12 Best Childrens Board Games to Play in 2026
Finding the best childrens board games can be tough! We tested classics and new hits to bring you easy winners for childrens.
12 Best Childrens Board Games to Keep Your Kids Smiling All Night
When it comes to finding the best childrens board games, we know parents and kids want games that are easy to learn, fun to play, and quick to set up (because, let’s face it, who really reads rulebooks at bedtime?). For this list, we focused on board games that spark laughter, keep little hands busy, and bring everyone to the table—no matter the tantrum. We picked games that work for a range of ages, have simple rules, and avoid meltdown-level competition. Let’s make your next game night a win for the whole family!
On this list:
12 Animal Upon Animal
Animal Upon Animal has caused more laughs in our group than a whoopie cushion at a birthday party. It’s a perfect kids’ game where you stack funny wooden animals in a wobbly tower. Even the grown-ups start sweating when that penguin teeters! It’s great because even young childrens can join in and feel successful, yet it’s tricky enough to keep everyone guessing who’s going to send the pile tumbling. It also builds those little hand muscles and patience, which teachers love. We can’t count how many times the alpaca has gone flying across the room. Highly recommended for any family with clumsy hands and loud giggles.
11 Outfoxed!
Outfoxed! is a fantastic introduction to deduction for childrens. The game is basically Clue meets Chicken Run. As a team, you try to catch a sneaky fox who stole a pie, so yes, the stakes are high (especially if you love pie). It gives that classic feeling of working together, which is way better than when our game nights end in tears. Kids learn to share clues and cheer for each other, which means less sulks and more smiles. The components are cute and sturdy enough to survive some rough little hands.
10 Dragon’s Breath
Dragon’s Breath feels like a sparkly treasure hunt every time. In this game, we help young dragons collect shiny gems by melting ice columns (don’t worry, no real dragons or freezers involved). It teaches childrens to guess, take risks, and handle disappointment when, oops, all the gems fall out. We find the game quick and sparkly enough to keep wiggles at bay. Plus, even when you lose, you at least get to play with colorful plastic gems. It’s a perfect fit for short attention spans and those who think glitter should be its own food group.
9 The Magical World of Disney Trivia
This trivia game is a dream for Disney fans (and, let’s admit it, the adults who say they’re not). We’ve had evenings where the kids beat the grownups because they somehow remember every line from Frozen. The questions come in two sets: one for childrens, one for adults, so you don’t have to fake forgetting which princess talks to animals. It’s great for mixed-age groups, and it always feels like the movies come to life. Just get ready to hear, ‘Let it go!’ a million times.
8 Ice Cool
Ice Cool takes the cake for most chaotic penguin flicking in our house. The goal: flick your penguin around a maze to collect fish, or chase others if you’re the hall monitor (oh, the power!). It’s fun, frantic, and packed with moments where even the adults get a bit too competitive. The game helps kids with hand-eye coordination, though sometimes you just end up launching penguins off the table. Every game includes cheers, groans, and someone inevitably blaming the table. It’s a must for any childrens birthday party.
7 Monza
Monza is the perfect car racing board game for younger childrens. It’s simple: roll dice, match colors, and zoom your car along the track. We love that it teaches color recognition and a pinch of strategy, but mostly, it’s about rolling dice and making ‘vroom’ noises. The race is quick, so even kids with ants in their pants stay focused. The pieces are chunky and built to survive a spill or two (don’t ask us how we know). Monza always brings out the competitive spirit, but with far less road rage than Mario Kart.
6 Rhino Hero
Rhino Hero is Jenga’s sillier, superhero cousin. You stack cards to build the wobbliest skyscraper, balancing a tiny rhino superhero as you build. Our group always cheers as the tower sways, and yes, it eventually crashes (usually thanks to some sneaky breath-holding tactics). This game mixes luck and skill, so even the smallest family members feel like they have a chance to win. The rules are super clear, setup is quick, and the chaos is priceless. Rhino Hero is proof that sometimes the best fun comes from things falling over—just keep pets off the table.
5 Ticket to Ride: First Journey
Ticket to Ride: First Journey is the simplified version of the classic train game. This one is so easy kids can play without help, but still has enough competition to keep older childrens and adults invested. We like that it teaches geography and planning, but mostly, it’s about gleefully blocking someone else’s train route (sorry, not sorry, Grandma). It’s the ideal way to introduce the world of modern board games to young ones, without risking a three-hour rule explanation meltdown.
4 Karuba Junior
Karuba Junior is a co-op adventure where everyone teams up against tricky tigers and the jungle itself. We’ve never seen our group so invested in saving tiny explorers from disaster. It’s easy to learn and quick to play, making it perfect for kids who can’t sit still for long. Every round is a surprise, with paths changing and decisions to make together. If you want a childrens game that builds teamwork instead of tears, this one’s for you. Plus, we’ve yet to meet a kid who doesn’t want to shout ‘Tiger!’ at the top of their lungs.
3 Silly Street
Silly Street is our go-to for rainy days when energy levels are off the charts. It mixes a board game with loads of goofy challenges—think animal impressions, silly dances, and wild storytelling. We pick this one when the kids seem two minutes from bouncing off the walls. Everyone ends up laughing, including the grown-ups who end up acting like monkeys. It’s more about getting childrens moving, talking, and being creative than about winning. And if you film the parents doing the challenges, you’ve got blackmail material for life.
2 Pay Day
We picked Pay Day because it gives kids a taste of money management and life’s little surprises, just like The Game of Life: Junior. We tried it with our group, and watching our friends groan as they paid bills was hilarious. It’s easy to learn and perfect for young players exploring fun ‘childrens’ games about earning and spending.
1 Kingdomino
Kingdomino takes our spot as the best childrens board game. It’s easy to learn but sneaky with depth, so kids and adults both have fun. The game has a lovely tile-laying mechanic—think dominoes, but you’re building your own little kingdom. Every round, we end up with a table full of colorful landscapes and a lot of proud smiles (and sometimes a bit of tile envy). The decisions are quick, so no kid gets bored, and there’s a real sense of progress as your kingdom grows. We’ve played it dozens of times and it never gets old. This game nails that perfect mix of challenge and fun for all ages—no tears, no boredom, just happy players. That’s why Kingdomino gets our golden crown.
