Update: This article was last updated on 2nd January 2025 to reflect the accuracy and up-to-date information on the page.
Table games for kids are a great way to promote learning and fun at the same time”.Tabletop games have been around for ages, and even in this technology-dominated era, it still holds a special place in kids’ hearts. From the sounds of little hands rolling dice to the sounds of strategy being played out, there’s something magical about playing board games.
But it’s not just about the fun – there are also hidden benefits to playing board games. These games can help you collaborate, sharpen your kids’ minds, and make them laugh like they know a secret language.
Now, it’s a bit tricky to find an ideal game that would be worth playing for a little explorer who loves to have adventures. You will find out there are simply too many such games. Not to worry we are here! We have the best 20 tabletop games designed for kids so that your kids won’t get bored and learn so much while at it.
Here’s a review of a selection of appropriate tabletop games for children, including a list of tabletop games for children that are both educational and entertaining.
List of Tabletop Games for Children
| Game | Recommended Age | Players Required | Time Required |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Jenga | 6 and up | 1 or more (ideal for 2 to 6 players) | 15-30 minutes |
| 2. UNO | 7 and up | 2 to 10 players | 15-30 minutes |
| 3. Ludo | 6 and up | 2 to 4 players | 20-30 minutes |
| 4. Chutes & Ladders | 3 and up | 2 to 4 players | 15-20 minutes |
| 5. Candy Land | 3 and up | 2 to 4 players | 15-20 minutes |
| 6. Sorry! | 6 and up | 2 to 4 players | 30-45 minutes |
| 7. Clue Junior | 5 and up | 2 to 6 players | 20-30 minutes |
| 8. Sequence for Kids | 3 and up | 2 to 4 players | 15-30 minutes |
| 9. Moonpreneur Board Game | 8 and up | 2 to 6 players | 30-60 minutes |
| 10. Forbidden Island | 10 and up | 2 to 4 players | 30 minutes |
| 11. Ticket to Ride: Journey Around the World | 8 and up | 2 to 5 players | 30-60 minutes |
| 12. Bananagrams: Word-building Fun | 7 and up | 1 or more (ideal for 2 to 6 players) | 15-30 minutes |
| 13. Sushi Go!: Card Drafting Delight | 8 and up | 2 to 5 players | 15-20 minutes |
| 14. Zingo!: Bingo with a Zing | 4 and up | 2 to 6 players | 15-20 minutes |
| 15. Rush Hour: Traffic Jam Challenge | 8 and up | 1 player | 15-20 minutes |
| 16. Outfoxed!: Cooperative Detective Game | 5 and up | 2 to 4 players | 20-30 minutes |
| 17. Battleship: Classic Naval Strategy | 7 and up | 2 players | 30-45 minutes |
| 18. Qwirkle: Color and Shape Matching | 6 and up | 2 to 4 players | 45 minutes |
| 19. The Game of Life: Junior Edition | 5 and up | 2 to 4 players | 30-45 minutes |
| 20. Robot Turtles: Coding for Kids | 4 and up | 2 to 4 players | 15-30 minutes |
1. Jenga
Recommended Age: 6 and up Players Required: 1 or more (ideal for 2 to 6 players) Time Required: 15-30 minutes |
Jenga demands both strategy and talent. The objective of the game is to stack wooden blocks, then take them out one at a time without toppling the tower. People who enjoy testing their abilities and seeing how high they can build the tower will love this game.
2. UNO
Recommended Age: 7 and up Players Required: 2 to 10 players Time Required: 15-30 minutes |
Uno is one of the best tabletop games for kids that can be played by young players of all ages. To get rid of all your cards from the game, you have to match colors and numbers. The colorful cards make it an enjoyable activity for kids, and the game is simple to learn.
It is perfect for a family or a group of friends since it can be played by two to ten players.
3. Ludo
Recommended Age: 6 and up Players Required: 2 to 4 players Time Required: 20-30 minutes |
Ludo is one of the most popular board games for kids. The objective of the Ludo is to reach the finish line as soon as possible by rolling dice and moving game pieces around a board. The game board is a cross-shaped track divided into four colored regions, each color representing a player’s starting position.
All four game pieces can be used to move through the board, and players move them so that they leave all the pieces of one color to go into their respective finishing position before the others do. To ensure winning this game, strategies need to be followed because of how a game piece is used for getting the best edge without giving a hand in any way to rivals.
4. Chutes & Ladders
Recommended Age: 3 and up Players Required: 2 to 4 players Time Required: 15-20 minutes |
Another popular game that is easy to play and suitable for children is Chutes & Ladders. To win the game, one has to move across a board with squares that include either ladders or chutes.
In the game, the participants move their game piece by the turn of a spinner. It teaches kids numbers, counting, and turn-taking.
5. Candy Land
Recommended Age: 3 and up Players Required: 2 to 4 players Time Required: 15-20 minutes |
Candy Land is a well-known game that has long been popular among young people. It’s a straightforward game where you draw cards and advance toward the goal. Kids will enjoy the game’s brilliant colors and candy-themed characters and visuals.
The game is easy to learn, and children develop counting and color-recognition abilities through it.
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Tabletop Gaming Market Size and Growth Rate in 2024
The tabletop gaming market has been rapidly growing over the past few years and is likely to continue doing so. The market is estimated to grow from $13.61 billion in 2023 to $15.84 billion in 2024, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 16.4%. This growth can be attributed to factors such as rising disposable income, the growth of digital platforms, the increasing popularity of fantasy genres, the expansion of hobbyist communities, the rise of crowdfunding platforms, and a stronger retail presence.
6. Sorry!
Recommended Age: 6 and up Players Required: 2 to 4 players Time Required: 30-45 minutes |
Sequence for Kids is a fun and engaging strategy board game for kids aged 3–6. It is a great way to help young minds develop logical thinking skills while having a blast! Sorry! is a game that combines luck and strategy. The goal of the game is to move all of your game pieces from the start to the home before the other players.
The game includes drawing cards and moving playing components around. The opportunity to send back the opponent’s game pieces to the beginning introduces a strategic dimension to the game.
7. Clue Junior
Recommended Age: 5 and up Players Required: 2 to 6 players Time Required: 20-30 minutes |
Clue Junior has taken the original Clue game and simplified it. The game requires a player to figure out who committed the crime, where it happened, and what weapon was used.
Players check cards and give guesses to solve the mystery. Whoever correctly guesses the answers first wins. Those who enjoy puzzles and exercising their critical thinking abilities will love this game.
8. Sequence for kids
Recommended Age: 3 and up Players Required: 2 to 4 players Time Required: 15-30 minutes |
Sequence for Kids is a game of skill and luck. The objective of the game is to be the first player to collect four chips in a row. To play the game, players draw cards and place chips on the board as necessary.
This also entails strategy in that the player may prevent their competitor from gaining four consecutive chips.
9. Moonpreneur Board Game
Recommended Age: 8 and up Players Required: 2 to 6 players Time Required: 30-60 minutes |
The Moonpreneur board game is an educational board game that has helped hundreds of children, young adults, and adults acquire financial literacy and stimulate that entrepreneurial mindset in a fun way.
Financial literacy is important and needs to be encouraged in children at a very young age.
10. Forbidden Island
Recommended Age: 10 and up Time Required: 30 minutes |
The forbidden island is the cooperative game involving working together not to allow for a disaster; the game focuses on treasure gathering and leaving a sinking island, as it moves into the sea. This kind of game is fabulous for children since they will engage in teamwork building and developing some problem-solving skill.
(Reference: wordsrated.com)
According to a report from NMSC, the board games market around the world will grow from USD 13.06 billion in 2023 to USD 26.04 billion by 2030 at an annual growth rate of 8.7% CAGR from 2024 to 2030. In 2020, board games on Kickstarter raised USD 250 million. Meanwhile, board games for the family gained a 40% increase in sales as families craved more engaging activities. Sales of board games on Amazon were also up by 29% in e-commerce.
By 2020, average spending by households on board games in the United States stood at USD 179, with an increase of 34% compared to the previous year. More than 55% of board games are sold online in the United States. In 2024, it is projected that the world economy will add over USD 3.8 billion from the board game industry.
In the United States, only 3% admit to always cheating on games. This may lead to disqualification if discovered. Board games play is around 21.4% monthly while 1.7% annually. Further, 50.6% view board games as good vehicles for socializing. Chess is the most popular board game sold over 3 million units every year in the United States.
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11. Ticket to Ride: Journey Around the World
Recommended Age: 8 and up Players Required: 2 to 5 players Time Required: 30-60 minutes |
The board game Ticket to Ride invites all players on an international journey, by collecting train cards in order to claim railway routes and complete destination tickets. But this game also tests geography, develops strategic thinking, and uses a little bit of luck to create a wonderful setting.
12. Bananagrams: Word-building Fun
Recommended Age: 7 and up Players Required: 1 or more (ideal for 2 to 6 players) Time Required: 15-30 minutes |
Bananagrams is a fast-paced word game that gets language enthusiasts excited. Racing to build a crossword grid encourages vocabulary expansion, word recognition, and quick thinking. Its portability makes it an ideal companion for language-loving kids on the go.
13. Sushi Go!: Card Drafting Delight
Recommended Age: 8 and up Players Required: 2 to 5 players Time Required: 15-20 minutes |
Sushi Go! It is one of the best tabletop games for kids and helps children discover the world of card drafting in the most delightful way. The combination of collecting sets of sushi in order to earn points not only encourages observation but also proper planning. The adorable illustrations make this engaging and learning game even more charming.
14. Zingo!: Bingo with a Zing
Recommended Age: 4 and up Players Required: 2 to 6 players Time Required: 15-20 minutes |
Zingo! brings a modern twist to the traditional bingo game. The fun of matching the tiles to Zingo! cards makes the classic game exciting and enjoyable. This is an enjoyable and educational experience, enhancing pattern recognition, memory, and concentration among young players.
15. Rush Hour: Traffic Jam Challenge
Recommended Age: 8 and up Players Required: 1 player Time Required: 15-20 minutes |
Rush Hour is a single-player puzzle game in which the player must navigate a red car through a gridlock of other vehicles. This brain-teasing game enhances spatial awareness, problem-solving, and critical thinking in an engaging and entertaining format.
The global tabletop games market has been valued at USD 17.8 billion in 2023 and is expected to grow from USD 18.81 billion in 2023 to USD 27.7 billion by 2032. It is growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.95% in the forecast period from 2024 to 2032. The main growth drivers are increasing interest among millennials in tabletop games from all genres, as well as the increasing popularity of board games in game cafes and bars.
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16. Outfoxed!: Cooperative Detective Game
Recommended Age: 5 and up Players Required: 2 to 4 players Time Required: 20-30 minutes |
Outfoxed! is a cooperative detective game where players work together to solve the mystery of a missing pie. Collaboration in gathering clues and eliminating suspects promotes teamwork, deductive reasoning, and a sense of shared achievement.
17. Battleship: Classic Naval Strategy
Recommended Age: 7 and up Players Required: 2 players Time Required: 30-45 minutes |
Battleship, the game, pits two players against each other as they scramble to sink the other person’s fleet. The exercise of the brain in calling out coordinates to locate and destroy enemy ships in Battleship can attest to the importance of logical thinking and strategic planning with a dash of luck.
18. Qwirkle: Color and Shape Matching
Recommended Age: 6 and up Players Required: 2 to 4 players Time Required: 45 minutes |
Qwirkle is a tile-laying game where players have to draw colored tiles and match these colors and shapes for point scoring. The game stimulates pattern recognition, strategy, and planning to create combinations that maximize points. It’s a visually stimulating game which combines fun with cognitive development.
19. The Game of Life: Junior Edition
Recommended Age: 5 and up Players Required: 2 to 4 players Time Required: 30-45 minutes |
The Game of Life: Junior Edition is a simplified version of the classic game that takes players through various life adventures. This fun journey introduces kids to decision-making, consequences, and the concepts of career and financial planning in an age-appropriate format.
20. Robot Turtles: Coding for Kids
Recommended Age: 4 and up Players Required: 2 to 4 players Time Required: 15-30 minutes |
Robot Turtles is a board game to introduce programming to young children, where one has to use cards to guide turtles through a maze. This teaches basic programming concepts in a playful, accessible manner.
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The Tabletop genre saw 202.7 million downloads in the last year, which is down by about 12%. The most downloaded title in this category was Happy Color, a drawing and coloring game by X-Flow, with 8.3 million installs. The second most downloaded tabletop game in the U.S. was UNO!, a card game by Mattel163, followed by Chess, a board game from Chess.com, which ranked third.
To put it in a nutshell, tabletop games for kids are more than just entertainment; they are a doorway to learning, creativity, and quality family time. Tabletop games are not only fun to play with your kids but also help them develop critical skills. Whether it is strategic thinking, problem-solving skills, social skills, or language skills, there’s something for everyone in this list of top 20 tabletop games. With so many options to choose from, you’re sure to find a game that’s not just fun to play but also adds to your child’s educational experience.
Want to make your child future-ready with Robotics? Moonpreneur offers a tailor-made program. Reserve a spot in our free 60-minute workshop today and introduce them to the amazing world of robotics and innovations!
Are there any educational tabletop games?
Definitely! Games like Bananagrams build vocabulary, Sequence for Kids teaches strategy, and Rush Hour challenges logic and problem-solving. Look for games that align with their learning interests.