8 Best Toddler Games of 2025: Fun Board Game Picks
We picked eight of the best toddler games for family fun. These picks are perfect for little hands and big laughs.
The 8 Best Toddler Games: Our Tried-and-True Picks for Little Gamers
Picking out toddler games can feel like searching for a lost sippy cup—frustrating and almost always sticky. But we’ve got your back! We focus on games that are easy to learn, quick to play, and sturdy enough to survive snack time. We also make sure the games teach simple skills, so your toddler can feel like a champ even if they mostly just like to spin the spinner. With this mix, even adults won’t be bored out of their minds. No tiny parts to swallow, just pure board game fun for little hands!
On this list:
8 First Orchard
This classic HABA game made our toddler games list because it turns fruit picking into a co-op adventure. Even our least patient 2-year-old friend managed to stay focused and not eat the wooden fruit. We love the chunky pieces, bright colors, and simple rules. The best part? You all win or lose together, so there’s no epic crying meltdown when someone doesn’t get the last apple. The game teaches early counting, teamwork, and color matching. Even a sleep-deprived adult can handle the instructions. We’ve played it far too many times and still don’t hate it (a rare feat for toddler games).
7 Go Away Monster!
Go Away Monster! sneaks onto our toddler games list because it’s pure fun for tiny hands and worried parents alike. Players reach into a bag and try to feel out the right shapes to fill their bedroom board, and toss out any pesky monsters they come across. It’s a true test of toddler willpower to not just dump the bag out and call it a day. We’ve seen our group go from scaredy-cats to monster-banishers in no time. The game offers just enough structure to keep little ones busy but doesn’t punish mistakes. Plus, no scary monsters remain at bedtime!
6 Snail’s Pace Race
If you’re looking for a low-stress race, Snail’s Pace Race is a top pick in toddler games. It’s a simple roll-and-move with chunky wooden snails that crawl across the board. Everyone cheers for all the colors, so there’s no ‘my snail vs your snail’ drama that ends in tears. It’s perfect for teaching colors, taking turns, and practicing losing graciously (sometimes). We’ve used this as a warm-up game and it always gets giggles, especially when two snails land on the same spot and snuggle. Who knew racing snails could be so fun?
5 Animal Upon Animal
Balancing animals is harder than it looks! Animal Upon Animal is one of those toddler games that brings out laughs and gasps from everyone. The wooden pieces are adorable, and stacking them without causing an avalanche takes some serious toddler concentration (and sometimes adult intervention). We’ve had rounds where the sheep ends up wearing a crocodile hat. It’s great for hand-eye coordination and dexterity, and it never gets old watching your stack wobble at dangerous angles. If you want to test your child’s calmness—or your own—this is the right pick!
4 The Sneaky, Snacky Squirrel Game
This evergreen hit makes our toddler games list because it’s all about color matching with a fun twist: you use a squirrel-shaped squeezer to pick up acorns! We’ve seen more intense focus over those tiny plastic acorns than at any game night. The game is easy to learn, and the actions (spin, grab, release acorn) are just enough to keep little kids busy without getting bored. Fine motor skills? Check. Color recognition? Double check. Accidental acorn snacking? Only once. Highly recommended for groups of squirrelly kids.
3 Outfoxed!
Outfoxed! is a cooperative sleuthing game that somehow works for both toddlers and their older siblings. It’s basically Clue for kids, but with foxes. You work together to find out which sly fox stole the pie, using deduction and memory skills. The pieces are chunky, and the rules are simple enough that no one gets left behind. We’ve had great luck playing this with kids of different ages, which makes it a family favorite. Plus, the detective theme gets little ones talking and sharing ideas—sometimes too loudly, but that’s half the fun.
2 Zingo
Zingo makes our list because it’s toddler games bingo, but way more fun than your local community center version. Slide the Zinger and race to match pictures on your card. It keeps everyone engaged and moves fast, so there’s not much time for snack breaks (sorry, parents). We’ve played this with four-year-olds and grandparents at the same time, and everyone’s happy. It teaches image recognition and quick thinking, and there’s almost zero setup. Plus, the Zinger makes a satisfying ‘click-clack’ noise that you’ll hear in your sleep for weeks.
1 Candy Land
Candy Land snags our top spot for toddler games because it’s pure, easy fun—no reading needed, no tantrums required (though we can’t promise there won’t be any). This rainbow-colored classic is the first game many of us ever played, and it still manages to bring out giggles and happy shrieks. The rules are simple: draw a card, follow the colors, and try not to get stuck in Molasses Swamp. We’ve played with kids as young as two and as old as grandma, and it always delivers. The nostalgia hits hard, and it’s a great intro to the world of board gaming. If you want a go-to that new players will love every time, Candy Land is it.
