Best Educational Board Games of 2024: Top 15 Picks

Discover 15 top educational board games, including Wingspan. Perfect for learning while having fun with family and friends.
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Catan coverTicket to Ride coverPandemic cover

Looking for educational board games that are fun and engaging? We’ve got you covered! We picked games that teach strategy, history, science, and problem-solving. Our focus is on games that balance learning and fun. Whether you’re a total newbie or a seasoned board game lover, these picks will keep you entertained and sharp. From building civilizations to solving mysteries, these games offer something for everyone. Read on to discover our top 15 educational board games that are sure to become your new favorites!

On this list:

15 Catan

Catan cover

  • Age Range: 10+
  • Players: 3-4
  • Play Time: 60-120 minutes

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Catan teaches resource management and negotiation. It’s a classic that everyone seems to love. Perfect for balancing strategy with learning about economics and planning.

14 Ticket to Ride

Ticket to Ride cover

  • Age Range: 8+
  • Players: 2-5
  • Play Time: 30-60 minutes

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This game is excellent for teaching geography and planning skills. We had a blast learning about different cities and routes while trying to outsmart each other.

13 Pandemic

Pandemic cover

  • Age Range: 8+
  • Players: 2-4
  • Play Time: 45 minutes

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Pandemic really gets into the importance of teamwork and problem-solving. We raced against the clock to save the world, with a lot of laughs and ‘oh no’ moments.

12 Scrabble

Scrabble cover

  • Age Range: 10+
  • Players: 2-4
  • Play Time: 50 minutes

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Scrabble is a wordsmith’s dream. It’s great for vocabulary building and helps with spelling. A bit of friendly competition over those triple word scores never hurt anyone!

11 7 Wonders

7 Wonders cover

  • Age Range: 10+
  • Players: 2-7
  • Play Time: 30 minutes

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This game dives into historical wonders and civilizations. It’s a smart way to learn about history and strategy. Plus, it’s got some gorgeous artwork.

10 Carcassonne

Carcassonne cover

  • Age Range: 7+
  • Players: 2-5
  • Play Time: 30-45 minutes

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Carcassonne offers a fun way to learn about city building and strategy. We loved placing tiles and creating our own medieval landscapes.

9 CodeNames

CodeNames cover

  • Age Range: 14+
  • Players: 2-8
  • Play Time: 15 minutes

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CodeNames sharpens our word association skills and teamwork. It’s often hilarious trying to figure out who’s on the same wavelength.

8 Evolution

Evolution cover

  • Age Range: 12+
  • Players: 2-6
  • Play Time: 60 minutes

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This game brings out the biologist in all of us. Creating and adapting species to survive is both challenging and educational.

7 Timeline

Timeline cover

  • Age Range: 8+
  • Players: 2-8
  • Play Time: 15 minutes

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Timeline is a simple yet engaging game that helps players learn about historical events. We had so many ‘aha’ moments trying to place cards in the right order.

6 Terraforming Mars

Terraforming Mars cover

  • Age Range: 12+
  • Players: 1-5
  • Play Time: 120 minutes

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This game combines science and strategy brilliantly. You get to manage resources while learning about Mars and the challenges of terraforming.

5 Azul

Azul cover

  • Age Range: 8+
  • Players: 2-4
  • Play Time: 30-45 minutes

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Azul brings out your inner artist and teaches you to think strategically about patterns. It’s beautiful and always sparks creativity.

4 Power Grid

Power Grid cover

  • Age Range: 12+
  • Players: 2-6
  • Play Time: 120 minutes

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Power Grid is perfect for learning about economics and efficient resource management. We loved the challenge of building our own energy network.

3 Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico cover

  • Age Range: 12+
  • Players: 2-5
  • Play Time: 90-150 minutes

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This game is all about colonization and resource management. It’s a fantastic way to learn about historical economies and strategic planning.

2 Suburbia

Suburbia cover

  • Age Range: 8+
  • Players: 1-4
  • Play Time: 90 minutes

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Suburbia makes city planning a blast. We enjoyed creating the most efficient and prosperous cities, learning about urban planning in the process.

1 Wingspan

Wingspan cover

  • Age Range: 10+
  • Players: 1-5
  • Play Time: 40-70 minutes

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Wingspan is our top pick. This game is truly a marvel in educational board games, teaching us about bird species, their habitats, and ecosystems. It is stunningly beautiful, with high-quality components. A must-have for any collection!

Jamie in his proper element: With all of his board games
Jamie Hopkins

With years of dice-rolling, card-flipping, and strategic planning under my belt, I've transformed my passion into expertise. I thrive on dissecting the mechanics and social dynamics of board games, sharing insights from countless game nights with friends. I dive deep into gameplay mechanics, while emphasizing the social joys of gaming. While I appreciate themes and visuals, it's the strategy and camaraderie that truly capture my heart.