Since this Summer looks like it will consist of a lot more staying home than any of us could have imagined, I thought I’d share some of the best family board games EVER.
We’ve always been a board game family, but let’s be real – not all games are equally fun. While I will definitely take Star Wars Monopoly over the traditional version, there are so many more – BETTER options for family game night.
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Here are a few of our current favorites.
We’re a family of four, so most of these games have a max 4 players, unless otherwise noted.
Best Family Board Games for Elementary-Age Kids
As I write this, my kids just finished 2nd and 3rd grade, and these games are ones we’ve been able to enjoy with both of them, unless there’s a not about just my older child enjoying them.
If you are looking for family board games for younger kids check out my post about the best board games for 3 & 4 year olds and this one about the best board games for toddlers.
But for today, we’re focusing on family games that elementary school kids will enjoy!
Minecraft IRL
If your kids are Minecraft fans, then they NEED this “real life” minecraft game. I’ll be honest, I’m not a fan of the computer version of Minecraft, but I still loved this game.
The kids are a lot more into it because it reminds them of the computer version so it’s a big win for everybody. Get the game here.
Takenoko
This is one of our more recent buys, and it’s been a huge hit! The age on the box is 13 and up, but if you play games as a family a lot, elementary kids should’t have any trouble figuring out how to play this game. My 7 year old and 9 year old are both able to play it with no problem!
The game involves an adorable panda bear, growing bamboo and meeting secret challenges to earn points. It’s lots of fun and I can’t get enough of it! This is one of the longer games on this list, so be prepared for 45 minutes to an hour of playtime. Grab the game here.
Pokemon – the Game
Pokemon trading cards have made a huge comeback over the last few years, but around here, most of the kids do trading and play a card game more similar to war than the traditional 2 player Pokemon game.
My son (9 year old) recently taught me how to play the real Pokemon battle game and we’re hooked! This gets played at least 3x a week at our house. You can use cards you already have to build a battle deck, or do what I did and purchase a pre-made battle-ready deck. My son makes his own, since he has 100s of cards and I just grab a deck and go! Get a pre-made deck here.
Spy Alley
This is a game from my childhood and we recently got it to enjoy with the kids. Each player is a spy and trying to gather all of their information to win the game without anyone else guessing their secret identity. I always felt like a super-cool spy when I played this as a kid, and it seems like my kids feel the same. Grab this game here.
Go Nuts for Donuts
Who couldn’t use a donut themed game? This one is a fast paced game that’s perfect to wind down after a busy day, especially if you’re pressed for time! Grab the game here.
Rhino Hero Super Battle
Not only does this game have the best name ever – it’s also super fun! You work together to stack buildings and race your way to the top. The player who is on top when the building topples (as long as they’re not the one to topple it) wins! Get the game.
Carcassone
In this game players place tiles to build the city of Carcassone. You earn points based on the type of structure you complete: roads, cities, cloisters or farms. My husband and I have played and loved this game for 11 years so we were very excited to introduce it to the kids.
To be sure the kids can compete we remove the farming element from the game when playing with the little ones. That puts everyone on more even footing since scoring farms can be pretty strategic. There’s also a kid’s version of Carcassone but we always play the regular Carcassone at our house.
Dominion
This is another game that says 13 and up on the box, but my 9 year old plays it with no trouble. It is not a game he often wins, but we enjoy playing it together. Dominion is a whole series of games, and you can buy card expansions to make it even more fun as you play. Get the base game here.
Kingdomino
We bought Kindomino when our youngest was just 5 and she was able to hold her own. In fact, she often won because she had the benefit of tips and advice from mom and dad as we played.
There are a couple of expansions to this game to make it different and harder as the kids grow up. Lots of fun!
Risk
This game needs no introduction. It’s a classic, and it’s epic. Risk definitely has to go on the family board game night list. Get Risk here.
Does your family have a favorite board game? I’d love to hear what you’re playing this Summer!
Tamarac Rehab says
Cool games to spend time with family. My kids love these toys. Especially now during quarantine it is a necessary thing, it helps us to relax morally after a hard day when there is nowhere to hide from each other. This year was difficult for everyone, but such simple games really help to have fun in your free time. My children are delighted with this and I like to see them laughing and having fun. Good luck!
Kristina Daugherty says
Great suggestions! I’ll have to try these! We love family game night! Thank you!
snow rider says
Wonderful recommendations! I can’t wait to give these a shot! We look forward to game night every week! I really appreciate it.