7 Best Educational Resources Reviewed for 2026

We tried these top board games packed with educational resources. Each one makes learning fun for new players, friends, and families alike.

Disclaimer: Clicking our links may result in us earning enough for a new pair of dice, but not enough to quit our day jobs as amateur board game hustlers.
Word on the Street coverTimeline: Discoveries coverCodenames: Pictures cover

Top 7 Board Games Packed with Educational Resources

Looking for board games that turn learning into a blast? We’ve got your back! When we hunted for the best board games packed with educational resources, we focused on games that make us laugh, think, and actually want to play again (yes, even after losing three times in a row). We picked board games that sneak in math, history, science, or language skills—without making us snore. These picks are easy to pick up, great for families or friends, and full of moments that make us say, ‘Wait, I actually learned something!’ Let’s see which ones made the cut.

On this list:

7 Word on the Street

Word on the Street cover

  • Age Range: 10+
  • Players: 2-8
  • Play Time: 20-30 min

Get your copy on Amazon ↗

We picked Word on the Street because it turns vocabulary into a tug-of-war. You spell words and steal letters from your opponents—everyone starts showing off their ‘Q’ knowledge. We played this for hours and even caught ourselves learning new words. It’s accessible for almost any age, and we enjoyed the arguments about what counts as a real word. Perfect for classrooms or family nights, it sneaks in spelling and language skills without feeling like homework. If you want educational resources that feel more fun than study, you’ll want this on your shelf.

6 Timeline: Discoveries

Timeline: Discoveries cover

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

Get your copy on Amazon ↗

Timeline: Discoveries makes learning history feel like fixing a broken time machine. We had a blast as everyone tried to guess if paper or the compass came first—trust us, you’ll be surprised! The game ramps up your knowledge of inventions and events. It delivers educational resources in a format where wrong guesses just get laughs and groans. Even our most trivia-challenged friend learned a lot. You can play it quickly, too, so it’s great for sneaky learning between longer games.

5 Codenames: Pictures

Codenames: Pictures cover

  • Age Range: 10+
  • Players: 2-8
  • Play Time: 15 min

Get your copy on Amazon ↗

We included Codenames: Pictures because it’s sneaky-smart. Our group accidentally taught ourselves deductive reasoning while arguing about whether a panda astronaut could mean ‘space food’. The game is easy to learn and has you matching ideas, exercising your brain without you even knowing. If you’re looking for educational resources to help with abstract thinking, this is it. Plus, it works with any crowd—family, friends, or even that weird uncle who only communicates in movie quotes.

4 Prime Climb

Prime Climb cover

  • Age Range: 10+
  • Players: 2-4
  • Play Time: 20-40 min

Get your copy on Amazon ↗

Math games usually make our group groan, but Prime Climb got everyone pretending to be number wizards. The bright board and clever mechanics had us adding, subtracting, and multiplying like we were back in school—but this time it was fun. It fits right in with educational resources for home or classroom, helping kids and adults practice basics and strategy together. Expect people to start plotting sneaky math moves you never saw coming.

3 Photosynthesis

Photosynthesis cover

  • Age Range: 10+
  • Players: 2-4
  • Play Time: 30-60 min

Get your copy on Amazon ↗

Photosynthesis is our eco-friendly pick. We argued over who could plant the tallest trees the fastest—while secretly learning about sunlight and plant growth. It’s beautiful, too. The board fills up with trees, and suddenly, you understand why sunlight matters. Perfect if you want educational resources with a green twist. It works for families and is sneakily competitive, making science topics as fun as a forest brawl. Extra points if you hum ‘Circle of Life’ while playing.

2 The Game of Life

The Game of Life cover

  • Age Range: 8+
  • Players: 2-6
  • Play Time: 60 min

Get your copy on Amazon ↗

We picked The Game of Life because nothing says ‘educational resources’ like accidentally teaching budgeting, career choices, and the unpredictable chaos of adulting. We laughed (and cried) as we landed on taxes, babies, and unexpected expenses. It’s easy to play, loaded with real-world lessons, and gives a safe space to make all those life choices you’ll probably regret later. Great for family game nights, it gently opens up talks about goals and decisions—plus, everyone loves spinning that wheel.

1 Wingspan

Wingspan cover

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

Get your copy on Amazon ↗

Wingspan tops our list because we learned more about birds in one game night than we ever did in school. The cards are packed with bird facts, habitats, and food chains, but the real magic is how it wraps these educational resources in gorgeous art and smooth, addictive gameplay. Our group was fighting over the best birds and eggs rather than looking at their phones. It’s equally fun for bird-watchers and newbies, and works well for both families and friends. Hands-down, the best for mixing fun, learning, and beauty—we can’t get enough.

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.