Board Games for Kids by Age: 3 to 5, 6 to 8 and 9 to 12

The best board games for kids match the publisher’s age rating. For ages 3 to 5, Candy Land (3+), Outfoxed! (5+) and Dragomino (5+) need no reading. For 6 to 8, try Ticket to Ride: First Journey or Mysterium Kids. From 9 to 12, Kingdomino, King of Tokyo, Forbidden Island and Codenames work for kids and adults together.

How to read the age on a board game box

Every age below is the publisher’s own rating, taken from the publisher’s page or from the Spiel des Jahres listing of the edition it judged. We don’t adjust ages up or down.

The number is the youngest age the maker suggests for the rules. It is not a cap: a game rated 8+ is often played by adults. If your child is at the bottom of a band, pick a game rated at or below their age, and expect an adult to help with the first few games.

For toddlers, look for games made for that age. HABA rates its cooperative First Orchard for ages 2 to 3, with 1 to 4 players and 10 minutes of play.

Board games for ages 3 to 5

Games for this age should not require reading, and short turns matter more than strategy.

Candy Land (3+)

Milton Bradley first published Candy Land in 1949; it is now a Hasbro game. Wikipedia lists it at 2 to 4 players, ages 3+ and 30 minutes. It requires no reading and minimal counting, and players make no choices: you draw a color and move. That makes it a pure first game about taking turns.

Outfoxed! (5+)

Gamewright’s Outfoxed! is a cooperative deduction game. Players work together to gather clues and identify the guilty fox before it escapes, using a scanner to rule out suspects. It is rated 5+, plays 2 to 4 and takes about 20 minutes. Because everyone wins or loses together, nobody storms off. Our guide to cooperative board games explains why that matters.

Dragomino (5+)

Dragomino is the children’s version of Kingdomino. Players place dominoes, match landscapes and collect dragon eggs. Blue Orange lists 2 to 4 players, ages 5 and up and 15 minutes. It won the Kinderspiel des Jahres in 2021, according to spiel-des-jahres.de.

Mooki Island (4+)

Die Insel der Mookies, listed under the English title Mooki Island, won the 2026 Kinderspiel des Jahres. It is a two-player card duel for ages 4+, about 15 minutes long. Players collect families of creatures and use spider cards against each other. The award listing names Kosmos and Scorpion Masqué as publishers; check for an English edition before you buy.

Board games for ages 6 to 8

Publishers start rating their first strategy games at 6+ and 8+, so this band bridges picture games and full family games.

Ticket to Ride: First Journey (6+)

Days of Wonder calls First Journey the introduction to the Ticket to Ride series. Players collect train cards, claim routes and connect cities on their tickets. It is rated 6+, plays 2 to 4 and takes 15 to 30 minutes, and it leads straight into the full game at 8+.

Mysterium Kids (6+)

Mysterium Kids is a cooperative game in which one player makes sounds with a tambourine to hint at objects, and the others guess what is being imitated. The Spiel des Jahres listing gives 2 to 6 players, ages 6+ and about 20 minutes. It won the Kinderspiel des Jahres in 2023.

Magic Keys (6+)

Die magischen Schlüssel, or Magic Keys, is a push-your-luck race. Children move keys toward a treasure chest and decide whether to test a key or roll again, knowing a failed try loses their progress to the next player. It lists 2 to 4 players, ages 6+ and about 15 minutes, and won the Kinderspiel des Jahres in 2024.

Kingdomino and ICECOOL at the top of the band

At 8, Kingdomino opens up: Blue Orange rates it 8 and up, 2 to 4 players and about 15 minutes, and it won the Spiel des Jahres in 2017. For a more physical game, ICECOOL (6+, 2 to 4 players, about 30 minutes) has players flick penguins through a school building. It won the Kinderspiel des Jahres in 2017.

Our family board games for mixed ages guide covers more games that work with parents at the table.

Board games for ages 9 to 12

Most family games rated 8+ and 10+ fit this band, so kids and adults can share one box. Choose by theme and play time.

King of Tokyo (8+)

Richard Garfield’s King of Tokyo has players as monsters rolling six custom dice, with rerolls, to battle over Tokyo. IELLO lists 2 to 6 players, ages 8+ and 30 minutes. Dice keep it lively, and the monster theme suits this age.

Forbidden Island (10+)

Gamewright’s Forbidden Island, designed by Matt Leacock, is cooperative: the team collects four treasures from an island that sinks as you play. It is rated 10+, plays 2 to 4 and takes 30 minutes. It was nominated for the Spiel des Jahres in 2011.

Codenames (10+)

Codenames from Czech Games Edition splits players into two teams, each with a spymaster who gives one-word clues. It is rated 10+, plays 4 to 8 or more and takes about 15 minutes. It won the Spiel des Jahres in 2016, and it doubles as a party game for the whole family.

Ticket to Ride (8+)

The full Ticket to Ride from Days of Wonder is rated 8+, plays 2 to 5 and takes 30 to 60 minutes. It won the Spiel des Jahres in 2004. A child who played First Journey will already know the core idea.

Kinderspiel des Jahres winners since 2016

The Kinderspiel des Jahres is the children’s game award from the German Spiel des Jahres jury, awarded each year alongside the main prize. Many winners are published in German first, so check for an English edition.

Ages and player counts are from each game’s page at spiel-des-jahres.de. Two winners are cooperative: Zauberberg, which the award listing describes as playable cooperatively, in teams or solo, and Mysterium Kids. For the adult and connoisseur categories, see our guide to Spiel des Jahres winners.

Buying kids’ board games on eBay

• Buy new and sealed. Kids’ games often have small tokens, eggs or gems that go missing.
• Check the age on the box in the photos matches the edition you want, since editions can differ.
• Look for the choking hazard warning on games with small parts if younger siblings are in the house.
• Read seller feedback and returns before buying.

More board game gift guides

• Board game gifts: the best games to give, by who’s playing
• Board game gift finder: pick by players, age and play time
• Classic board games for family nights: Candy Land, Sorry! and more