8 Best Top Rated Family Board Games of All Time 2025
Looking for the top rated family board games of all time? We’ve played them all, and these picks guarantee fun for everyone!
Finding the top rated family board games of all time can feel like searching for a sock in the dryer. There are just so many! We know that families want games that are easy to learn, quick to play, and fun for both kids and adults. We picked our favorites by testing them with our own families and friends—laughs, groans, and snack breaks included. We looked for games that anyone can enjoy, whether you are new to the hobby or you have a closet full of dusty classics. Ready? Let’s see which games made our list!
On this list:
8 Ticket to Ride
We picked Ticket to Ride because it’s a smooth ride for everyone—pun intended. There’s something magical about collecting cards and connecting cities across the map, like you’re on a vacation without the overpriced airport snacks. When we play, there’s always one family member who forgets where Seattle is, but that’s part of the fun. Easy rules mean everyone stays in the game, and the tension as someone steals your route is hilarious (unless it’s your route, then it’s less funny). It’s one of the top rated family board games of all time because almost anyone can play, and nobody throws the board across the room… usually.
7 Carcassonne
Carcassonne deserves a spot here because you can teach Grandma in five minutes and she’ll still crush the rest of us by building a giant city fortress. We love how every tile feels like a mini surprise—will it be a road, a city, or a sneaky field for points later? It’s great for families who want just enough thinking to feel clever without frying their brains. Countless laughs come from someone claiming a road only to realize it leads nowhere. It’s a regular at our table, and it’s one of the top rated family board games of all time on BoardGameGeek for a reason.
6 Sushi Go!
Sushi Go! turns our kitchen table into a sushi conveyor belt, minus the awkward pricing. We chose this because it’s fast, fun, and all about grabbing the best sushi cards before someone else snags your favorite roll. Every round is full of giggles and some light trash talk. It never gets old, even when someone eats all the pudding cards (betrayal!). Perfect for families that want to play a quick game and still have time for dessert. It’s a must-have for any list about top rated family board games of all time.
5 Qwirkle
Qwirkle is what happens if Scrabble and dominoes had a color-loving baby. We picked it because matching shapes and colors makes even the ‘I hate math’ crowd happy. No reading means everyone gets a fair shot, and we once saw a seven-year-old outscore the adults, which still stings. It’s simple but offers sneaky ways to rack up big points. The best part? No fighting over how ‘Qwirkle’ is pronounced. It belongs on any list of top rated family board games of all time because it’s good, clean, and super colorful fun.
4 Kingdomino
Kingdomino made our list because who doesn’t want to be a lazy king building a little patchwork empire? It’s quick to set up, and picking the right tiles is pure joy (or agony when you choose wrong). We sometimes play two rounds back-to-back because there’s always a ‘next time I’ll do it better’ feeling. It’s friendly for newcomers but lets the sneaky ones outwit the rest—just don’t let Uncle Steve hog all the wheat fields. Definitely one of the top rated family board games of all time if your family can handle some friendly rivalry.
3 Azul
Azul landed a spot because it’s pretty to look at—even after cousin Jerry tried to ‘accidentally’ flick tiles onto the floor. Laying out tiles in patterns is so satisfying, and everyone gets that ‘just one more round’ feeling. There’s plenty of strategy, but nobody zones out. It’s perfect for families who like to think but don’t want anything too heavy. Plus, there’s an odd thrill in snatching the tile someone else wanted. It’s often on the top rated family board games of all time lists for a reason—it just works.
2 Codenames
Codenames is what we play when we want to embarrass ourselves with bizarre clues. It’s the best party game for families that love wordplay. We picked it because no other game lets us find out just how weird our brains are. Watching Grandpa try to connect ‘Duck’ and ‘Rocket’ with one word? Comedy gold. It works for big and small groups, and nobody feels left out. If you want a board game that turns every family evening into a guessing game full of laughs, Codenames is an easy pick for top rated family board games of all time.
1 Pandemic
We saved Pandemic for last because it’s the game that brought our family together…and almost tore us apart when we nearly lost to an outbreak in Atlanta. This is hands-down the best on our list because it’s all about working as a team. No one gets left behind, and everyone has a special role—except the person who panics and draws too many cards (yes, that was me). It teaches cooperation and keeps everyone hooked. Every win feels like a real victory. If you want the ultimate in top rated family board games of all time, Pandemic is our top choice. Nothing beats saving the world together, even if we sometimes need a rematch.
