds to keep everyone entertained.
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#6. Ludo
A simple but classic board game for two to four players, in which everyone races their four tokens from start to finish according to the roll of the dice.
2-4 players, ages 4+
Available on Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com
#7. Boggle
Boggle begins with a shake of the covered tray, scattering sixteen letter dice into a 4×4 grid so only the top letter of each cube is visible.
Each player then races to find as many words as possible from letters that are horizontally, vertically or diagonally adjacent.
2+ players, ages 8+
Available on Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com
#8. Articulate
Articulate is the fast-talking description game – players try to get their team to guess as many card entries as possible within 30 seconds, without saying “rhymes with” or “sounds like”!
There’s also an Articulate for Kids version for ages 6+.
4+ players, ages 12+
Available on Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com
#9. Rummikub
This is one of our family’s absolute favourite games – and it’s great for maths skills too!
Rummikub is played with 106 tiles. You need 30 points to “meld” and start the game, then, much like the card game Rummy, players build runs of the same colour (Red 7, Red 8, Red 9) or sets of the same number (Blue 8, Red 8, Black 8). First to get rid of all their tiles wins.
2-4 players, ages 8+
Available on Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com
You may also enjoy 15 Fun Card Games for Kids
#10. Cluedo
This popular murder-mystery deduction game remains one of the best board games around.
Players move around the mansion as one of six characters, gathering clues to work out which suspect committed the crime, with which weapon, and in which room.
3-6 players, ages 8+
Available on Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com
#11. Dixit
Dixit is a multi-award-winning, beautifully illustrated game where imagination is the main player. It tests logic, bluffing and deduction, all with very few rules to learn.
Each round, one player becomes the storyteller and calls out a phrase or word to describe one of their cards. The other players pick a card of their own that best matches the clue, then everyone tries to guess which card belonged to the storyteller.
Dixit is simple, brilliant and endlessly replayable – extension packs add even more cards, so it never gets old. Great for family game nights or evenings with friends.
3-6 players, ages 8+
Available on Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com
#12. Jungle Speed
Jungle Speed calls for sharp observation and lightning reflexes – and a steady hand, which can be hard to manage during the fits of laughter it usually causes!
A wooden totem sits in the middle of the table. Each player has a hand of cards, and the aim is to be first to get rid of all of yours. Every turn, players reveal a card, and if two match, those players race to grab the totem – the faster player hands their cards to their unlucky opponent.
Some cards look almost identical, tricking players into grabbing by mistake, while others force everyone to grab at once or shake up the rules entirely. Do you have the reflexes to win?
2+ players, ages 7+
Available on Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com
#13. Villa Paletti
Long ago in Italy, a man named Paletti tried to build the tallest castle in the world. When he ran out of money, he began taking columns from the ground floor to build higher levels above. The result: the extraordinary Villa Paletti.
Players try to get their own columns onto the highest possible level before the whole structure collapses. Quick, tense and genuinely fun for the whole family.
2-4 players, ages 8+
Available on Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com
#14. Carcassonne
Carcassonne is a clever tile-laying game for 2-5 players, set around the medieval French city of the same name. Players build roads, cities, cloisters and meadows, then deploy their “meeples” as farmers, knights, monks and thieves.
The rules are easy to pick up, and because the board is built fresh each time from a shuffled set of tiles, no two games are ever the same. A worldwide bestseller and award-winner that belongs in any board game collection.
2-5 players, ages 8+
Available on Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com
#15. Jenga
The classic block-stacking, stack-crashing game. Build a sturdy tower from wooden blocks, then take turns pulling one out and balancing it on top – until the whole thing comes crashing down.
Is your hand steady enough to pull the last safe block?
2+ players, ages 6+ (younger kids can usually manage it too)
Available on Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com
#16. Hungry Hippos
Four hungry hippos, one bunch of marbles – press their tails fast to make them chomp! Whoever’s hippo gobbles the most marbles wins.
Great for developing hand-eye coordination in preschoolers. Start with just one marble for the littlest players and add more as their skills improve.
2-4 players, ages 3+
Available on Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com
#17. Guess Who
Another firm family favourite. Each player picks a mystery character, and the other has to guess who it is by asking yes-or-no questions like “Do you have brown eyes?” or “Are you wearing a hat?”
Narrow it down question by question, then make your final guess.
2 players, ages 6+
Available on Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com
#18. Candy Land
A gentle, colourful classic that’s been a preschool favourite for generations.
Pick your sweet character and make your way along the rainbow path, through Peppermint Forest and the Lagoon of Lord Licorice, all the way to Princess Frostine’s Ice Palace and King Kandy’s Castle.
Watch out for tiles that send you backwards! One of the best board games for preschoolers.
2-4 players, ages 3+
Available on Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com
#19. Junior 30 Seconds
Junior 30 Seconds is billed as the “Quick Thinking, Fast Talking Irish Board Game”. Best played in teams (though it works fine with two players taking turns if you’re short on numbers), teams move around the board by correctly guessing the names their teammates are describing.
You have 30 seconds to identify as many of the 5 names as you can. Describers can use any clues they like, except the name itself.
The first team to reach the FINISH square wins.
4+ players, ages 7+
#20. Pie Face
A hugely popular party game that’s guaranteed to bring the laughs – somebody’s bound to get splatted! Add a dollop of whipped cream (or a wet sponge) to the “hand” of the game unit and start turning the handle.
It could go off at any moment, so keep your fingers crossed and hope it’s not your turn to get pie-faced! Score a point for every safe turn – first to 25 points wins.
PS – whipped cream not included.
2+ players, ages 5+
Available on Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com
You may also enjoy 10 Insanely Easy Ideas for a Fun Family Game Night
#21. Hearts (Online)
Hearts is a family favourite that mixes strategy with a bit of luck. Players exchange cards over multiple rounds, aiming to finish with the fewest points by avoiding costly penalty cards – especially the dreaded Queen of Spades. Its online presence has made it one of the most-played card games around, so it’s easy to pick up a game whenever the mood strikes.
1-4 players, ages 8+
Available for free at Hearts.Land
#22. Spades (Online)
Spades is a strategic card game where players or teams bid on how many “tricks” they’ll win, aiming to be the first to reach 500 points.
It’s an excellent family game – it encourages teamwork, sharpens critical thinking, and gives everyone a bit of friendly competition while spending time together.
1-4 players, ages 8+
Available for free at Spades.co
Which of these best board games are your family’s favourites? Leave a comment below and let us know – we’d love to hear from you!
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best board games for young children?
For preschoolers and younger children, games with simple rules and short playing times work best – think Hungry Hippos, Candy Land or Ludo. These build early skills like turn-taking, colour and number recognition, and hand-eye coordination without needing reading or complex strategy.
What’s a good board game for family game night with a mix of ages?
Games like Rummikub, Cluedo, Dixit or Jenga tend to work well across a wide age range, since younger and older family members can all play at a similar level. Party-style games like Pie Face or Guess Who are also great icebreakers for mixed-age groups.
Are there board games that don’t need a big group?
Yes – several games on this list work well with just two players, including Connect 4, Guess Who, Boggle and the online card games Hearts and Spades.
Do we need to buy anything extra for these games?
Most games come complete in the box. The main exception is Pie Face, which needs whipped cream or a wet sponge (not included) for the full messy effect.
More Family Game Ideas
If this list has you in the mood for more family game night inspiration, take a look at:
- 15 Completely Different Board Games To Play With The Family
- 25 of the Best Indoor Games for 8-12 Year Olds
- 15 Fun Card Games for Kids
- 10 Insanely Easy Ideas for a Fun Family Game Night
Save This For Later
No printable this time, but this list is worth bookmarking for the next rainy day, birthday wish list, or family game night you’re planning. Save the page or share it with another parent who’s stuck for ideas.
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