A Mighty Girl's top picks of empowering games for game lovers of all ages!
Whether it’s an activity for a rainy or snowy day, or part of a weekly family game night, there’s nothing more fun than a good game! Card games, board games, video games, and logic games are great entertainment for one or more people and an excellent way to build a variety of skills, from spatial awareness to planning and strategy to social skills like taking turns.
If you're looking for a great new game for someone on your gift list, we've included many unique options for all ages in our new blog post. In the five thematic sections below, we'll find a little bit of everything, from storytelling to puzzle solving, from solitaire games to games for teams. So get ready to get gaming!
Make Your Move: Strategy Games
Games for two or more players often involve more than mastery of the rules: you'll also have to develop clever strategies — and respond to the strategies of other players. These strategy games will teach kids that patience and cunning can win the day!
The Sneaky Snacky Squirrel
The Sneaky Snacky Squirrel
Even the littlest kids can start learning strategy! In this game, kids try to help the squirrel fill their tree stump full of acorns of the right colors. But you can also spin to steal an acorn or lose an acorn, which is where the strategy comes in — choose carefully to give yourself the best chance of winning. Along the way, kids also develop matching and sorting skills, and the cute Squirrel Squeezers help build pre-writing skills. This game has just enough of a mix of strategy and luck to be fun for the youngest gamers.
My First Carcassonne Board Game
My First Carcassonne Board Game
Introduce the fun of Carcassonne to younger kids with this simplified version from Z-Man Games! In My First Carcassonne, the city is celebrating its national holiday with a tradition where people let sheep, hens, and cows loose in the streets, and children bring them home. Lay tiles to build the city and connect the streets so that the children can lead all the animals back before dark. Each time you close off a street with one child in your player color on it, you put a pawn on the board; place all your pawns and you win! This game for 2 to 4 players takes about 30 minutes to play.
Ticket to Ride: First Journey Game
Ticket to Ride: First Journey Game
Little board gamers will love this adaptation of the best-selling game Ticket To Ride that's just right for them! Just like in the original Ticket To Ride, kids will collect train cards to claim routes and connect cities across the United States, but in this version, routes are shorter and train cards are drawn straight from the deck. The game ends when one player completes six tickets, giving this fast-paced game a 30 minute play time! Fans of Ticket To Ride: Europe can also get the Ticket To Ride: Europe - First Journey game.
Qwirkle
Qwirkle
The straightforward premise of this game — match tiles to win points — belies how addictive it is! The more tiles you place at once, the more points you score, but as the game advances, there may be fewer and fewer places you can place tiles. Of course, if you do manage to tie into tiles that are already on the table, your score can only go up... This award-winning game will challenge kids brains as they scheme how to place tiles to score high and block their opponents. And for fun on the go, there's also a travel Qwirkle that comes with smaller tiles and a handy carrying pouch.
No Stress Chess
No Stress Chess
With this unique set, you can learn the rules of a classic game with an innovative deck of action cards! Each card depicts a chess piece and how it moves. In the first phase of play, you move according to which action card you draw; as kids advance, they'll draw three cards and choose which move they think offers the best strategy. Finally, when they're comfortable with the game, flip over the board to the side with no hints and play regulation chess.
Dixit
Dixit
The trick to this inventive game is all in the details! The active player chooses an image and gives a brief description, while the other players try to guess which card she's describing. Correct answers give points to both the guesser and the active player, while incorrect answers only give points to the active player. Be careful, though! If nobody guesses the card, the active player gets no points, but all the other players do. The beautiful images on these cards provide plenty of fodder for coming up with creative descriptions, and kids will love figuring out exactly how much detail to include for their best chance to score.
Connect 4 Spin Game
Connect 4 Spin Game
Put a new spin on a classic game — literally! This is the first Connect 4 game that includes a spinning grid. As with classic Connect 4, your goal is to complete a row of four of your color horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. However, in this version, after you've placed a piece, you spin part of the grid, so you'd better make sure you're not setting your opponent up for a win! Each set of colored discs also includes one weighted disc that can change the game in an instant. With two game modes — one beginner and one expert — this game adds a new layer of strategy that you'll love.
Photosynthesis
Photosynthesis
In this game from Blue Orange, the goal is green energy! Cultivate your trees to take best advantage of the sun... without blocking out the littlest seedlings from the much-needed light. As your trees move through their life cycle, you'll earn points when they catch the light — but since the sun shifts in the sky, the tree that was in a clearing a few turns ago could be in darkness now, so you'll have to think ahead. With exquisite artwork and a unique game mechanic, this game is a unique way to learn about the energy that powers a tree's life cycle.
Queendomino Strategy Board Game
Queendomino Strategy Board Game
In this game from Blue Orange, the goal is to win the Queen's favor by proving you can add value to the kingdom! Explore the territory and expand your kingdom, finding unique new resources along the way. Taxes will help you construct towns, but don't tax too heavily. And watch out for the Dragon — and your opponents! This game for 2 to 4 players involves more complex strategy and decision-making than its partner game Kingdomino. The two game can also be combined to play either with 6 to 8 players.
Dragonwood: A Game of Dice and Daring
Dragonwood: A Game of Dice and Daring
Enter the Dragonwood — if you dare! Ogres, goblins, and even dragons lurk in the depths of this wood, and adventurers who defeat them will be well rewarded. Players collect adventurer cards that earn dice to use in battles, but choose carefully: use too many when you battle that goblin and you'll be unprepared if the dragon is around the corner! Beautifully illustrated, this constantly-changing game also provides plenty of replayability.
Shifting Stones: A Game of Tiles and Tactics
Shifting Stones: A Game of Tiles and Tactics
Shift the stones and claim your points in this strategy game from Gamewright! In Shifting Stones, players compete to rearrange and flip the nine Stone tiles to match the pattern on one of the cards in their hand. Orientation matters, so make sure you get them the right way around! You can use your cards to move the tiles or score points — but not both, so you'll have to think carefully about how you're moving them around and what your opponents might do. This clever, colorful game for 2 to 5 players takes approximately 20 minutes to play.
BlockNess Board Game
BlockNess Board Game
Find your monster a home with this strategy board game from Blue Orange! In BlockNess, players are competing to get their ever-growing monster more space on the board. Some of your monster's loops are very tall, while others are short, so you'll have to think carefully about where to put each so that you can add more... or block other players from adding theirs. Be the last one to elongate your monster to win! This game, which comes with the Loch board, 4 monsters, and illustrated instructions, is suitable for 2 to 4 players and takes approximately 15 minutes to play.
Explorers Flip and Write Strategy Game
Explorers Flip and Write Strategy Game
Delve into a new, untouched world with this unique board game from Ravensburger! In Explorers, players have just discovered a mysterious place where levitating, shifting rocks mean the terrain is constantly changing. Mark where you've traveled on your map using the included dry-erase markers as you collect provisions, precious stones, keys to secret temples, and much more. With 32 terrain tiles so the setup is different every game, and additional Expert rules and Achievements for expert players, there's tons of replayability in this game! This game for 1 to 4 players takes approximately 20 minutes to play.
Ticket to Ride
Ticket to Ride
It's the year 1900, and the players around the table have a little wager: each is trying to see the most cities in North America in 7 days, all by train. The stakes are high as players collect train cards to connect routes from city to city. The longer the route, the more point you score; players can also score extra points by building the longest continuous railway and by fulfilling their Destination Tickets by joining two particular cities. Fans of this cross-country adventure and strategy game will also want to check out Ticket to Ride: Europe which adds new gameplay elements like Tunnels, Ferries, and Train Stations.
Planet Strategy Board Game
Planet Strategy Board Game
Build a world with this unique strategy game from Blue Orange! In Planet, you build a "globe" using your 12-sided, 3D planet core and a set of magnetic continent tiles. Select landscape tiles representing oceans, deserts, mountains, or frozen terrain. If you place them together carefully, you'll create ecosystems that fulfill habitat objectives and encourage animals to populate your world! This strategy game for 2 to 4 players will get kids thinking about the remarkable planet we call home.
5-Minute Dungeon
5-Minute Dungeon
Cooperate or perish in this dungeon-themed game with a five-minute time limit! Each player takes the role of an intrepid hero, one of a party working their way through a dungeon. Dangerous monsters, perilous obstacles, and terrifying Dungeon Bosses stand between you and your goal. With no turns, the gameplay is fast and furious! Five different dungeons and a randomly selected mix of obstacles mean endless replayability for this clever game.
Evolution
Evolution
The name of the game is survival of the fittest! You play a new organism in a dangerous world. Create and adapt your creature to take best advantage of the environment around you, while avoiding the pitfalls! Will you invest your adaptations in traits like a Hard Shell or Horns to protect you from predators, or a Long Neck to get food other creatures can't reach? With 4,000 species to create, there's no end to the ways you can eat, multiply, and thrive. And for an undersea version of this game, check out the Oceans strategy game.
Abandon All Artichokes: A Heartless Card Game
Abandon All Artichokes: A Heartless Card Game
It's a race to dispose of all your artichokes in this hilarious food-themed card game from Gamewright! In Abandon All Artichokes, your goal is to purge your hand of Artichokes so you end up with only cards featuring other vegetables. Each of the vegetables have special abilities that let you compost artichokes, discard cards, or swap cards with another player. This colorful and cute early card drafting game is perfect to get kids starting to learn basic strategy and planning skills. The set comes with 100 cards and rules of play, all tucked neatly into an artichoke-shaped tin, and takes approximately 20 minutes to play.
Azul: Queen's Garden
Azul: Queen's Garden
Welcome back to the palace of Sintra, where the best garden designers of Portugal are competing to create the most stunning garden for Queen Maria. In this strategy board game, which uses the signature tile drafting mechanic from the Azul series, players carefully select colorful tiles representing garden features like plants, trees, and ornaments. You'll have to plan carefully if you're going to score big points — or to disrupt your competitors trying to do the same. Queen's Garden adds two exciting new gameplay features: Dual Matching Mode, in which players can score by matching tile patterns or colors, but can't play tiles that match both side by side, and hexagonal tiles that allow for both more creative play and much higher scores!
Codenames
Codenames
To win this social word game, you'll have to work your brain! Two spymasters know the secret identities of 25 agents, and their teammates need to get in touch with the ones on their side. The spymasters have to give one-word clues, and teammates need to pick codename words that match their team's color, while avoiding the other team's agents and the assassin card who ends the game. Spymasters will have to think carefully, and guessers will have to figure out what logic the spymaster was using, if they want their team to win!
The Settlers of Catan
The Settlers of Catan
Get ready to trade, build, and settle in the new world of Catan! In this award-winning strategy game, players collect resources and use them to build roads, settlements, and cities. Plan your strategy carefully, and don't overextend yourself — but don't move too slowly, or you might find yourself boxed in. Since players can lay out the world tiles however they'd like, each game is a chance for things to go differently!
Kodama
Kodama
Help the care for the forest — and the Kodama spirits in it — with this card game from Indie Boards and Cards! As you grow your tree, make sure that you leave room for future growth... but you also need to plan for what attributes will please this season's Kodama the most. Little details like the mushrooms, flowers, and fireflies on the cards you place can make a big difference, both now and later in the game! Lush artwork and an innovative play mechanic make this game a unique option for game night.
Viral
Viral
In this game from Arcane Wonders, the goal will truly make you sick! You play one of several viruses that have infected a host. To win, you need to mutate and take over the host's organs, causing biological havoc along the way — but do so cautiously! Not only can your opponents try to overtake you, but if you start causing serious symptoms too soon, the host's immune system could wipe you out. With humorous artwork and a fun combination of competition and random chance, having a virus has never been so entertaining.
Whirling Witchcraft Game
Whirling Witchcraft Game
Become a spell master with this game from Alderac Entertainment Group! In Whirling Witchcraft, you're trying to clear your bench of ingredients — before your fellow witches do. Use recipe cards to use up or transform your ingredients, and put any you use in a cauldron to pass on to your neighbor. If they can't fit all the ingredients on their workbench, they have to pass some back to you to put in your witch's circle. Get five ingredients in your circle to win! This witchy game for 2 to 5 players takes 15 to 30 minutes to play.
Calico Game
Calico Game
What does a perfect quilt look like? According to Calico from Alderac Entertainment Group, it's aesthetically pleasing, matches the quilt pattern... and attracts plenty of feline friends! In this tile-laying game, players take turns sewing patches for their quilts by drafting and placing tiles on their boards. With the right color and pattern combinations, you'll not only make a beautiful quilt, but you'll also attract a cat to snuggle up to sleep. At the end of the game, you can score points for how many cats you snagged, as well as for buttons and for how well you completed your unique quilt pattern. This game for 1 to 4 players is sure to appeal to both quilt fans and cat lovers!
Tiny Towns Strategy Game
Tiny Towns Strategy Game
Build the best Tiny Town with this game from Alderac Entertainment Group! Players take the role of mayors of towns for smaller creatures hiding from predators. The land is small and resources are scarce, so you can't say no to building materials — but you also don't want to fill your tiny space with resources you haven't used! Place buildings and monuments, each worth Victory Points, and plan ahead so your town can thrive. Whoever has the most Victory Points wins!
Work Your Brain: Spatial and Logic Games
The best games aren't just fun to play: they also provide an intriguing challenge! These fun spatial and logic games will keep brains busy for hours.
Bunny Peek-A-Boo
Bunny Peek-A-Boo
This is a spatial puzzle game for the youngest kids! Kids arrange four sturdy wooden blocks to match each challenge. Although the images look similar, the solution can be very different depending on details — like how far the bunny's ears stick out! Kids learn concepts like above and below, in and out, hidden and visible — but mostly they will love playing peek-a-boo with this friendly wooden rabbit.
Day and Night
Day and Night
It starts off simply enough: stack the pieces to match a picture on a challenge card. But things get really interesting for kids when day turns to night and they have to match a silhouette instead of a picture! With 48 challenges — 24 day and 24 night — that rise in difficulty, kids will develop their reasoning skills as they have fun playing with the pieces. Plus, parents will love the ecologically friendly rubberwood construction and recyclable packaging.
Zimbbos
Zimbbos
Under the Big Top, the animals are creating an incredible pyramid — and they need your help! You need to stack the elephants in order from 1 to 10; if you get the tenth elephant up, you win! Roll the dice to see how many elephants you need to place, or if you'll have to place another animal or a balance bar instead. This game can be played competitively, but it's also an excellent cooperative building project — with a helping of number recognition and sequencing along the way.
MightyMind
MightyMind
This unique game teaches kids to solve tangram-like puzzles on their own! 32 tile shapes can create a wide variety of different images and scenes. The thirty progressive challenge cards begin by showing kids exactly which tiles they'll need, then eventually remove the prompts so that kids have to figure out the puzzles on their own. Since no reading is required, even preschoolers can play this game without help! Fans of this set can expand the fun with additional sets like MightyMind Aquarium Adventure.
Balance Boat: Endangered Animals
Balance Boat: Endangered Animals
This is a pretend play set and a challenging game all in one! To play the game, kids will need to stack the brightly colored endangered animal figures on top of the rocking boat. Get it right or the whole thing sinks! The figures, made from eco-friendly rubberwood and finished with non-toxic stains, also make fun figures for pretend play adventures.
Mental Blox Jr.
Mental Blox Jr.
Fans of the original Mental Blox game from Learning Resources can now introduce it to younger kids! Fit these cheerful, funny pieces together to match the challenges on the activity cards... then, let your imagination run wild and see what stacks and patterns you can create! The 3D nature of the puzzles encourages kids to develop spatial skills and problem solving, all while having lots of building fun.
Smart Farmer Puzzle Game
Smart Farmer Puzzle Game
Keep the animals in order in this puzzle game from SmartGames! You're a farmer with only one field, and you need to keep each type of animal in its own enclosure. Put the horses, cows, and sheep in the field according to the directions on the challenge card, then place the fence pieces so that each creature has its own paddock. As the challenges get more difficult, you'll have more animals on the board, or need to add water troughs too! Sixty challenges provide increasing difficulty levels to keep kids developing their logic and spatial skills as they play.
Color Code
Color Code
Make use of these unique see-through tiles to create bright, colorful images! As you layer the tiles, you'll create multi-colored, complex shapes to match the challenges in the included book — or just to play with color and form for fun. 100 increasingly difficult puzzles suit everyone from beginners to experienced graphic designers. Logic is a beautiful thing!
Domino Maze Chain Reaction Logic Game
Domino Maze Chain Reaction Logic Game
Combine the fun of a domino race with a the challenge of a logic game with this new game from ThinkFun! In Domino Maze, each challenge card tells you where to place elements on the board, and gives you a number of additional pieces to complete the domino run. As the challenges rise in difficulty, you'll have to go through pivots, around blockers, and even up and down stairs! Sixty challenges from beginner to expert will keep her puzzling — and dominoes tumbling — over and over.
Perplexus
Perplexus
This maze in a ball is a challenge you won't be able to put down! Flip, twist, and spin the transparent sphere to guide a small ball down the numbered path. You'll have to work both with and against gravity, and be careful — go off course and you'll have to start again. There are over 100 barriers to master in order to complete the course. As an added bonus, this game looks great on display — just bear in mind that people won't be able to resist giving it a try!
Roller Coaster Challenge
Roller Coaster Challenge
Build wild roller coasters in this combination logic puzzle and engineering game from ThinkFun! Choose a challenge card and set up the pieces specified; then, use the rest of the pieces to create a roller coaster that meets the requirements on the card. Challenges start simple but get complicated fast...but the reward is getting to watch your car zoom down the track you built! Kids will love the combination of puzzle solving and free-form building that this game provides.
Cat Crimes: Who's to Blame Logic Game
Cat Crimes: Who's to Blame Logic Game
From tangled yarn to a swallowed fish... which cat committed the crime? In this clever single-player logic game from ThinkFun, you have to figure out which cat was the culprit for forty different cat crimes. Each challenge card provides clues about where the cats were located at the time of the crime, based on paw prints, toy placement, and their relationship to other cats. Figure out where each cat was sitting and you'll have your answer! Forty funny challenge cards, ranging in difficulty from beginning to expert, will keep you puzzling — and laughing! And don't forget to check out the companion game Dog Crimes for even more logic puzzle fun.
Laser Maze
Laser Maze
Lights and mirrors make it feel like magic, but it's really science and brain power that solve the puzzles in this game! Players reflect, divert, and split the laser beam by placing pieces on a puzzle grid in an effort to hit their target. 60 challenges range from beginner to expert difficulty, so kids can slowly work their way up to more challenging pieces. You can also check out Circuit Maze, a game that uses the same concept, but with electrical circuits.
Ball of Whacks
Ball of Whacks
Part game, part creativity tool, the Ball of Whacks is all fun! 30 magnetic, pyramid-shaped building pieces interlock into a ball, but the shape of the pieces also allows you to assemble them in a myriad of intriguing ways. You can attempt to recreate patterns in the activity book or enjoy forming your own new designs — either way this is an intriguing brain puzzler for kids and adults alike. It's perfect for jumpstarting creativity — anywhere!
Color Cube Sudoku
Color Cube Sudoku
On the surface, this game from ThinkFun looks simple: flip the cubes in the 3 by 3 tray to ensure that each color appears once in every row and column. But calculate it out and you'll realize that there are over 2 trillion possible ways to place the cubes, and only half a million of those are valid solutions! Once you do manage to figure out a solution, check out the included bonus challenges for even more color-puzzling fun.
Gravity Maze
Gravity Maze
Put your logic and spatial skills to the test as you try to get the marble from the top of a tower to the target! The colorful, translucent towers in this game can be arranged in a wide variety of ways, but only one will get the ball where it belongs. 60 challenges slowly increase in difficulty to give you hours of puzzling fun as you run the maze in your mind.
Ubongo
Ubongo
This geometric puzzle game is easy to learn and addictive! Race against the timer and other players to solve a puzzle of interlocking shapes — the faster you solve it, the more gems you win. Sound simple, but there's an added wrinkle: each round you have a different number of pieces you have to use. A companion app provides how-tos as well as solo and multi-player timers to use. Fast-paced and fun, this puzzle game is sure to be a favorite.
Circuit Maze
Circuit Maze
From the creators of Laser Maze comes a new logic game that's all about completing the circuit! Arrange your tokens to create a circuit and light up a Beacon. It sounds easy, but each challenge increases in difficulty, as you have to incorporate only certain tokens or work around Blockers. 60 different challenges from easy to expert will keep kids puzzling for hours!
Rush Hour
Rush Hour
It's bumper-to-bumper fun in this award-winning puzzle game! Traffic is crazy, but you've got to get the little red car out the other side. Four levels of play keep the game challenging. Two variants also provide new options: younger kids can get in on the single-player fun with Rush Hour Jr. which is suitable for ages 6 to 9.
Colorku
Colorku
The popular logic game Sudoku gets a colorful version with this wood board game! Instead of using numbers to fill the grid, you'll use brightly colored wooden balls in 9 different colors. 104 puzzles in 5 levels of difficulty will work your reasoning skills. Then, when you're done playing, everything stores in the wooden storage tray. This game not only provides hours of fun, but it's also a beautiful piece for display.
Play and Learn: Educational Games
Playing a game is also a great way to learn new things, to reinforce your knowledge, and to develop creativity. These educational games are a great way to help build a kid's academic skills in a fun way.
Panda Rollers
Panda Rollers
It's color matching panda-monium with this fun game from Educational Insights! Shake the Panda Roller then compete to be the first to use your panda face cards to match. If you win, you get to draw a reward tile that gives you some delicious bamboo! Once all the reward tiles are gone, add up your bamboo to see who wins. The play style, with all players participating in every turn, keeps young gamers interested as they build visual recognition and social skills.
I Never Forget a Face! Memory Game
I Never Forget a Face! Memory Game
Classic matching games get a fun multicultural twist! Match the faces of 24 children from different countries. The back of the box names each child and tell you which country they’re from, making this a great way to introduce your children to the wonderful diversity of people in the world around her.
Shelby's Snack Shack
Shelby's Snack Shack
Practice your counting with this fun game featuring an eager little pup! Shelby has buried bones in the sand at the beach and she needs you to help her get them back. Kids flip the spinners to figure out how many bones they get to pick up, but be careful — a seagull could steal some of your bones, or you might get distracted chewing on a flip-flop and miss a turn. Kids use the Shelby Squeezer to pick up their bones, which helps develop their fine motor control and pre-writing skills, too.
Little People, BIG DREAMS - Amazing Women: A Memory Game
Little People, BIG DREAMS - Amazing Women: A Memory Game
How many amazing women can you remember? With this colorful game featuring artwork from the beloved and best-selling Little People, BIG DREAMS series, you'll match twenty of them to their historic accomplishments! Match up figures like Jane Austen, Marie Curie, Harriet Tubman, and many more with a card that represents their impact on our world; then, flip through the 28-page booklet to learn more about each inspiring figure. This game, which comes in a full-color gift box, includes 40 cards featuring 20 women with matching accomplishments, plus the booklet.
Balance Beans
Balance Beans
Balance the beans and win — and learn about elementary algebra along the way! With this game from ThinkFun, kids place rows of beans onto the scale, with the goal of balancing it out. Place the red beans to match the challenge on the card and see if you can figure out the solution! As kids progress through the challenges, they'll solve less through trial and error and more through math and reasoning skills. With challenges ranging from Easy to Super Hard, they'll be balancing for hours!
Bird Bingo
Bird Bingo
Avid bird watchers and those who admire the beauty and diversity of birds will love this version of bingo where identification is the key to the game! Sixty-four species, from robins to puffins to kookaburtas, are illustrated in exquisite detail on these bingo cards and tiles. Identify the bird correctly and you can mark off a spot on your card! An included leaflet also includes fun facts about each bird, perfect to let eager young ornithologists learn a little more. And for budding entomologists, check out Bug Bingo, also for ages 5 and up.
Rock On!
Rock On!
Build your knowledge of geology and our planet with this fun game that doubles as the start of a rock collection! 18 rock specimens are included, along with cards full of interesting facts about rocks, minerals, and gems. Gameplay works like bingo, but several game variants let kids start out with simple identification by appearance to claim a space, and move on to using the information they've learned to fill their card. Plus, kids will love that it all packs into a convenient case so they can take their collection anywhere! And if she's more of a paleontology fan, check out Fossil On!, which offers similar gameplay and pieces but with a fossil theme.
Zingo Word Builder
Zingo Word Builder
The original Zingo is a fun take on bingo that uses a unique tile dispenser; this new variant uses the same mechanic to teach simple word-building! Slide the Zinger machine forward to reveal two letter tiles; grab the one you need to complete one of the words on your card. Two different play versions support both beginner and more experienced readers as they build sight recognition, spelling, and vocabulary. Up to six word-builders can play at once!
Osmo Genius Kit
Osmo Genius Kit
Osmo is a unique combination of physical play and video game! Set your tablet up in the Osmo stand and it will "read" the objects in front of it. Then, use one of the Osmo games to play fun, educational games! This kit includes fives games: Numbers (free form math), Tangram (visual thinking), Words (puzzle form spelling), Masterpiece (drawing skills), and Newton (creative engineering and problem solving). Kids will be fascinated by the combination of online and real-world elements!
Science Ninjas: Valence
Science Ninjas: Valence
Kids too young for the lab can learn chemistry concepts like molecule formation, acids and bases, and chemical reactions with this fun game! Kids need to combine elements to create molecules and earn points, but be careful! Some combinations have unexpected results that can set you back. All of the interactions that take place in the game actually exist, so kids will be ready to take their game knowledge into real world science.
Dr. Microbe
Dr. Microbe
Show off your logic skills and impress Dr. Microbe with this game from Blue Orange! Race your fellow scientists to see who can solve the challenge card first; the trick is that the superbug is a different shape and color than the microbes in your petri dish. Use your tweezers carefully: just like in any lab, a drop or spill is a very bad thing! Three different rule variants and 54 challenge cards keep the gameplay fresh and challenging in this fast-paced game.
Ion: A Compound Building Game
Ion: A Compound Building Game
Work your way through the periodic table with this chemistry-themed card drafting game! Players combine ion cards and noble gas cards to create stable compounds, but think fast: turns are simultaneous, so the action keeps moving. The gameplay mechanic is fun and easy to learn, making this a unique and entertaining way to learn basic chemistry concepts. This version also includes the Radioactive expansion for an intriguing addition to the game.
Prime Climb
Prime Climb
Anyone can learn and develop math skills with this unique board game! Roll the dice and add, subtract, multiply, and divide your way towards the center of the board; the first person to get both of their pawns to 101 wins. As you go, you'll have the chance to pick up Prime cards — and bump your opponent back to the beginning. With beautiful game design and a fun mechanic that makes math practice engaging, this is an excellent option for either skill building or entertainment.
Lovelace & Babbage
Lovelace & Babbage
Race to program the world's first computer, the Analytical Engine, with this game inspired by the real-life story of Charles Babbage and Ada Lovelace! In this fast-paced game, you have to balance your quick mental math with some careful strategic thinking. Your goal is to help Patrons — renowned figures like Charles Darwin and Mary Shelley — by upgrading the Engine with subroutines that impress them. Do you want to collect a set now, or set up for a bigger one later? Do you take every second you have on the clock, or pressure your opponent by acting fast and flipping the timer? This fun, geeky technology game for 2 to 4 players takes 15 to 30 minutes to play.
Mariposas Game
Mariposas Game
Experience life as a monarch butterfly in this game from Spiel des Jahre winner Elizabeth Hargrave and Alderac Entertainment Group! Mariposas is played across three seasons: in spring, your butterflies head North; in summer, they spread out; and in fall, they return south. Along the way, you're trying to collect flower tokens and breed future generations by landing near milkweed plants! Keep an eye on your objectives to score extra points, and win even more points for every butterfly that makes it back to Mexico at the end of the fall. With stunning artwork, simple but deep gameplay, and different strategies to try every time you play, this game for 2 to 5 players is sure to be a favorite.
Play Together: Cooperative Games
Game night doesn't have to mean competition! Cooperative games provide a different game experience, one which is focused on social skills, discussion, and compromise instead of working against your fellow players. It's a great option for kids who don't like competition or avid gamers who want to try a new style.
Roll and Play
Roll and Play
This game introduces toddlers and preschoolers to the idea that games don't have to be about winning and losing! Roll the big plush "die" and then choose a card that matches the color you roll; whatever that card says, you do, whether it's roaring like a lion, singing a song, or rubbing your belly. The 48 cards cover six different learning categories, including actions, animal sounds, body parts, colors, counting, and emotions. Kids will learn the basics of gameplay like taking turns and following rules, without the pressure of competition — and they'll get to giggle and laugh together at one another's antics!
Friends and Neighbors: The Helping Game
Friends and Neighbors: The Helping Game
The friends and neighbors in this game have a variety of problems — from being afraid of the dark to getting wet in the rain — and if you're going to solve them, you'll need to work together! Grab a token out of the Helping Bag and see if you can figure out a way to help one of the people on the board. Kids will learn how to recognize and name emotions and develop a sense of empathy and compassion as they work together in this game.
Dinosaur Escape
Dinosaur Escape
The volcano is about to erupt, and the dinosaurs need to escape! This game combines both die rolling and memory components to help your dinosaurs get to Dinosaur Island: roll the die to move your dinosaur tokens, and flip fern tokens to match dinosaur pictures with dinosaur tokens. If the fern token matches a dinosaur token in the same habitat, the dinosaur escapes! And make sure to avoid the T-Rex, who chases all your dinosaurs back to start. Kids will enjoy the combination of mechanics, as well as the 3D volcano puzzle "timer."
Hoot Owl Hoot
Hoot Owl Hoot
Fly the owls home to their nests before the night is over! Players use color cards to advance the owls to spaces that match that color. Draw a sun card, though, and it's one step closer to sunrise. Talking about which owls to move will help kids learn simple strategy and problem solving in a group. You can play with as few as three or as many as six owls, so you can tailor the difficulty to your child as she grows.
Stone Soup
Stone Soup
The classic story of cooperation gets a memory game adaptation in this board game! Players have to work together to "cook" a soup by matching ingredients. Make sure you work fast — if the fire under the kettle goes out, your soup won't turn out. Kids will love the vivid colors and cheerful design of the cards and board, and they'll quickly discover how much easier it is to make the matches when you all remember together.
Wildcraft! An Herbal Adventure Game
Wildcraft! An Herbal Adventure Game
Learn about edible and medicinal plants in this unique cooperative board game! Players have to connect the icon on the challenge cards with icons on the plant card to move forward on the board — edible plants for hunger, medicinal plants for ailments like sore muscles and fever. Make your way up the mountain to the huckleberry patch and back to Grandma's before time runs out! This beautifully illustrated and educational game, with its "chutes and ladders" play style, is a fun way for kids to learn about the plants around us.
Cauldron Quest
Cauldron Quest
The wizard has cast a spell, and only you can break it — if you can work together to find the right ingredients! At the start of the game, three ingredients are chosen at random, and players need to identify those components, then move them into the cauldron at the center of the game board. Of course, the wizard doesn't want that to happen, so he'll probably try to block... This game is simple to learn and fun to play; fantasy fans will love getting to break the wizard's spell!
Outfoxed
Outfoxed
Mrs. Plumpert is missing a prize pot pie, and her chickens are determined to crack the case! Move around the board to gather clues and use your special evidence scanner to rule out suspects. If you roll a success with the dice, you'll learn useful information... but if you fail, the fox gets that much closer to making good on his escape. This deduction-based cooperative game is perfect for budding detectives.
The Fairy Game
The Fairy Game
Mr. Winter is trying to freeze over the fairies' flowers, and only you can help! Collect matching sets of fairy cards in order to move gems to the fairies' magic wand — before four snowflakes land on one flower. Some cards will let you trade fairy cards with a fellow player, or even remove a snowflake. You'll need to think beyond your own hand and keep an eye on the board to keep the flowers blooming bright!
Hocus Pocus Cooperative Board Game
Hocus Pocus Cooperative Board Game
Fans of Hocus Pocus will love this officially licensed cooperative board game! The Sanderson sisters are creating a wicked potion, and the players have to work together to stop them and save Salem's children. Take turns playing cards to ruin the potion three times, and you'll be victorious. However, you can't show the other players your hand, so you will need to ask clever questions to plan your strategy! Spell cards, a Binx meeple, and trick tokens make your task a little more complicated, too. This game for 2 to 6 players takes approximately 30 minutes to play and comes with clear instructions so you can get playing right out of the box!
Mysterium
Mysterium
A terrible crime has been committed — and the ghost of the victim is the only witness. Psychic investigators are trying to find the culprit, but the ghost can only communicate through a series of visions, represented by images on game cards. The investigators have a week — and the ghost's guidance — to try to identify the weapon, the location, and the killer. Unless they manage to interpret the visions correctly, a horrible criminal will get away with a perfect murder... The unique vision mechanic of this game is sure to provoke lots of discussion among members of your game group!
Forbidden Island
Forbidden Island
You're a team of daring adventurers, seeking four sacred treasures from the ruins on this island but the island is sinking fast and it won't be long before it sinks beneath the waves. Capture all four treasures and make it to the helicopter rendezvous point at Fools' Landing, and you win, but the water level is rising with every step! Careful collaboration and strategy are necessary to successfully complete this treasure hunt, which is sure to be a hit with gamers of all stripes!
Hogwarts Battle: A Cooperative Deck-Building Game
Hogwarts Battle: A Cooperative Deck-Building Game
Imagine yourself as Hermione, Ron, Harry, or Neville as you defend Hogwarts and save the day! Seven different cooperative games, each building upon the last, are included in this box; each game parallels one of the seven books in the series. Players needs to find Locations and learn how to counter Dark Arts if they're going to keep the Villains from overtaking their beloved school. It's the perfect choice for any Hermione Granger fan.
Pandemic: Legacy
Pandemic: Legacy
Four deadly diseases could wreak untold havoc — unless your team can find the cures. But in this Legacy variant of the original Pandemic board game, each game you play leaves a permanent mark on your board game world. Each "month" has new surprises; each decision you make has repercussions. Will you let cities fall — and if you must, which ones? Will your team be enough to keep the viruses at bay for a whole year? This unique gameplay experience will leave its mark on your game group.
Escape the Room: Cursed Dollhouse
Escape the Room: Cursed Dollhouse
Can you escape the Cursed Dollhouse? In this escape room experience in a box from ThinkFun, you'll build a creepy 3-story dollhouse to escape from, complete with five rooms, 3D furniture, and variety of creepy dolls. Then, you'll have to navigate some truly fiendish puzzles, suitable for the most advanced escape room fans. This set comes with a story booklet, secret items to discover, an improved solution wheel with locking mechanism, and a clear, high quality instruction manual. Plus, you can go to the associated website for re-packing instructions and re-printable puzzles for repeat play, or music suggestions to create an immersive experience. This escape room for 1 to 4 players takes 2 to 3 hours to play, in one go or over multiple sessions.
Eldritch Horror
Eldritch Horror
Ancient evils are stirring around the world, and only your team of colleagues can decipher the obscure mysteries and withstand the terrifying truth in hopes of saving humanity. Solve Mysteries, survive Encounters, and overcome Conditions both physical and psychological as you race against time to discover Azathoth's true name or battle Cthulhu at sea. The narrative, story-driven component adds to the appeal and makes your game group feel invested in helping their characters succeed...or at least survive. Multiple expansions, including Mountains of Madness, ensure you'll get hours of mysterious, horrifying fun from this game.
Nancy Drew: Mystery at Magnolia Gardens Immersive Game
Nancy Drew: Mystery at Magnolia Gardens Immersive Game
Nancy Drew is investigating a potential poisoning at the Magnolia Gardens — but when she is poisoned herself, she needs your help to crack the case! In the short window before she succumbs to the poison, players will have to work together to collect evidence, interview potential suspects, create a crime timeline, and try to untangle all of the clues. To unearth the culprit, you'll have to figure out which suspect had the means, motive, and opportunity to commit the crime. This immersive game for 1 to 6 players from Hunt a Killer, with a play time of 60 to 90 minutes, lets Nancy Drew fans and mystery lovers get into the heart of the action as you try to solve the mystery — before it's too late.
One Deck Dungeon Game
One Deck Dungeon Game
This all-female team of heroes is ready to delve into the dungeon — all they need is you! In this game from Asmadi Games, one or two players work together to get as far into the dungeon as they can. Pick your character class from five options and roll dice to break down doors, defeat enemies, and (hopefully) live to fight another day. If you do, your character will get tougher... but think carefully, because one wrong move and the dungeon will do you in! With an easy-to-learn mechanic that combines cards and dice rolling and a style that imitates rogue-like video games, this will be a popular choice for any would-be adventurer.
Agatha Christie: The Mystery at Hunter’s Lodge Immersive Mystery Game
Agatha Christie: The Mystery at Hunter’s Lodge Immersive Mystery Game
Help one of Agatha Christie's most beloved characters, Hercule Poirot, as he tries to crack the case in this exciting, immersive mystery game from Hunt a Killer! Wealthy magnate Harrington Pace has been found dead by foul play, but Poirot is too sick to investigate — so he sends his assistant Arthur Hastings to ask you to step in. Players will investigate each of the clues Poirot and Hastings were able to collect, slowly confirming (or debunking) alibis and piecing together who had the motive and the opportunity to commit the crime. This gorgeous, detailed game can be played with 1 to 6 players and takes four hours or more to play.
For the Whole Family: Games for Family Game Night
Some games are particularly good for getting the whole family laughing together! These games are great for the family to play all together.
Seek-A-Boo: The Seek and Find Memory Game
Seek-A-Boo: The Seek and Find Memory Game
With Seek-A-Boo from MindWare, kids will build their vocabulary and memory skills while hunting through the SEEK ME circles! Lay out the SEEK ME circles, then choose FIND ME cards and see if you can track down something that matches. At first, you'll be looking for an exact match, but other game variants get kids to match by category: "the apple is red; can you find something else that is red?" Six color-coded card categories highlight food, toys, clothing, colors and shapes, things found outdoors, and animals.
Uni the Unicorn: A 3-in-1 Card Deck
Uni the Unicorn: A 3-in-1 Card Deck
Play some games with Uni the Unicorn and friends with this fun 3-in-1 deck of cards! This card deck includes 52 kid-friendly jumbo sized playing cards, all featuring colorful and appealing illustrations of Uni, her friends, and the rainbows, flowers, and stars that make up her world. Two additional cards include rules for the classic card games Crazy Eights, Concentration, and Snap, so that kids can get a magical introduction to family game night.
Pancake Pile-Up
Pancake Pile-Up
This is a stack-em-up relay game that the whole family can enjoy! It's a busy day at the diner, and you'll have to serve your customers by racing to the grill and piling up pancakes in just the right order. There are 10 pancakes in 5 different flavors that your customers might request. Carry each pancake over with the spatula and stack them carefully, or you pile might topple! You can play one-on-one or in teams, so this game is suitable for up to 12 players.
Frozen II Junior Labyrinth Strategy Game
Frozen II Junior Labyrinth Strategy Game
Introduce younger players to the strategy play of Labyrinth with this Frozen-themed game from Ravensburger. With this maze-shifting game, you have to find the fastest way to meet up with your favorite Frozen II characters... even while the Enchanted Forest changes as you move. Because the labyrinth is different every time you play, it's always a challenge. With easy to understand instructions and a smaller board than the original game, this is sure to be a hit with young board game fans.
Noodle Knockout! Fine Motor Game
Noodle Knockout! Fine Motor Game
Pick up your chopsticks and grab oodles of noodles with this hilarious food-themed fine motor game from Learning Resources! To play, kids try to match one of the 10 double-sided order cards with the noodles and ingredients they need to make a perfect bowl of ramen. Kids can play solo or challenge their friends — and the games teach color recognition and early counting skills, too! With two sizes of noodles, other scrumptious ingredients, a spinner, a serving bowl, sorting bowls, and chopsticks, plus an instruction booklet, everything you need for a delicious game night is here.
Pie Face
Pie Face
Are you brave enough to play Pie Face? This game is full of fun and suspense — and laughs when someone gets splatted! Put whipped cream or a soggy sponge on the hand of this game then take turns spinning to see how many turns of the handle you have to do. Keep your fingers crossed you don't end up with a face full of pie! This hilarious game is sure to become a family favorite...if you dare.
Dragon's Breath Dexterity Game
Dragon's Breath Dexterity Game
Two to four dragon children try to claim the most sparkling stones in this game from HABA! Dozens of sparkling stones are trapped in a column of ice — and their father's fiery breath can melt it. Each turn, a different player acts as the father dragon. Players guess which color of stones will fall out of the column; when you "melt" the top by lifting the clear plastic ring, who will be right? Holes in the board may let some stones fall through, where they become part of the father dragon's hoard! Whoever claims the most treasure wins.
Harry Potter Magical Beasts Board Game
Harry Potter Magical Beasts Board Game
Magical beasts have broken loose at Hogwarts, and it's up to you to recapture them! In this game from Pressman, you can play as Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, or Ginny Weasley. The unique flipping board allows characters to move from inside the Hogwarts Castle to the grounds outside — but be careful! Get caught in the wrong spot when you flip locations and you could get set back. Collect all four clue cards for one creature to catch the creature and win! Gorgeous artwork and simple gameplay make this a perfect choice for young Harry Potter fans.
Jim Henson's Labyrinth: The Board Game
Jim Henson's Labyrinth: The Board Game
Fans of the Jim Henson modern classic Labyrinth will love leaping into the movie with this cooperative board game from River Horse Studios! Sarah, Ludo, Sir Didymus, and Hoggle are venturing into the deadly labyrinth to rescue Toby. As they travel, they'll face obstacles represented by Labyrinth cards that you shuffle each game, adding replayability. Hopefully you can pass the test; if you don't, you'll lose Will, risking a fall into the oubliette. Find the gate to the Goblin City while avoiding Jareth, then fight your way into the castle to save the day... before the thirteen hours are up. This game for 1 to 5 players (with best play at 4) takes approximately 30 minutes to play.
Blurt!
Blurt!
This game isn't just about how many words you know — it's also about how fast you can spit them out! Roll a die to determine what clue to read, with points values depending on how easy or difficult the clue is. There's no penalty for blurting out wrong answers, so words will fly thick and fast as people try to beat the clock. With 1800 clues of different difficulties, you can play this game over and over and still be kept guessing.
Raya's Journey: An Enchanted Forest Board Game
Raya's Journey: An Enchanted Forest Board Game
Fans of Raya and the Last Dragon will love this board game based on the characters from Ravensburger! Raya, Tuk Tuk, Sisu, Boun, Tong, Little Noi, and even the mischievous Ongi are all playing hide and seek. To play, draw a card to figure out which character you're hunting for; then roll the dice and move through the enchanted forest landscape looking for them. Lift one of the decorative teak sculpts and see if the character on the card is underneath. If it is, race to the finish to claim the card! And if not, make a note — you'll be looking for the character who is there soon enough... With easy to learn gameplay and fun character graphics, this is perfect for family game night.
Herd Your Horses
Herd Your Horses
If you have horse-loving kids in the family then this one will be a hit! This beautifully illustrated game includes fifty different horses on jumbo playing cards. With those pieces, you'll get to play several different games, one as mustang stallions gathering a herd as they travel through canyons and valleys, and two as ranchers competing to round up strays and build their own top herd. In-depth information about horse care and breeds is included.
MasterChef Family Cooking Game
MasterChef Family Cooking Game
Turn mealtime into game time with this game that's perfect for fans of MasterChef and MasterChef Junior! Choose one of 22 family-tested recipes to prepare, then start working your way around the board as you cook, collecting points as you perform skills tests, identify and incorporate mystery ingredients, and handle gamechanger challenges. When you're done your cook, you'll have a delicious meal to share — and you'll feel like a real MasterChef. This game set, which works for 2 to 6 players, is a clever way to get kids building confidence in the kitchen.
3D Labyrinth Strategy Board Game
3D Labyrinth Strategy Board Game
Take the maze-shifting fun of Labyrinth into the third dimension with this game from Ravensburger! In 3D Labyrinth, players don't just deal with shifting passageways; there are also soaring towards and deep dungeons. Special cards can teleport players or shift the maze in your favor... if you plan it all out right. Whoever moves to the right squares to collect their treasures first wins! This game for 2 to 4 players offers a 20-30 minute play time that's sure to give their strategic and spatial skills a workout.
HerStory: The Family Board Game of Remarkable Women
HerStory: The Family Board Game of Remarkable Women
You can tell Her Story and learn about 120 iconic women from history and modern times with this new family board game from Underdog Games! In HerStory, you're playing an acclaimed author who's writing a book about inspiring women. Each turn, you'll have to make the best strategic choices as you do research, draft chapters, and work to create the highest scoring book. Each of the 120 cards features a full-color portrait of the featured woman on the front, along with a brief synopsis of her story and a compelling 'did you know' fact on the back, and a portion of all game proceeds proudly go to the Malala Fund, which helps educate girls all over the world.
Klask: The Magnetic Game of Skill
Klask: The Magnetic Game of Skill
Challenge your dexterity and your brain with this tabletop magnetic party game! Klask is like a fast-paced game of air hockey where you use a magnetic handle to move your striker around the board. Knock the ball into your opponent's goal to score — or, set a trap for your opponent with the loose white magnets for additional points. Solid wood and precision magnets make this a beautiful and durable game set that you'll enjoy for years.
Starlink Party Drawing Game
Starlink Party Drawing Game
You can have astronomical drawing fun with this party game from Blue Orange! In Starlink, players take turns drawing a concept by connecting stars on the board. Once a star has been used in one constellation, it can't be used again, so you'll have to be careful and plan out your design! You'll score points when the other players can figure out your secret word thanks to your drawing — and when you're done, the dry-erase board wipes clean so you can play again!
Agatha Christie Bingo
Agatha Christie Bingo
Celebrate the Queen of Crime with this unique bingo game from Laurence King that challenges you to match characters and clues from some of Agatha Christie's most popular novels! You'll spot beloved characters like Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot and references to some of her many best-selling works like Death on the Nile and Murder on the Orient Express. As you find them, mark your bingo card with tokens bearing the image of a detective's magnifying glass! With high-quality components and 64 characters and clues to find, plus a leaflet packed with Agatha Christie trivia, it's the perfect gift for any mystery fan.
Trekking Through History Board Game
Trekking Through History Board Game
Go on a journey through time with the creators of Trekking the National Parks and Trekking the World! Each turn you'll jump through time and check out one of 108 beautifully illustrated cards that provide a capsule synopsis of the significance of the event. Created in consultation with historians and experts, this is a family-friendly game that provides a fun way to explore history from the Maros-Pangkep caves of 37,000 BCE to casting your vote for Nelson Mandela in 1994. And there's plenty of women's history built in, including cards devoted to Hatshepsut, the Trung sisters, Joan of Arc, Marie Curie, Maria Tallchief, and many more.
Concept
Concept
Can you help your fellow players guess what card you're holding? Green + Animal + Long Ago? Probably a dinosaur. Water + Cube + Cold Weather? Ice cube! But how are you going to show samurai, Eiffel Tower, or Leonardo DiCaprio? You'll be amazed how much fun it is as you layer concepts and subconcepts to guide your friends to the right answer. This fun party game will stretch your imagination — and hurt your sides with laughter!
Floriferous Card Game
Floriferous Card Game
Walk through a garden gathering flowers in this soothing, simple card game from Pencil First Games that's perfect for relaxing play! In Floriferous, you've got three days to enjoy your garden full of flowering plants, friendly insects, and gorgeous sculptures. Your goal is to create a beautiful arrangement, while also enjoying the abundance of nature around you. As you play, your choices help determine how you'll score, and you even have the opportunity to take chances on face-down cards. When all is said and done, you'll score the sets you've collected to see who wins. This game features stunning watercolor artwork on the cards and beautiful wood tokens for play. It can be played with 1 to 4 players and takes approximately 20 minutes to play.
DropMix
DropMix
You can mix music on your own or with friends with this unique music game from Hasbro! Place DropMix cards onto the board, and a song starts to play; add more cards to mix songs in unexpected ways. Sixty cards are included, featuring hit artists like Bruno Mars, Childish Gambino, Disturbed, Ed Sheeran, Imagine Dragons, Sam Hunt, Sia, The Weeknd, and more. Booster packs of cards are available to add even more songs to your list. Up to four players can participate in three different modes so the music keeps playing all day long!
Additional Recommended Resources
- For more games to develop logic and spatial awareness, visit our Logic / Spatial Games Collection.
- For more cooperative board games, visit our Cooperative Games Collection.
- For our full selection of games, visit our Games / Video Games Collection.
- For more empowering gift ideas of all varieties, visit our Girl Empowerment Holiday Gift Guide and our 2016 Holiday Gift Guide blog series.
