6 Best Kids Board Games 2025: Top Fun Picks
Looking for the best kids board games? We tested loads and picked our top choices for hours of fun and easy play!
Finding the best kids board games is like going on a wild treasure hunt—there are a lot of shiny choices, but only a few true gems. When we pick our favorites, we focus on fun, easy to learn rules, and replay value. If a game can’t survive snack time chaos or gets boring after two rounds, it’s out! This year, we’ve rounded up six of the best kids board games that promise to keep everyone grinning—parents included. Get ready for some serious family giggles and a few dramatic comeback wins. And yes, we’ve played every single one. Buckle up!
On this list:
6 Outfoxed!
We picked Outfoxed! because our game group had a blast playing it with the kids. It’s a whodunit with foxes, and yes, we cracked up every time we accused the wrong suspect. The cooperative play makes everyone root for the same goal, which is helpful since our youngest player tends to turn every game into a competition—even against herself. Plus, the clue decoder tray makes the kids feel like real detectives. It’s fast-paced, easy to learn, and gives everyone a chance to use their best Sherlock Holmes voice. Best of all, it keeps adults engaged without letting kids get lost in the rules. If you have wiggle-worms or drama queens at your table, this is one of the best kids board games to get everyone working together.
5 Ticket to Ride: First Journey
Our group loves trains almost as much as we love snacks, so Ticket to Ride: First Journey is a natural hit. This version takes the classic board game and makes it kid-friendly. No one gets stuck reading tiny cards or wrestling with complicated rules. The game moves quick, and the colorful train pieces are perfect for tiny hands (and for chucking across the table if you’re losing). We found it holds the attention of both kids and adults, so nobody slips away to watch TV halfway through. It’s bright, easy to learn, and great for families. If you want your kids to learn a little geography while plotting railroad domination, add this to your best kids board games list.
4 Rhino Hero
Rhino Hero wins hearts and topples towers at our game nights. It’s a stacking game, like Jenga with superhero drama. You build a card tower and move a chunky little rhino up, trying not to bring down the entire thing. We once had a ten-year-old screaming with laughter while an adult was sweating bullets, trying to keep that rhino from falling. Games are short, nobody gets bored, and the rules are so simple you could teach them to your goldfish (but probably don’t). This is one of the best kids board games for both family play and parties, plus it fits in your pocket for travel or emergency boredom.
3 The Game of Life
Somehow, The Game of Life still rules the shelf after all these years, so we had to put it on the list. Kids love spinning the wheel and seeing what weird jobs or random events the world throws at them (pet rock collector or YouTuber, anyone?). As adults, we get a kick out of the absurdities too—my friend Greg lost his job in three turns but ended up filthy rich. Go figure! Even though it’s a little long, the ride is worth it. If you want to sneak in some real life lessons about money, choices, and maybe mild existential crisis, this is a top pick among the best kids board games.
2 Animal Upon Animal
Animal Upon Animal is pure chaos in a box. We’ve spent many nights stacking wooden crocodiles, sheep, and snakes, sometimes with more success than dignity. The game is about balancing animals on top of each other, and it never gets old watching someone’s tower collapse in a glorious animal avalanche. It’s fast, super easy to learn, and the chunky animal pieces are truly satisfying to hold (and occasionally bite, according to our friend’s toddler). It’s also very forgiving, so no one feels left out after a tumble. Definitely one of the best kids board games if you want fun, laughter, and a bit of silly tension.
1 Kingdomino
Kingdomino gets our top spot for the best kids board games because it’s smart, simple, and always fun. We played game after game with kids and adults, and everyone picked it up quick. It’s like dominoes but with kingdoms, and you get to build your own little patch of land. It teaches strategy without making kids’ eyes glaze over, and decisions always feel exciting. We’ve seen six-year-olds beat the grown-ups (though some adults claim ‘distraction’ was the real winner). Rounds are quick, and no one has to sit out. If you want a game that your kids will outgrow only when you take it away, Kingdomino is the perfect fit for any home.
