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Best Kids Board Games Reviewed & Rated for Quality
As it turns out, that time has returned again; back with a collaborative and modern vengeance! There has been a huge resurgence in board games during recent years. Now is the right time for children to get involved in some real face-to-face fun!
Children learn about rules, strategy, and sportsmanship from playing board games. There are plenty of amusing board games to help keep them entertained while indoors. We list the top board games that take the boredom out of child’s play, for every age.
Standout Picks
Criteria Used for Evaluation
Bottom Line
The very first criteria to consider is “What is the game about?” Zombies? Ghosts? Finding the fastest way out of a maze? A children’s game should be family-friendly; focusing on non-violent and relatively pleasant things. For example, cartoons, cowboys, trains, food, history, animals, etc.
There is more to a game than it’s subject matter. However, if a game is centered around a theme that your child may find to be distasteful or boring, how often will your child actually play it?
You can easily fall into judging a book by its cover assumption. However, it can be a start. If you hear positive recommendations about a game, you may be tempted to try it. But for the most part, it will be a struggle to play a game if the theme doesn't seem interesting. On the flip side, if the subject matter is centered around a theme that is exciting, then your child is going to enjoy it all the more.
What Type of Games do your Child Like?
This can be a great starting point in determining the kind of games you may wish to focus on. There are mainly three categories to choose from:
Someone who desires a fun or dramatic game.
Someone who look to games as a creative outlet.
Someone who problem solves or figures out the best strategy.
Another factor in this criteria is knowing if your child is highly interactive and prefers games that require other players, or do they prefer to be left alone to their own devices. This is really important, as the type of player your child is will directly affect their enjoyment. If you know your child likes to do their own thing, there would be no point in selecting board games with interactive mechanics.
When choosing games for very young children, then chances are, they will be unable to read fluently. This can limit the games you can choose from. Older children can play games that involves math and reading.
Ease of Use
Comprehensible and clear game rules is a factor for children. If you cannot understand how to play a game or you have to recheck the rulebook multiple times, it is not going to be enjoyable for your child. One factor you can use to see whether a game has organized rules is to look at the components.
Sometimes, components can add to certain games to make it more fun. Obviously, having more can often streamline the design of a game for an older child. But, for a simple board game designed for a younger child, it can be difficult to learn the rules, even for an adult.
Capacity
You may come across a board game for a child that looks like they will enjoy it, but it may require a lot of players. In this situation, consider whether you will be entertaining children on a consistent basis. If so, it is important to choose games that are specifically tailored to these group counts. There is no purpose of selecting a two-player game board if your child or children will be playing in a group every week. However, if your child like to play board games with just one other person, avoid game titles that requires three players.
It is common to games with required capacity counts, however this does not mean that the game plays are successful at those player counts. Board games with a higher player count tend to feel more open, but less interconnectivity at the lower spectrum, while being more competitive and crowded at the higher end of the spectrum. This criteria is important to factor in if your child have strong preferences for less or more interactivity.
Dig a little deeper in how a game plays out if it has a broader player count - as certain games that are designed for larger groups support less players better than others. If a game requires a 2 player alternative, chances are that the game will not be as fun at a lower player count.
There are games that works well if they are designed for it. They work well for two people as it is at four.
Versatility
At times, it is good to consider whether a board game can be versatile in the fact that they will not expire immediately and be replaced with another one. Some board games can include variety without having to sacrifice simplicity. Look for games you can expand on without requiring additional rules.
Value
Pricing is a factor when purchasing a board game. But it is not just about the number on a label. Factor in whether a game’s price when compared to other games on the market. For example, a $25 game consists of playing cards will be of less value when compared to the same price for playing cards, plastic miniatures, a board, and tokens.
10 Best Kids Board Games
1. Hasbro Monopoly Junior
The original Monopoly is one of the most successful and the longest playing board games in history ever. It made its way into being the most popular game globally.
The Monopoly Junior board game by Hasbro allows your child to earn money the fun way. The game is similar to the standard Monopoly game, but it's simple, fast, and accessible for younger children. Participants will have the opportunity to own property, or they will wind up in jail. Product dimensions are 1.6 x 10.5 x 10.5 inches, and weighs 1 pound.
Object Of Monopoly
The object of the game is to rent, buy, sell, and negotiate property. With a luck from the dice, the goal is to be the wealthiest player among your opponents. It's a fun holiday or birthday gift for your child, and is an ideal board game for family time. Monopoly Junior is recommended for children ages 5 and up.
Contents Of Monopoly
The Monopoly board game consists of the board, 12 hotels, 2 dice, 8 Monopoly tokens, 32 houses, both Community Chest and Chance cards, deed and property cards, Monopoly play money, and the monopoly instructions and rules booklet. Other Monopoly tokens include Little Hazel, Toy Car, Little Scottie, along with the Mr. Monopoly top hat. Your child can move around the board with properties such as a game arcade, a movie theater, and a zoo.
Cost and Value
All of the playing pieces and the board elements are trademarked by Hasbro for its game equipment. This is an excellent board game for children that is worth the value for the price. For returns or exchanges, customers can contact the seller regarding their rules and regulations.
2. ThinkFun Zingo Bingo
Zingo Bingo by ThinkFun's is one of the most popular and best selling board games. It is the winner of the Oppenheim Gold Award and the Parents’ Choice Gold Award, along with others. This pre-reading game is recommended for children ages 4 and over, and makes a great gift to buy for children. Product dimensions are 8.2 x 3.5 x 10.2 inches, with a weight of 1.55 pounds.
You Will Receive the Newest Edition
Zingo comes in the newest edition and is one of ThinkFun's popular games for children. An extra Zingo card is included so that up to 7 people can participate. The board game also comes with a unique Zinger device that delights players regardless of age. It includes clear instructions so that children can start playing immediately. The Zinger device dispenses tiles as each child race to be the first one with a full card and yells, 'Zingo!'
An Award Winner Board Game
Zingo Bingo has won numerous awards, which include the ASTRA Best Toys for Kids Award, and has won the Toy of the Year Nominee. Along with winning additional awards, the Zingo Bingo game makes a great gift for girls and boys.
Cost and Value
Players will be able to play the Zingo game within minutes. Like all of ThinkFun's board games, this game is designed to develop a child’s critical thinking skills. Playing will enhance language skills while having fun with it. For returns or exchanges, customers can contact the seller regarding their rules and regulations.
3. Hasbro Connect 4
If you are looking for a simple strategic game for children or that can be played with anyone, Connect Four can be a great choice. Connect Four, by Hasbro, is an easy game that is similar to Tic-Tac-Toe. Instead of only getting three in a row, you must connect four in a row in order to win. Product dimensions are 2.1 x 10.5 x 10.5 inches, and weighs 1.05 pounds
Go For 4
Do you go to the side, diagonally, or up? Start at the edge, or in the middle? It’s up to you in the Connect 4 Grid. You can line your 4 discs side by side, stack them up vertically, or arrange them diagonally. As long as you can get 4 in a row, you are the winner. Stay ahead of your opposing player and stop them from getting their 4-in-a-row first.
Connect 4 Game Components
The Connect 4 board game’s capacity is for 2 players. This exciting game comes with instructions. You will get 1 grid, a slider bar, 2 legs, 21 yellow discs, and 21 red discs. Your child will have hours of skillful fun with the Connect 4.
Cost and Value
Connect Four is a hands-on game for younger children that only takes only minutes to complete. It is not recommended for children 3 years old and under. For returns or exchanges, customers can contact the seller regarding their rules and regulations.
4. Hasbro Candy Land
Candy Land is a kid’s board game by Hasbro Gaming designed to help your child learn through recognition of many colors. Play proceeds as each player draws colored cards, then move over to the next square that matches that color. Each player must face adventures such as the licorice squares and the peppermint rain forest. Product dimensions are 1.2 x 15.8 x 10.6 inches, and weigh 1.12 pounds.
Game Rules
The story begins of a kidnapped king. Eager to help with finding him, each player moves their gingerbread pawns down a rainbow path through a land of characters who are subjects of King Kandy's kingdom. Each player choose their own cards, and let their imaginations soar as they move their pawns. The first one who makes their way to the castle wins! Game capacity is 2 to 4 players.
Game Components
The Candy Land board game includes the game board, 44 cards, 4 gingerbread character pawns, and the official Candy Land game instructions and rules. Keep in mind that the official Candy Land instructions and rules could be different depending on the game version you have.
Cost and Value
Candy Land is the perfect game for young children who want to play a board game, but cannot read. It is a colorful board game that appeals to young children. This game does not require any reading for play. For returns or exchanges, customers can contact the seller regarding their rules and regulations.
5. Hasbro Chutes and Ladders
Chutes & Ladders is an easy game that allows your child to have fun playing because no reading is needed to participate. This board game has pictures that will help your child understand the good and not so good. The game is also made to help your child learn basic counting skills. Product dimensions are 1.2 x 15.8 x 10.6 inches, and weigh 1 pound.
Object Of The Game
The participants of Chutes and Ladders spins the spinner to decide how many squares to go. If their spot stops at the bottom of a ladder, they have to go up it. If it stops at the top of a chute they have to go down. To race ahead of the other players, you have to land at the base of a ladder. This is a very fun game for a younger child.
Components Included
Inside the game box, you will get the game board, 4 pawns with plastic stands, a spinner with a plastic arrow, and the official Chutes and Ladder instructions and rules.
Cost and Value
Chutes and Ladders as a great follow-up to Candy Land, and is recommended for a younger child who is just beginning to identify numbers. It is also an introduction to higher numbers, as players can climb up to 100 on the board. For returns or exchanges, customers can contact the seller regarding their rules and regulations.
6. Milton Bradley Operation
The Operation game is about a rare patient that has a lot of problems. Your child will have to figure out what they need to do to help the patient in this fun game. The patient comes with health conditions such as water in the knee, a broken heart, and butterflies inside the stomach. Your child will need his coordination and skills to remove the patient's conditions with doctor tweezers. Product dimensions are 2 x 10.6 x 15.8 inches, and weighs 1.35 pounds.
Rules Of The Game
Make sure not to touch the side of the patient or the buzzer will sound, making the patient's nose light up red. When this happens, your child will have to call in the specialist to help fix the problem. To win, your child must collect the most money by conducting successful "operations".
Operation’s Game Components
This unpredictable and fun game comes with a flashing nose and a surprising buzzer. “Cavity Sam” patient is included. Also includes 12 fun anatomy parts, 26 cards, rubber band, play money, and Operations instructions and rules. Large openings and easy-grab ailment pieces makes game play fun and challenging.
Cost and Value
The game requires AA batteries and can be played by one or more players. Instructions and rules could be different depending on the version of the game purchased. For returns or exchanges, customers can contact the seller regarding their rules and regulations.
7. Hasbro Guess Who
Guess Who by Hasbro is a two player game where participants try to guess which character their opponent has picked. There are 24 possibilities to choose from. Questions like "Are you wearing glasses?" helps to narrow down the choices. But each player must choose their questions wisely and do not let the other player name their character first! Product dimensions are 1.6 x 12 x 10 inches, and weighs 1 pound.
Boosts Creative Skills
Guess who is fun for most younger children. The length of play time does not extend over 10 minutes. The game presents characters like Ashley who is wearing the green hat, David, the man with the red beard, or Chris, the one with the glasses! When a player is certain about their opponent's character, he can make a guess. If he guess right, he wins the game!
The Game’s Contents
The Guess Who board game will include 2 game board trays, 48 face cards and face frames, 24 mystery cards, two score keepers, along with the game instructions and rules. Game capacity is for 2 players. The game contains small parts and is not ideal for children ages 3 yrs and under.
Cost and Value
While continuing to design some of the most memorable board games in the history of family entertainment, Hasbro Gaming stays innovative and current, and often partners with some of the biggest names. For returns or exchanges, customers can contact the seller regarding their rules and regulations.
8. Hasbro Sorry
“Sorry" is the correct explanation for a board game. Sorry is a children's board game where participants draw cards and attempts to progress in the game in order to win. Within the deck of cards is the dreaded “Sorry” card that allows a child to send any opposing player they want to start over again. It is an exciting game. However it can get heated as participants keep sending their opponents back to the start of the game. Product dimension are 1.6 x 10.5 x 10.5 inches, and weighs 1 pound.
Game Play
Each child chooses a color. He then places his color matching pawns on their particular color “Start” area. They have to make sure the cards are shuffled before placing them on the game board that says "Place Pack Here." A player is chosen to start and move his pawn clockwise on the board. To win, you have to be the first player to move all 4 pawns from your “Start” area to your “Home” area by the exact count of the cards. Choosing a “Sorry” card allows your to take one of your “start” pawns and place it on any space occupied by any of your opponents. This bumps that person’s pawn back to the “Start” position.
Game Pieces
The Sorry game board comes with the game board itself, four groups of 4 pawns with each having a different color, (16 in total) a deck of cards with no 6's or 9's, and the official game instructions and rules. Game capacity is 2 - 4 players.
Cost and Value
Hasbro produces board games that are not only perfect for children, they are perfect for adults of every age, and perfect for different events. Tabletop game play combined with interactive content results in an immersive gaming experience. For returns or exchanges, customers can contact the seller regarding their rules and regulations.
9. PRESSMAN TOYS Let's Go Fishin
Watch your children jump with excitement when they began to play Let’s Go Fishin. What child would not like to catch small, colorful fish that starts to bite once they rotate around the “play” ocean? Participants uses their fishing pole to capture as many fish as possible. Product dimensions are 10.5 x 10.5 x 2.2 inches, and weighs 12.3 ounces.
Requires Eye to Hand Coordination
Let's Go Fishin' by Pressman Toys, is a quick, fun game intended for younger children. Eye to hand coordination is needed in this game as the fishes open and close their mouths throughout the game. It is a fun game with simple rules. Choose Let's Go Fishin' as your child’s board game today! Product dimensions are 10.5 x 10.5 x 2.2 inches, and weighs 12.3 ounces.
Game Rules
The challenge is to place 21 fish into the pond’s compartments. Turn the pond “on” and the pond will spin. As the fishes open and close their mouths, your child will have to be quick in catching the most fish in order to win. Comes with 4 plastic fishing poles, 21 colorful fish, complete instructions and requires 1 C battery that is not included. Game capacity is 1 - 4 players.
Cost and Value
Let's Go Fishin' board game offers a fast-paced excitement that will lure your child into playing the game over and over again. It is a great value for your child. For returns or exchanges, customers can contact the seller regarding their rules and regulations.
10. Hasbro Trouble
Start off into the chasing game where every player is in Trouble! Set up the pegs and then rap the Pop-O-Matic roller dice. Depending the number rolled, each player moves their pegs to the "Start" area, move their pegs forward – or watch as the other players move! Each of the player’s pegs has to go around the board until they reach the "Finish" area. Dimensions are 1.6 x 10.5 x 10.5 inches, with a weight of 10.4 ounces.
Fun Game
Trouble by Hasbro is a fun, simple game to learn. Are you able to get all 4 of your individual pieces around the board and avoid being bumped by the opposing player? Keep the game going and send your opposing players back to their starting area in this classic racing game.
Components That Come with The Game
The Trouble game comes with a plastic bubble for rolling the dice. The bubble keeps the dice from getting lost. The game is recommended for children ages 5 and up. Game capacity is good for up to 4 players. There are four pegs to each player. There are 4, blue, 4 green, 4 red, and 4 yellow. The game comes with a quick setup for children and family enjoyment.
Cost and Value
Hasbro’s company mission is to bring joy into playing board games for all children along with their families. Everyone can enjoy this exciting children’s game with loved ones for a relaxing day at home. For returns or exchanges, customers can contact the seller regarding their rules and regulations.
