58 Best Board Games List! If you’re looking for ideas for board games, best family board games, learning games, or game school, look no further! Check out these best board games for family game night, gameschooling, or holiday gifts for kids—ranging from popular game classics / classic board games list to new games you’ve never played!
![42 Homeschool Parents Recommend Best Board Games List [Part 1 of 3]](https://i2.wp.com/homeschoolsuperfreak.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/42-Homeschool-Parents-Recommend-Best-Board-Games-List-Part-1.jpg "Best Board Games List EVER!")
List of Board Games Recommended By Parents
What are some popular board games?
Once, I nonchalantly asked for some input on a best board games list from homeschooling parents on Facebook.
The request was innocent enough.
I was just looking for best family board games for kids to add to our arsenal of family and group games and classic board games and knew that other homeschoolers would have great input.
I expected a few parents to comment, listing one or two of their favorite family games.
Or, maybe I would hear a few “These are the best board games of all time!” suggestions.
BUT, the input was so much more than that!
It was AMAZING!
People came back with not just one or two recommendations, but lists of their favorite family time board games and card game gifts.
Here are the board games recommended by parents when we asked the question, What are some fun board games?
We have board games: most popular to board games that you’ve never heard of nor played, and board games with cards, regular board games, dice games, and some of the best board games all time!
Not only are family board games are a perfect and inexpensive way to connect with your family, they are great learning tools for your kids and a fun way to practice strategy! They’ll learn without even knowing it!
But, before we get to our list, let’s answer:
What are the most popular board games right now? [2020]
Here are some of the current popular family board games:
- LCR Left Center Right Dice Game
- UNO: Family Card Game
- Exploding Kittens Card Game
- Zingo Bingo
- Jenga Classic Game
- Connect 4
- Throw Throw Burrito
- Monopoly Classic Game
- The Floor is Lava
- Catan
- Kids Against Maturity
- Codenames
- SKIP BO Card Game
What are the board games prices?
Board game prices vary greatly, from under $10 all the way up to $50 and more. However, you’ll find that most board games prices fall in the $20 or less range.
TIP: Thrift stores are a great place to look for board games and save on prices!
What’s the best board game?
58 Best Board Games List According to Parents— great party board games or for a quiet evening at home!
- Ticket to Ride
- Catan
- Apples to Apples
- Scrabble
- Uno
- Mastermind
- Scattegories
- Boggle
- Cribbage
- Phase 10
- Sequence
- Camel Up
- Sushi Go!
- Terror in Meeple City
- 7 Wonders
- Wahoo
- Yahtzee
- Castle Panic
- Flash Point
- Tenzi
- Slapzi
- Risk
- Dominoes
- Farkle
- Dominion
- King of Tokyo
- What Did I Step In?
- Fluxx
- Jenga
- Blokus
- Blurt!
- Scrambled States
- Farming Game
- Monopoly Junior
- Clue
- Upwords
- Game of Life
- Balderdash
- Dutch Blitz
- HedBanz
- Sorry!
- Killer Bunnies
- Go Fish!
- Sleeping Queens
- Exploding Kittens
- Werewolf
- Munchkin
- Cash and Guns
- Happy Salmon
- Tapple
- Codenames
- Dixit
- SET
- Carcassonne
- Pictionary
- Speak Out
- Forbidden Island
- No Stress Chess
We discuss each of the games on the board games list of learning below, so don’t miss out!
(Keep scrolling!)
LEARN ALL ABOUT GAME SCHOOL FOR YOUR HOMESCHOOL OR CLASSROOM
After seeing all the game recommendations, I knew it was too good not to share—in fact, it was so huge that I had to break this best board games list into three parts! (So, don’t miss Parts 2 and 3!)
(And now I need a budget item just for “family games.”)
After the first couple of popular mentions, these game recommendations aren’t listed in any particular order and they’re great for games for girls, boys, and the whole family, homeschool gameschool, or for any party or gathering.
I’ve also included the manufacturer’s recommended age level and number of players, but as always, you know your kids best. (In other words, ignore the age range if you want.)
Don’t forget about the
BEST BOARD GAMES LIST, PART 2
![58 Best Board Games List Recommended By Parents [Part 1]](https://i2.wp.com/homeschoolsuperfreak.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/BEST-Board-Games-List-by-Home-School-Parents.png "BEST BOARD GAMES FOR KIDS")
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Best Board Games List: Part 1
Here are our best board games reviews!
(This is not a board games list alphabetical or by ranking. It’s just in random order.)
Ticket To Ride
There were so many people that mentioned the Ticket To Ride game that I had to put it first on our best board games list!
From the manufacturer:
“The Ticket To Ride Board Game is a cross-country train adventure that celebrates Fogg’s impetuous and lucrative gamble to travel “Around the World in 80 Days” by proposing a new wager.
The stake is a $1 million prize in this winner-takes-all competition.
The objective of this train board game is to see who can travel by rail to the most cities in North America in just seven days.
This Ticket To Ride game can be played by two to five players.
There are 225 colored train cars and players have to collect cards that allow them to use the different railway routes connecting the cities across the USA.
This Ticket To Ride Board Game comes complete with a detailed board, game cards, help cards, rules, train miniatures and more.”
Ages: 8 and up
Players: 2-5
Catan
Catan is another game that came up frequently in the list. There are many different versions now, with a variety of expansion packs (like
Catan: Explorers & Pirates Expansion 5th Edition).
From the manufacturer:
“Your adventurous settlers seek to tame the remote but rich isle of Catan.
Start by revealing Catan’s many harbors and regions: pastures, fields, mountains, hills, forests, and desert.
The random mix creates a different board virtually every game.”
It also lists that it won “game of the century.”
(WOW!)
Ages: 10 and up
Players: 3-4
Apples to Apples
Apples to Apples is a matching game where players match the description cards to the object card.
The person who comes up with the most amusing match wins that set.
It’s a really fun family game for all ages!
Ages: 12 and up
Players: 4-10
Scrabble
Who doesn’t love this oldie but goodie?
However, if you haven’t upgraded for a while, you might want to consider this Scrabble Deluxe Wooden Edition with Rotating Game Board
.
(I KNOW!)
The Scrabble board rotates (think: Lazy Susan) so that when it’s your turn you can turn the board facing you!
Scrabble is a great way to learn and practice spelling, too (so don’t pay attention to that pesky manufacturers recommended age of 8 and up).
Ages: 8 and up
Players: 2-4
Uno Card Game
Uno
?
STILL FUN!
(If you don’t believe me or have forgotten, pull those Uno cards out at your next gathering.)
Plus, I love that a family member just needs to know colors and numbers to play, so almost all ages can join in on the fun.
There are many other versions now, so (again) if you haven’t updated for a while you may want to consider Uno Attack Game
and UNO Dare
.
Ages: 7 and up
Players: 2-10
Mastermind
Mastermind Game: The Strategy Game of Codemaker vs. Codebreaker is a strategy game.
From the manufacturer:
“Can You Crack The Code In 10 Moves Or Less? Can You Create A Code Than Can’t Be Cracked?
It’s easy to learn and fast to play, and with more than 2,000 possible codes it’s different every time.
The Codemaker sets a secret code, then the Codebreaker tries to match the code using logic, deduction, and maybe even a little bit of luck.
After each move, the Codemaker gives clues to the Codebreaker.
Codemakers can make their codes even more devious by using multiple pegs of the same color or by leaving one or more peg holes empty.
With so many possible code combinations, every game is guaranteed to be a brainteaser.”
Ages: 8 and up
Players: 2
Scattergories Game
Scattergories also made our best board games list!
It is a game where each player completes the name of something in a particular category.
If no one matches your answer, then you get a point.
Rack up your points until you rule the world (or something like that . . .).
It’s fun!
Ages: 12 and up
Players: 2 or more
Boggle
Boggle is one of my personal favorites and I was excited to see other parents recommend it.
(I still have mine from childhood and the box is faded and falling apart.)
The rules are easy: you shake up the lettered dice, turn them over on the table, start the timer, and find words as fast as you can.
This is another great learning game for practicing spelling.
Ages: 8 and up
Players: 2 or more
Cribbage
Cribbage is an old school game and I was interested to see it recommended.
To be honest, I’ve never played, but after reading the description I think we’re going to order one.
From the manufacturer:
“Each player gets six cards and after looking at them, puts two down to form the crib for the dealer’s second hand.
At the end of the round, the dealer gets the points in the crib.
A player’s remaining four cards become the draw deck.
Depending on what card is drawn, players are awarded points and move their pegs forward in a walking formation, meaning you alternate which peg gets moved forward.
Play continues until there are no more cards left. The first person to reach the last space on the board with one peg is the winner.”
Ages: 8 and up
Players: 2-4
Phase 10
Phase 10 is another great card game.
If you’ve ever played Rummy, then you’ll get Phase 10.
“Be the first player to complete 10 varied phases with two sets of three, one run of seven, or seven cards with the same color.
Each phase is specific for each hand, meaning each player must complete one phase before advancing to the next round!”
Ages: 7 and up
Players: 2-6
Sequence
Sequence is one of our all-time family favorites!
Our youngest daughter started playing this game with us at age four, so it’s great for practicing numbers and colors.
The object of the game is to create a sequence of chips on the board using the cards in your hand before your opponents do.
So much fun!
Sequence has many other fun versions:
Sequence Numbers
, Sequence States and Capitals
, Bible Sequence
, and more!
Ages: 6 and up
Players: 2-6
Camel Up
I’ve never heard of Camel Up, so I was interested in doing more research on it.
This is a board game about a camel race.
“Witness the craziest camel race of all time, as things really go topsy-turvy when camels stack up and entire pyramids turn upside down.
As members of Egyptian high society, you gather in the desert with one simple goal: to gain the most money by backing the right camel to win a leg or even the entire race.
However, in this race, it’s not just the lucky ones who can beat the odds.”
Ages: 8 and up
Players: 2-8
Sushi Go!
Sushi Go! is a card game that was also on several people’s best game list.
“Pass the sushi! In this fast-playing card game, the goal is to grab the best combination of sushi dishes as they whiz by.
Score points for making the most maki rolls or for collecting a full set of sashimi.
Dip your favorite nigiri in wasabi to triple its value. But be sure to leave room for dessert or else you’ll eat into your score!”
The game also states that it “reinforces probability, visual discrimination and strategic thinking.”
Ages: 6 and up
Players: 2-5
Terror In Meeple City
Terror In Meeple City is touted as “dexterity-based gameplay.”
“In Terror In Meeple City, you arrive in Meeple City as a gigantic, famished, scaly-skinned monster!
Your goal:
Dig your claws and dirty paws into the asphalt, destroy buildings, and devour innocent meeples. T
he monster who has caused the most damage after the carnage finally ends wins the game.”
Ages: 8 and up
Players: 2 or more
7 Wonders
7 Wonders is a game where “you are the leader of one of the 7 great cities of the Ancient World.
Gather resources, develop commercial routes and affirm your military supremacy.
Build your city and erect an architectural wonder which will transcend future times.”
Ages: 10 and up
Players: 3-7
Thought there would be more games?
Don’t worry, there are so many other great game recommendations!
So many more that we decided to break them up into multiple posts to save your scrolling sanity.
(You’re welcome!)
CHECK THEM OUT HERE:
BEST BOARD GAMES LIST, PART 2
BEST BOARD GAMES LIST, PART 3
STARTING HOME SCHOOL? CHECK OUT OUR HOW TO HOMESCHOOL GUIDE
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