Rainy afternoons, birthday get-togethers, or just a cosy night in — a good board game is one of the easiest ways to bring the whole family together, screens off, laughter on. Choosing the right one for the mix of ages around your table can be tricky, though, so we asked MyKidsTime parents to tell us their favourite family board games. Here are the ten games they rate again and again, in no particular order of preference — just ten tried-and-tested winners for family game night.
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Top 10 Best Family Board Games
#1. Balderdash
Balderdash is a brilliant one for word-lovers and bluffers alike. Someone reads out a genuinely obscure real word, and everyone else has to invent a definition convincing enough to fool the other players. Points go to anyone whose made-up meaning gets picked as the real one — pure family chaos, in the best way.
2–6 players, age 8+
Buy Balderdash on Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com.
#2. Boggle
Boggle is quick, portable and endlessly replayable. Shake the covered tray of sixteen lettered dice, let them settle into their 4×4 grid, and then race against the clock to spot as many words as you can — using only letters that touch each other horizontally, vertically or diagonally.
2+ players, age 8+
Buy Boggle on Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com.
#3. Connect 4
A classic for a reason. Players take turns dropping counters into one of the seven vertical slots, trying to be the first to line up four in a row — horizontally, vertically or diagonally — before their opponent does.
2 players
Suggested from age 7, though many younger children pick it up easily from around age 5.
Buy Connect 4 on Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com.
#4. Frustration
Frustration lives up to its name in the best possible way. Two to four players race their four counters around the board and home, but land on a rival’s counter and you’re sent all the way back to the start — no matter how close to the finish you were.
2–4 players, age 5+
Buy Frustration on Amazon.co.uk.
You might also enjoy reading 10 New Family Board Games recommended by Board Game Guys
#5. Pop to the Shops
A lovely one for younger children, Pop to the Shops turns handling money into a game. Players move from shop to shop around the board, using play money to buy all sorts of items — a gentle, fun way to introduce counting and change.
2–4 players, age 4+
Buy Pop to the Shops on Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com.
#6. Ludo
Simple, fast and easy to teach, Ludo is a great starter board game. Two to four players race their four tokens from start to finish based on dice rolls — no reading required, which makes it a hit with younger kids.
2–4 players, age 4+
Buy Ludo on Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com.
#7. Monopoly
Buy! Sell! “Go directly to jail!” Build your property empire, collect the rent, put up hotels — and try not to go bankrupt along the way. One of the best-known and best-loved family games ever made.
2–8 players, age 8+
#8. Scrabble
The classic crossword game that families have loved for generations. Build words for points, land on the bonus squares for extra scores, and use all seven of your letter tiles in one turn for a satisfying 50-point bonus. This edition features genuine wooden tiles and racks.
A Junior Scrabble version is also available for younger players.
2–4 players, age 8+ (age 5+ for the Junior version)
Buy Scrabble on Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com.
#9. Rummikub
Rummikub is played with 106 sturdy, tactile tiles. Like rummy, the aim is to build runs of the same colour — say, red 7, red 8, red 9 — or sets of the same number in different colours, such as blue 8, red 8 and black 8.
2–4 players, age 8+
Buy Rummikub on Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com.
#10. Cluedo
A murder-mystery deduction game the whole family can get stuck into. Players move around the mansion board as one of the game’s characters, gathering clues to work out who committed the crime, with what weapon, and in which room.
3–6 players, age 8+
Buy Cluedo on Amazon.co.uk and Clue on Amazon.com.
You might also enjoy reading 15 Fun Card Games for Kids
Have you got a favourite family board game we haven’t mentioned? Let us know in the comments below!
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the best board game for mixed ages in one family?
Games with simple rules and short turns — like Ludo, Connect 4 or Frustration — tend to work best when younger and older children are playing together, since everyone can join in without needing to read or strategise heavily.
Are word games like Scrabble and Balderdash suitable for younger children?
Standard Scrabble and Balderdash suit confident readers from around age 8, but Junior Scrabble is a gentler option for children from age 5 who are just starting to build words.
How many players do I need for a good family game night?
Most of the games on this list work well from two players upwards, with several — including Monopoly, Cluedo and Rummikub — really coming into their own with three or more, making them ideal for family game nights.
What’s a good first board game for a young child?
Ludo and Pop to the Shops are both gentle, easy-to-learn options for children from around age 4, with simple turns and no reading needed.
Related Articles
- 10 New Family Board Games recommended by Board Game Guys
- 15 Fun Card Games for Kids
- More rainy day activity ideas for families
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