The best family board games for ages 8 and up
Around age eight, kids are ready for "real" modern board games: games with meaningful choices, a bit of strategy and enough luck that anyone can win.
Every game on this list plays in under an hour, can be taught in about ten minutes, and has stood the test of time with families.
We pick games on their merits. Links go to Amazon, and we may earn a small commission if you buy, at no extra cost to you.
1.Camel Up
Bet on a chaotic camel race where camels stack on top of each other and carry each other forward.
Parent tip: The pyramid dice shaker is a hit with kids. Great for bigger groups.
Check price on Amazon2.Dixit
Give a clue about one of your dreamlike picture cards. Others guess which card is yours, but not too easily.
Parent tip: Great for creative kids and mixed ages. Clues can be a word, a sound or a song.
Check price on Amazon3.Dragonwood
Collect sets of adventurer cards and roll dice to defeat creatures and dragons for points.
Parent tip: Lots of dice rolling keeps younger players excited even when they’re behind.
Check price on Amazon4.Ghost Blitz
Flip a card and grab the right wooden object first. Sometimes it’s the one shown, sometimes it’s the one that isn’t.
Parent tip: A fast reaction game that levels the playing field between kids and adults.
Check price on Amazon5.Hey, That's My Fish!
Penguins hop across melting ice floes collecting fish, cutting off opponents as tiles disappear.
Parent tip: Simple rules with real strategy. Kids learn to think a move ahead.
Check price on Amazon6.King of Tokyo
Giant monsters roll dice to smash each other and take over Tokyo. Push your luck and buy power-ups.
Parent tip: Very loud, very fun. Players can be knocked out, but games are short.
Check price on Amazon7.Kingdomino
Pick domino-style tiles to build a 5×5 kingdom of matching terrain. Quick, clever and easy to teach.
Parent tip: Six-year-olds can usually play with a little help counting the score.
Check price on Amazon8.Sleeping Queens
Wake up the sleeping queens with kings, steal them with knights, and practise simple maths along the way.
Parent tip: Invented by a six-year-old. Younger kids can play with help adding.
Check price on Amazon9.Sushi Go Party!
The bigger version of Sushi Go!, with more dishes to choose from and room for up to eight players.
Parent tip: Pick this over the original if your family gatherings are big.
Check price on Amazon10.Sushi Go!
Pick a card, pass the rest. Collect the best combination of sushi dishes over three rounds.
Parent tip: A great introduction to card drafting. Inexpensive and travels well.
Check price on Amazon11.The Mind
Play numbered cards in order as a team without talking. It sounds impossible; it isn’t.
Parent tip: Odd and magical. Works best when everyone takes it seriously for a few minutes.
Check price on Amazon12.Azul
Draft colourful tiles to decorate a palace wall. Beautiful to look at and full of clever choices.
Parent tip: The tiles feel great in your hands. A favourite for families who like puzzles.
Check price on Amazon13.Hanabi
Hold your cards facing away from you. Teammates give limited clues so you can build a fireworks show together.
Parent tip: Great for practising memory and careful listening.
Check price on Amazon14.Pandemic
A team of specialists travels the world treating outbreaks and racing to find cures for four diseases.
Parent tip: Encourage kids to make their own decisions. It’s easy for one adult to take over a co-op game.
Check price on Amazon15.Ticket to Ride
Collect sets of train cards to claim railway routes across North America and complete secret destination tickets.
Parent tip: One of the best "first modern board games" for families. Rules take ten minutes.
Check price on AmazonTips
- Teach by playing an open-handed practice round where everyone can see each other’s cards.
- Keep the first game short. It’s better to stop while everyone wants more.
- Rotate who picks the game each week so everyone gets a turn choosing.
Looking for something else? Try the game picker to filter by age, players and time.