Best Kids Learning Games of 2025: Top 7 Picks
Magic School Bus: The Science Game tops our list of kids learning games, blending fun with science. It's a blast!
Choosing the best kids learning games can feel like searching for a missing sock in a universe of puzzles. We want games that teach, but are also fun enough to keep everyone, including the dog, entertained. We look for games that sneakily teach the kids important stuff while they’re having fun. We focus on simplicity, engagement, and the ability to get kids thinking without them even realizing it. We’ve played these games with our little ones (and sometimes even the neighbors bogart our game night), and they passed the ultimate test: no one wanted to stop playing.
On this list:
7 Robot Turtles
We picked Robot Turtles because it’s a fantastic way for kids to learn programming basics without even knowing they’re doing math. They move little turtles around the board to reach a gemstone, and who doesn’t like turtles? Plus, there are laser cards, and trust us, nothing captivates a child’s attention quite like lasers. It’s simple enough for young kids, but even adults will scratch their noggins trying to figure out how junior got from point A to point B. The best part? Kids take charge! They secretly control the game, which makes them love it even more.
6 Outfoxed!
Outfoxed! is a cooperative game where kids put their detective hats on and work together to find the guilty fox. It’s like Clue but without the gruesome murder scenario. Just some sly fox trying to steal Mrs. Plumpert’s prized pot pie. The game encourages teamwork and deductive reasoning. Also, it comes with a nifty little clue-detecting tool that has a rather satisfying click when it locks into place. Our group giggled as we overturned suspects and pitted our deduction skills against the sneaky fox. We love how it makes solving mysteries fun and engaging for kids.
5 Ticket to Ride: First Journey
Ticket to Ride: First Journey is perfect for introducing younger players to strategy games. The original might be a bit too complex for little ones, but this version gets them hooked with its simpler rules and colorful train car pieces. It’s all about building train routes across the country. The best part? They learn geography without realizing it. One of our friends’ kids ended up asking about cities they’d never heard of before! This game is a winner if you want to combine learning with laughter and joy as they race to complete their routes.
4 Hoot Owl Hoot!
Hoot Owl Hoot! is a color-coded, cooperative game that aims to bring all the owls back to their nest before the sun comes up. It teaches youngsters about cooperative play and color recognition. In our group, even the adults were strategizing and plotting when to use the special cards. Trying to outrun the sunrise never gets old! The game fosters a spirit of teamwork, making kids cheer when they succeed together. Plus, the artwork is downright adorable, and who doesn’t love a game where owls are the heroes?
3 The Sneaky, Snacky Squirrel Game
The Sneaky, Snacky Squirrel Game is all about collecting acorns while sneaking around like a cheeky squirrel. It’s as much fun as it sounds. Kids work on their fine motor skills using the sneaky squirrel squeezer which looks suspiciously like lovely little squirrel paws. Our group enjoyed watching the kids learn turn-taking and attention to detail. There’s a spinner that adds an element of surprise, ensuring every game feels fresh and exciting. It’s sneaky, snacky, and superbly entertaining, making it a must-add to any family game shelf.
2 Zingo!
Zingo! is bingo with a zing. The game uses picture tiles instead of numbers and is a great tool for word recognition. Each time someone pulls that zinger, kids perk up immediately. Our group had a blast as kids tried matching pictures to their cards. Vocabulary grows as they shout out each word to claim their tile. It’s fast-paced, which keeps the energy high and kids engaged. Plus, who knew learning vocabulary could be so competitive? Zingo! is an easy pick for its simplicity in teaching words and creating hours of laughter.
