Best Family Game Night Board Games 2025: Top 8 Picks
Try these epic family game night board games. Perfect for laughter, bonding, and some friendly competition at home!
Get ready to revamp your family game nights with our carefully curated list of the 8 best family game night board games! We know how hard it can be to please everyone—from grumpy teenagers to your ever-competitive Aunt Mildred. That’s why we hunted for games that bring out the fun, spark friendly competition, and keep everyone engaged. We’ve picked games that are not only simple to learn but also offer great replay value. Whether you love strategy, cooperation, or a bit of both, these picks will have you laughing, plotting, and maybe even forming a few temporary alliances.
On this list:
8 Ticket to Ride
This game is all about trains. Who doesn’t love trains? Easy to learn, kids and grandparents can play together, creating routes is a blast! Plus, you get to say things like ‘I’m going to Los Angeles’ without leaving your living room. It’s a fantastic way to blend strategy and luck, with a hint of adventure. We’ve had countless showdowns and the fun never derails.
7 Catan
Catan is a classic for family game night board games. You become a settler, gather resources, and build settlements, somehow leading to family members accusing each other of being bandits. It’s a mix of strategy and luck, perfect for those with a competitive spirit. The jokes and barters around the table are just as valuable as the wooden sheep.
6 Azul
Azul has always impressed us with its beauty and simplicity. The game involves creating beautiful mosaic patterns on your board. There’s something soothing yet competitive about grabbing tiles and watching your masterpiece grow. It’s perfect for families who appreciate a touch of art mixed with strategy. Plus, those tiles are fun to handle—it feels like you’re working in a fancy Portuguese tile factory!
5 7 Wonders
In 7 Wonders, players develop their own civilizations using cards. It’s a quick game for seven players, so nobody’s waiting too long. This game teaches a bit of history, too, which might make you feel less guilty about playing it all evening. The card drafting mechanic means every game feels fresh, and everyone’s engaged till the end. It’s a wonder, alright!
4 Pandemic
Yes, who would’ve thought a game about global outbreaks would be a hit in recent years? Pandemic is cooperative, which means you’re in it together as a family. It’s fun to see who saves the world and who spreads the disease (Oops, sorry everyone!). The excitement when you eradicate a disease is contagious itself, pun intended. It’s intense but immensely satisfying.
3 Splendor
Splendor has everyone collecting gems and building their own Renaissance empire. There’s something extremely satisfying about collecting those shiny chips. It’s strategic yet simple enough for family game nights. We’ve seen kids outsmart adults more times than we can count, and the looks of disbelief are priceless. It’s a game of patience, planning, and little bit of treasure hunting.
2 Carcassonne
Carcassonne features tiles, roads, cities, and some sneaky farmers. It’s all about scoring points by claiming land and watching your tiny towns grow. It’s accessible and perfect for families looking to add a modern twist to classic tile games. The game scales well with more players, and the element of surprise keeps everyone on their toes. We’ve had more than a few ‘land grab’ disputes over this one.
1 Wingspan
Wingspan is simply the best for family game night board games. It has it all: stunning art, engaging gameplay, and a bit of educational value. Who doesn’t want to know about birds while having fun? It’s multi-layered, meaning everyone from beginners to avid gamers can enjoy. The balance of strategy and luck makes each play unique, and there’s always that one bird card that sparks a bit too much excitement. This game gets you chirping in no time!
