15 Best Board Games for Families 2025: Fun Reviewed
Searching for the best board games for families? Our list has classics and new hits that promise laughs and fun for everyone!
Looking for the best board games for families? We know picking the right one can feel like solving a Rubik’s cube while blindfolded. For this list, we focus on games that get everyone at the table laughing, thinking, and not flipping the board in frustration. We picked games that are easy to learn, quick to play, and fun for all ages. Whether your family loves a bit of competition or a lot of teamwork, these picks promise great times and fewer sibling squabbles. So grab a snack, gather ‘round, and check out our list of the best board games for families!
On this list:
15 Ticket to Ride
Ticket to Ride is a staple at our family game nights. The rules are simple: collect cards, claim train routes, and block your dad from Seattle to LA (sorry, dad). We chose this because it mixes strategy and luck, so no one feels left out. Even grandma picked it up after a round or two! There’s plenty of laughter, and you’ll quickly learn who has the sneakiest route-stealing skills in the family. It’s perfect for beginners but still keeps things interesting for seasoned players. The game is easy to set up and doesn’t take all evening, which keeps everyone happy.
14 Carcassonne
We love Carcassonne because it turns everyone into a landscape architect. You build cities, roads, and fields by placing tiles and little wooden meeples (which we ended up naming, don’t judge). The gameplay is relaxing, but you still get that sweet little thrill when you finish a big city. The game never looks the same twice, so it’s always fresh. It’s great for families, as younger kids can easily join in, and the grown-ups can work on sneaky plans if they want. Plus, it’s not just about winning; building the map together is half the fun.
13 Sushi Go!
Sushi Go! is fast, cute, and always leaves us hungry for more (and sometimes just hungry). It’s a card drafting game where you try to collect the best combos of sushi dishes. We love it because it’s easy to learn and quick to play—great for those with short attention spans or if someone has to leave for piano practice soon. The adorable art helps too, and everyone gets a kick out of yelling, ‘Wasabi!’ when they pull off a winning combo. It’s a family favorite for sure and travels well for game night at grandma’s house.
12 Qwirkle
Qwirkle is like Scrabble’s chill cousin, but instead of words, you match colors and shapes. It’s one of the best board games for families because it somehow manages to keep both the youngest and oldest players engaged. We often find ourselves getting a bit too competitive over lining up a six-piece Qwirkle, but that’s all part of the fun. No reading needed, so even little ones can jump in. Beware, though: someone in your family will find a pattern you didn’t see and gloat about it all week.
11 Kingdomino
Kingdomino is easy to learn and plays in a flash, but it packs a good amount of strategy. Your job is to build the best kingdom by matching tiles. It’s quick, colorful, and has just enough room for a bit of friendly sabotage. Great for busy evenings and a hit with our family because there are few rules and many laughs. The best board games for families always keep everyone involved without taking forever, and Kingdomino nails it. Plus, we pretend to be the royal family, crowns and all.
10 Codenames
Codenames brings out the secret spy in everyone. Team up and try to guess your team’s words with clever one-word clues. We picked this for our best board games for families list because it’s easy to explain, and you don’t need to know a lot of trivia—just make the right connections. We always end up with at least one person making way too complicated clues, but that’s half the fun. Codenames is perfect for bigger families since it can handle several players at once.
9 Patchwork
Patchwork is our go-to for a snug two-player game. You and your opponent compete to build the comfiest quilt, and it might sound easy, but it’s a puzzle that can make you sweat. We love it for its calm vibe, cute theme, and the sneaky satisfaction of grabbing the perfect piece just before someone else. This one is top-notch for mother-daughter game nights, though don’t be surprised if the loser wants a rematch… immediately. It’s cozy, quick, and has zero sharp corners.
8 Takenoko
Takenoko mixes adorable pandas, gardening, and a little bit of chaos. We picked this because it’s simple enough for younger players but cute enough to charm everyone at the table. You grow bamboo, feed a panda, and try to finish secret goals. The board changes every game, so you never play the same way twice. Plus, the panda figurine gets passed around like a trophy. Best board games for families? Takenoko is among them, hands down. The panda alone could win you over.
7 Azul
Azul is like a trip to Portugal without the airfare. You build a pretty tile mosaic and try to outsmart your family at every turn. We like it because it has simple rules but plenty of ways to play clever. It’s pretty, calming, and sometimes cutthroat—one wrong tile grab and suddenly, your sister is plotting revenge. Azul is great for families because everyone enjoys making something beautiful, even if dad’s mosaic looks like a traffic jam.
6 King of Tokyo
King of Tokyo is pure monster mayhem, and we love it. Each player is a giant monster, rolling dice and smashing stuff (sometimes each other). We chose it for the best board games for families list because it’s easy to learn, funny, and perfect if your family likes a bit of luck and a lot of wild energy. The suspense of rolling the dice gets everyone cheering, groaning, or plotting revenge on the winner. It’s not always about winning; sometimes, you just want to see who can do the best monster roar.
5 The Game of Life
The Game of Life has been around forever, but it still gets us arguing over who made better life choices (spoiler: it’s never the one with the most kids in the car). We picked this for nostalgia, easy play, and a big spinning wheel. It moves quickly with a big group, and the silly events always get laughs. Younger kids love the bright pieces, and adults remember why they never became a rock star dentist. It’s not super strategic, but it’s always fun.
4 Camel Up
Camel Up is one wild camel race, and we still remember the time our camel leaped four spaces in one crazy turn. It’s perfect for families because it’s silly, unpredictable, and has easy-to-learn rules. You bet on which camel will win or lose, and sometimes the family pet tries to join in. The pyramid dice shaker is a crowd-pleaser, too. This is one of the best board games for families because everyone can join, and anyone can win—even grandma who roots for the blue camel every single time.
3 Outfoxed!
Outfoxed! makes everyone a detective, and we adore it for younger families. You work together to find clues and catch the sneaky fox before they escape. It’s super cooperative, so no one feels left out. Even our littlest cousin solved the case! We like that it teaches kids teamwork, memory, and deduction. The best board games for families always get everyone in on the action, and Outfoxed! is a winner when you want less competition and more teamwork. Plus, it’ll have everyone talking in their best detective voices.
2 Labyrinth
Labyrinth is a game that never gets old. You slide tiles to open paths and grab treasures. We’ve played this so many times, and every game is different. It’s easy to grasp, but you need to think a few moves ahead. That leads to some big laughs—and some bigger groans when a sibling cuts you off. It’s great for families with kids of all ages. The simple rules and quick play make it perfect for after dinner. Bonus: you don’t have to be a genius to win.
1 Catan
We saved the best for last: Catan. This is the top of our best board games for families list because it never gets boring. You build settlements, trade resources (sheep for wheat, anyone?), and battle (politely, usually) for the longest road. Our family games get hilarious when someone tries to hoard all the brick, or the robber crushes everyone’s dreams. Catan is the perfect mix of luck, strategy, and negotiation, and it brings everyone back to the table again and again. If you want a game that grows with your family, this is it.
