15 Best Board Games For Family Game Night (Updated)
With so many board game options, it can be hard to pick one to play with your family. Here is our list of the best board games for family game night to help make your choice easier.
Want to have more family game nights? If you are wondering “What are fun family board games?” then you’re in the right place!
Are Board Games Still Popular?
Oh yes, they are, my friend!
Board games have been seeing a huge resurgence in popularity of late. With good reason – they’re super fun!
My family has quite the competitive streak, so when we pull out a board game, those competitive juices start flowing and the fun starts happening. Plus, we’re making memories together – memories that are often brought up at random times.
Case in point: “Hey Dad, remember last week when we were playing Monopoly and Jake made that crazy deal with Luke so that he could have 3 hotels?” (actual question asked by my 9-year-old)
Have more fun with your kids when you can join in on the game! Create friendly competitions to see who will be the champion of the night.
Fun Board Games Everyone Will Enjoy: 21 Best Board Games For Family Game Night
Board games are not only crazy fun but also unbelievably diverse. From Clue to Monopoly, there are a plethora of board games you can play today!
If you are wondering what board games to indulge the kids in, I have you covered with classic games, new games, and everything in between. I hope you find something on this list of fun family board games for family game night that everyone will love!
The Ultimate List Of Board Games For Family Game Night
Playing board games is one of the best ways of spending unhurried quality time with your family. Your children want and need you to spend time and play with them. So why not pick out a family board game for tonight?
1. Beat The Parents
In this fun-filled family trivia game, adults answer questions about kid stuff, and kids answer questions their parents should know. Throw in some wild cards and let the fun begin!
Age: For Ages 6+
Players: 2+
Playing time: ~45 minutes
Skills Learned: Creativity
2. Trivial Pursuit, Family Edition
Who doesn’t love Trivial Pursuit? Previous editions were too hard for kids. Now you can play with the kids in this family edition! It has a quicker pace to help keep kids engaged and can be played individually or in pairs.
Age: For Ages 8+
Players: 2+
Playing time: ~30 minutes
Skills Learned: Learning Trivia Knowledge
3. Apples to Apples Junior
It’s always an evening of surprises and outrageous answers in this game of outrageous comparisons. Apples to Apples Junior is easy to learn, easy to play, and great for expanding kids’ vocabulary and thinking skills at the same time.
Simply pick the closest “apples to apples” comparison from your game cards and the judge picks the best comparison. This crowd-pleaser is just as much fun for adults as it is for kids (beware: your cheeks may hurt from all the laughing)
Age: For Ages 9+ (our family played it with great success starting at 7 years old)
Players: 4-8
Playing time: ~30 minutes
Skills Learned: Literacy & Creativity
4. Ticket To Ride
Ticket to Ride is a cross-country train adventure where players battle to see who can claim railway routes and travel to the most cities in North America in just seven days. It’s a game of thought and planning that’s never the same adventure twice.
Age: For Ages 8+
Players: 2-5
Playing time: 30-60 minutes
Skills Learned: Strategy & planning
5. Carcassonne
It’s a shame I didn’t know about this one for so long because Carcassonne is hands-down one of the best family board games! It is a tile-placement game where each player places a tile within a piece of Southern French landscape. With no reading involved, this map making strategy game can be played by kids of all ages.
Age: For Ages 8+
Players: 2 to 5
Playing time: 30-90 minutes
Skills Learned: Simple, intelligent tile game
6. Monopoly
Monopoly is a classic for good reason. It’s exciting, involves strategy, and teaches kids money skills and patience. I have been playing Monopoly since I was a kid and now enjoy Monopoly “wars” with my own family.
Because this is not a quick game, this is the one to pull out when you can have a dedicated game night (Friday Night Game Night, anyone?). Don’t want the classic version? There are now Monopoly versions for almost any interest: shows, movies, your fav university and more.
Age: 8+ (we’ve been playing with our kids since they were about 6)
Players: 2 to 6 (when we’ve had more players, we play on teams)
Playing time: 60-90 minutes
Skills Learned: Strategy game teaching money skills
7. Pandemic
Players take on the role of scientists to fight four deadly diseases and find the cures for the illnesses before humanity gets extinguished.
Pandemic is a cooperative game and encourages the players to work together and plan their strategies before outbreaks. You can buy extension packs so that the game never gets old (there are also multiple versions of this game).
Age: 8+
Players: 2-4 players
Playing time: 45 minutes
Skills Learned: Strategy & Collaboration
8. Scrambled States of America
Scrambled States of America is a geography board game for kids, The objective of the game is to match cards up while learning more about the states and their geographical location. You win by collecting most state cards and become the head of the states.
Age: 8+
Players: 2-4
Playing time: 20 minutes
Skills Learned: Geography knowledge
9. Clue – Classic Edition
Clue is a classic board game that is popular among kids and adults!
In this game, you have to find out who is responsible for murdering the host at a millionaire’s mansion. You have to find out in which of the nine rooms, by which of the six weapons, and by which of the 6 suspects was this murder committed. Solve the mystery and you win the game!
Age: 8+
Players: 3-6
Playing time: 45 minutes
Skills Learned: Mystery deduction
10. Scrabble
Scrabble is a perfect way to spend time with friends and family, whether it’s a quiet night at home or a party at a friend’s house. This competitive word game can make any event more interactive, fun and interesting.
Age: 8+
Players: 2-4
Playing time: 30-60 minutes
Type: Vocabulary & Word Skills
11. Spy Alley
Players become a spy for their given country and try to uncover their opponents’ identity while keeping their own identity a secret. Players use deductive reasoning to expose other spies while attempting to complete their mission by obtaining code books, disguises, keys, and passwords.
The rules and premise are easy enough for the 7-year-old to follow and the game is challenging and entertaining enough to keep everyone’s interest, plus it is different every time.
Age: 8+
Players: 2-6
Playing time: 45 minutes
Type: Deductive reasoning
12. Dragonwood
In Dragonwood, you collect sets of adventurer cards to earn dice, which you then use to roll against your foes. Choose your strategy carefully because the landscape of Dragonwood is ever-changing. Only the bravest will overcome the odds to win!
Age: 8+
Players: 2-4
Playing time: 20 minutes
Type: Strategy
13. Scotland Yard
Criminal mastermind Mister X has escaped Scotland Yard and it’s up to you, Scotland Yard’s famous detectives, to catch him! Easy to learn, fast-paced and intense! Every turn is exciting. Perfect for family game night!
Age: 8+
Players: 2-6
Playing time: 45 minutes
Type: Mystery Solving, Cooperative Strategy
14. Battleship
Classic naval battle game. In head-to-head battle, players search for the enemy’s fleet of ships and destroy them one by one. With convenient portable battle cases and realistic looking naval crafts, Battleship game puts players right in the middle of the action.
Age: 7+
Players: 2 (or more if you use teams)
Playing time: 30 minutes
Type: Critical Thinking, Strategy
15. Drop Squad: The Escape!
I was surprised at just how much my family loved this game! It made a great addition to our family game night rotation. My kids had a blast competing with each other to outwit everyone. This game seriously has a little bit of everything to it: puzzles, wild cards, marble games, and it’s fast-paced!
Age: 5+
Players: 2-4
Playing time: 15-30 minutes
Type: Critical Thinking, Strategy
There you have it! Fifteen of the highest-rated, best board games for family game night to play with kids 6 years old and older.
Family board games also make fun gifts! If you are looking for birthday, holiday, or other gifts, consider giving the gift of screen-free entertainment for the whole family!
I am just old school enough to love playing board games rather than video games. Play together to create memories you will all cherish!
Even if you are relatively new to playing board games, you can play and learn at the same time, and have fun too while doing it all.
Let us know what your favorite board games are in the comment section below. We’d love to hear your best suggestions (and maybe we’ll add them to the list)!
Happy Board Game Playing!
This list of the best board games for family game night is perfect for families with kids 6 and up. These games are addictively fun for both kids and adults!
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My kids love games – and we play several of these. But now I have a few good ideas for Christmas. Thanks!
Hi Liz! Woohoo! That was my goal – to give ideas for awesome games for Christmas, birthdays or anytime you are looking for a game! I hope you find your family’s next favorite game in this list 🙂