9 Best Preschool Games for 2025: Top Picks Reviewed
Discover our favorite preschool games! We tested these with our wild bunch, so you know they’re fun, easy, and kid-approved.
9 Best Preschool Games for Young Board Game Fans! If you’ve ever tried to play chess with a three-year-old, you know it turns into chaos fast. That’s why we’ve spent way too many afternoons testing out the best preschool games you can find. We focus on simple rules, quick play time, chunky pieces you can’t swallow, and tons of laughs. Our picks help kids learn colors, shapes, turn-taking, and maybe the art of not throwing a tantrum when you lose. Whether you’re after teamwork, silliness, or just a little peace and quiet, these preschool games have you covered.
On this list:
9 First Orchard
First Orchard is our go-to for introducing kids to preschool games. It’s super simple, using chunky fruit pieces that won’t disappear under the couch… too often, anyway. We found that tiny hands love carrying the fruit more than playing the actual rules. This co-op game teaches matching and taking turns without any fuss. There’s no reading, so nobody’s pretending to read cards upside down. Out of the box, it’s calm, colorful, and, best of all, very short, which means we have a shot at finishing before snack time chaos begins.
8 Animal Upon Animal
We picked Animal Upon Animal because it turns every kid (and adult) into an architect of wobbly animal towers. These chunky wooden animals are perfect for preschool games, and watching the stack collapse is half the fun. It’s all about building up fine motor skills and learning balance. Anyone in our group who claims they aren’t competitive has not tried to stack that crocodile on a penguin. Plus, the rules fit on one napkin, which helps when juice inevitably gets spilled.
7 Outfoxed!
Outfoxed! is a whodunit for preschool detectives. One rainy afternoon, we played this several times in a row, searching for clues and giggling over chicken suspects. The game uses a clever decoder that makes kids feel like real investigators, without the need to read. It’s cooperative, so there’s no crying over losing—unless someone accidentally knocks over the clue tiles, which is basically tradition in our house. Great way to teach deduction and teamwork at the same time.
6 Go Away Monster!
Go Away Monster! got on this list because it always brings out the best go-away-monster voices at the table. Kids love reaching into the bag and yelling at the monsters they pull out. This game is simple, random, and pure preschool games fun. It’s a great way to practice turn-taking and you can finish a whole game before little ones get wiggly. Plus, there’s no reading, just lots of ‘go away’ shouting and plenty of giggles.
5 The Sneaky, Snacky Squirrel Game
The Sneaky, Snacky Squirrel Game is just adorable with its acorn-grabbing squirrel squeezer. Our group loves this for teaching colors and fine motor skills. The acorns are bright and chunky, and there’s always a bit of drama when someone spins ‘steal an acorn’—no sore losers here, only squirrels on a mission. Quick setup, quick play, and you’ll hear squeals of joy (and sometimes rage) all through the game. Ideal for preschool games fans who love cute things.
4 Spot It! (Dobble)
Spot It! (also called Dobble) is lightning-fast fun, and it quickly became a preschool games classic for us. There’s just something about shouting and snatching that appeals to kids (and adults!). The game keeps everyone paying attention and improves visual perception skills without anyone realizing it. Every round is a mad scramble, and there’s usually some creative rule interpretation, but that’s just good family fun, right? Small tin, big laughs.
3 Zingo!
Zingo! is our top pick for preschool games that help with early reading and matching. The sliding tile dispenser is weirdly satisfying, even for adults. Kids love slapping down their tiles and yelling ‘Zingo!’ so loud the neighbors probably know who’s winning. It’s fast-paced, teaches turn-taking, and even the smallest players can join in. The chunky pieces mean we spend less time searching under the table and more time playing. A family favorite for good reason.
2 Snail’s Pace Race
Snail’s Pace Race is one of those preschool games that even the youngest can play. We loved that it’s pure luck—no reading, no choices, just rolling colored dice and cheering for your favorite snail. Nobody gets left behind, and we all get to practice colors and counting. It’s quick, silly, and there’s no pressure to win. This is the game we reach for when some of us are just learning not to eat the game pieces.
1 Candy Land
Candy Land is the king of preschool games, and for good reason. This is almost a rite of passage for kids. We have played this more times than we can count, and yes, we still groan when someone draws the lollipop late in the game. It’s all luck, super colorful, and the rules are so simple even the youngest players get it right away. No fights, no reading, just pure sugary-themed luck. That makes it the best for introducing kids to the magical world of board games.
