Family time is precious, and one of the best ways to spend it is by gathering around the table for a fun, competitive, and laughter-filled session of the best family board game. From classic favorites to modern gems, there are endless options for the best family board games that cater to all ages and interests.
Whether you’re looking to bond over strategy, creativity, or good old-fashioned luck, here’s the only list you need of the best board games for families that promise hours of entertainment.
List of Best Family Board Games
Below are the best board games for family that will guarantee fun and keep everyone engaged.
| Family Board Games | Number of Players |
| Snakes & Ladders | 2 to 4 players |
| Ludo | 2 to 4 players |
| Catan | 3 to 4 players |
| Tickets to Ride | 2 to 5 players |
| Pandemic | 2 to 4 players |
| Carcassonne | 2 to 5 players |
| Cluedo | 3 to 6 players |
| Risk | 2 to 6 players |
| Dixit | 3 to 6 players |
| Azul | 2 to 4 players |
| Splendor | 2 to 4 players |
| Pictionary | 3 to 16 players |
| Codenames | 4 to 6 players |
| Blokus | 2 to 4 players |
| 7 Wonders | 2 to 7 players |
| Scrabble | 2 to 4 players |
| The Game of Life | 2 to 6 players |
1. Snakes & Ladders
Players: 2 to 4 players
Age: 8 and up
Playing time: 30 minutes
Snakes and Ladders is one of the best family board games worldwide. This classic game can be played between two to four players at a time. It consists of a hundred square spaces numbered from 1 to 100. To win, you must reach the last square before your opponent. MPL offers a fast-paced Snakes and Ladders game where you can win real cash,
How to play Snakes & Ladders on MPL?
Move your token based on the dice roll. You must take all your tokens to the last square before your limited move exhausts. Beware of the snake,s as it might eat your progress and slide you backward. Use ladders to climb to the top.
You will get extra moves and bonus points to capture your opponent’s tokens and return them home. Play Snakes and Ladders on MPL and win up to $150,000 or more by participating in cash tournaments and events on MPL.
2. Ludo
Players: 2 to 4 players
Age: 8 and up
Playing time: 30 to 60 minutes
Ludo is a popular board game, a favorite dice board game of children from the 90s. The game consists of four tokens of different colors, four each for each player. You have to move your token ahead based on the dice count.
Play Ludo on MPL and win up to $50,000 daily through cash events and multiplayer tournaments. Withdraw your winnings instantly to your PayPal or Skrill account.
How to Play Ludo on MPL?
In Ludo, each player gets four tokens of a color, and moves them ahead based on the dice roll. Race all your tokens to the center before your opponents to win the game. Get an extra move when you capture your opponent’s token and send them back to the start. Get the highest score at the end of the timer to win.
3. Catan
Players: 3 to 4 players
Age: 10 and up
Playing time: 60 minutes
Formerly known as Settlers of Catan, Catan is an addictive strategy and cooperative game that invites players to gather and trade resources to build and settle on a randomly generated board of hexagonal tiles. Winning requires a combination of effective strategy and luck with dice rolls.
The trading aspect and the “robber” mechanic, which allows players to steal cards from opponents and block their resources, add an exciting dynamic, though it can sometimes lead to friendly disputes. The game works well with three to four players, is easy to learn, and typically concludes in about an hour.
With plenty of replay value and a variety of expansions, Catan offers endless entertainment. For younger players, a junior version is available for children starting in kindergarten.
How to Play Catan?
In Catan, players take on the roles of settlers aiming to build settlements and cities on a randomly generated board. Players roll two dice each turn to determine which resources (wood, brick, wheat, ore, and sheep) are produced based on adjacent hexes. Players can trade resources with others or the bank to gather their needs.
They build roads, settlements, and cities using resources to earn victory points. The first player to reach 10 victory points wins the game. Key mechanics include strategic placement of settlements, trading, and the “robber,” which can block resource production for opponents.
4. Ticket to Ride
Players: 2 to 5
Age: 8 and up
Playing time: 30 to 60 minutes
If you are looking for board games for the family, Ticket to Ride is a delightful choice. It features charming steam engine designs and straightforward rules, making it an excellent choice for introducing young children to more intricate games. Players use cards to secure routes, earning bonus points for connecting specific destinations.
The European version of these best board games for families introduces additional elements like ferries and tunnels, along with numerous expansions to enhance gameplay. One notable aspect is the game’s competitive nature, ensuring an engaging experience for all players.
How to Play Ticket to Ride?
To play Ticket to Ride, each player starts with colorful train cars and a hand of train cards. The game board displays various train routes across a map. Players can take one of three actions on their turn: draw train cards, claim a route by placing trains on the board using matching cards, or draw destination tickets for additional scoring opportunities.
Players earn points for completed routes and can gain bonus points for connecting specific cities. The game continues until one player has only two or fewer trains left, triggering the final round. The player with the most points wins!
5. Pandemic
Players: 2 to 4
Age: 8 and up
Playing time: 45 minutes
Playing Pandemic might feel unusual, given recent events, but the game’s cooperative nature makes it special. In Pandemic, players assume different roles and collaborate to eliminate four dangerous diseases before time runs out. The game is engaging, promoting teamwork and strategic discussions among players.
Success relies on leveraging each player’s unique skills, and you can finish a game in under an hour. If your family enjoys it, several deep expansions are available to explore, making it one of the best board games for family.
How to Play Pandemic?
To play Pandemic, gather 2 to 4 players and choose roles with unique abilities. Set up the board by placing disease cubes in cities and drawing cards. Players take turns performing actions like moving, treating infections, or sharing knowledge.
The goal is to collaborate to discover cures for all four diseases before the outbreaks exceed the limit or time runs out.
6. Carcassonne
Players: 2 to 5 players
Age: 7 years and up
Playing Time: 35 to 45 minutes
Carcassonne is an engaging tile-placement game in which players draw and place tiles depicting the scenic landscapes of southern France. Each tile may show a city, road, cloister, grassland, or a mix of these features. Players must connect their new tiles to existing ones, ensuring that cities link to cities and roads connect to roads.
As players take their turns in Carcassonne, they face strategic choices such as whether to place their last meeple on a specific tile or decide whether to expand their city or challenge an opponent by placing a tile nearby to hinder their progress.
How to Play Carcassonne?
To play Carcassonne, each player draws a tile and places it to expand the landscape, connecting cities, roads, or cloisters. After placing a tile, players can place a meeple on the tile to claim a feature as a knight, robber, monk, or farmer.
Once a feature is completed, the player scores points for their meeple. The game ends when all tiles are placed, and the player with the most points wins.
7. Clue
Players: 3 to 6
Age: 8 and up
Playing Time: 45 to 60 minutes
Clue or Cluedo is a classic mystery, one of the best family board games, that invites players to solve a thrilling whodunit. Set in the opulent mansion of the late Mr. Boddy, players assume the roles of colorful characters. The goal is to deduce who committed the murder, in which room, and with what weapon. This classic game ranks among the top strategy games, and it is very popular among young kids.
Players move around the board, collecting clues by entering different rooms and making strategic suggestions. The first player to correctly identify the murderer, the murder weapon, and the location wins the game, making each session an engaging blend of strategy and deduction.
How to Play Clue?
To play Clue, each player chooses a character and receives a set of clue cards, which include suspects, weapons, and rooms. Players take turns rolling dice to move around the mansion, entering rooms to gather clues. When in a room, they can suggest a suspect, weapon, and room to try and gather more information.
Other players must respond with cards that match the suggestion, helping eliminate possibilities. The game continues until a player confidently makes an accusation, stating the murderer, weapon, and location. If correct, they win!
8. Risk
Players: 2 to 6
Age: 10 and up
Playing Time: 2 to 5 hours
Risk is a strategic board game that centers on world domination. Players control armies and engage in battles to conquer territories across a world map. The objective is to eliminate opponents by capturing their territories, achieving specific mission goals, or controlling continents for additional reinforcements.
Each player takes turns rolling dice to attack opponents, defend their territories, and fortify their positions. The game combines luck, strategy, and negotiation as alliances can form and break throughout the gameplay, making each session a unique and competitive experience.
How to Play Risk?
To play Risk, each player selects a color and receives a set number of armies. Players take turns placing their armies on the board to claim territories. Once all territories are occupied, players attack adjacent territories using dice rolls to determine the outcome. Players can also reinforce their territories at the beginning of their turn.
As territories are conquered, players earn Risk cards, which can be traded for additional armies. The game continues until one player successfully eliminates all opponents or achieves their mission goal, resulting in total board domination.
Know More: Reversi classic board game
9. Dixit
Players: 3 to 6
Age: 8 and up
Playing Time: 30 minutes
Dixit is a beautifully illustrated storytelling board game that sparks creativity and imagination. Players take turns as storytellers, choosing a card from their hand and describing it using a word, phrase, or sentence without showing it to others. The other players then select cards from their own hands that best match the storyteller’s description.
All chosen cards are shuffled and revealed, and players vote on which card they believe belongs to the storyteller. Points are awarded based on the votes and how well players match the descriptions. With its enchanting artwork and emphasis on creativity, Dixit fosters engaging conversations and connections.
How to Play Dixit?
To play Dixit, players begin by receiving a hand of illustrated cards. One player takes on the role of the storyteller and selects a card, describing it with a word, phrase, or sentence. The other players then choose cards from their hands that best match the description. After shuffling and revealing the selected cards, players vote on which card they think belongs to the storyteller.
Points are awarded based on correct guesses and the number of players who match the storyteller’s card. The game continues until all players have taken turns as the storyteller, with the player earning the most points declared the winner.
10. Azul
Players: 2 to 4
Age: 8 and up
Playing Time: 30 to 45 minutes
Azul is one of the visually stunning tile-placement board games for the family that combines strategy and creativity. Set in Portugal, players take on the role of artisans tasked with decorating the walls of the Royal Palace of Evora. Each player selects colorful tiles from a central factory display, trying to create beautiful patterns while adhering to specific placement rules.
The challenge lies in managing tile scarcity and avoiding penalties for unused tiles. With simple mechanics and strategic depth, Azul offers a delightful blend of competition and aesthetic appeal, making it a favorite among family board games.
How to Play Azul?
To play Azul, each player begins with a player board and a supply of tiles. The game consists of several rounds, during which players take turns selecting tiles from a central factory display. Players must choose all tiles of one color from a factory and place them on their boards, following specific placement rules.
After all tiles have been taken, players score points based on completed rows and columns while losing points for unused tiles. The game continues until a player completes a row on their board, triggering the final round. The player with the highest score at the end wins!
11. Splendor
Players: 2 to 4
Age: 10 and up
Playing Time: 30 minutes
Splendor is an elegant card and resource management game that invites players into the world of Renaissance merchants. In this game, players become wealthy nobles, collecting precious gems and developing a powerful trading empire.
Players gather gem tokens to purchase development cards, which provide permanent bonuses and prestige points. The goal is to accumulate a set number of points to win the game. Splendor’s straightforward mechanics, strategic depth, and beautiful components make it accessible yet engaging and appealing to casual and experienced gamers.
How to Play Splendor?
To play Splendor, players start by collecting gem tokens representing various precious stones. On their turn, players can choose one of three actions: take three gem tokens of different colors, take two tokens of the same color (if available), or purchase a development card using their tokens.
Development cards provide players with gem bonuses and victory points. Players can also reserve cards to plan future moves. The game continues until a player reaches a designated number of points, at which point the round completes, and the player with the most points is declared the winner.
12. Pictionary
Players: 3 to 16
Age: 8 and up
Playing Time: 30 to 60 minutes
Pictionary is a lively party game that combines drawing and guessing in a fun, competitive format. Players split into teams and take turns drawing words or phrases from a card while their teammates attempt to guess what it is based on the drawing alone. This game ranks high among the cooperative games that can be played by up to eight players at a time and is hence popular among players of different ages, especially younger kids.
The game includes categories, such as objects, actions, and places, adding variety to the gameplay. As teams advance on the game board, they race against the clock and each other to reach the finish line. Pictionary encourages creativity and teamwork, making it a great choice for gatherings and family game nights.
How to Play Pictionary?
Players divide into teams to play Pictionary and select a designated drawer for each turn. The drawer picks a card from the deck, which contains a word or phrase categorized into various themes.
Using a pen and paper, the drawer has a limited time to illustrate the word without using letters or numbers while their teammates guess what it is. They advance on the game board if the team guesses correctly within the time limit. The game continues until a team finishes, making it a race of artistic skill and quick thinking.
13. Codenames
Players: 4 to 6
Age: 14 and up
Playing Time: 15 to 30 minutes
Codenames is one of the best card games and strategic word association games that challenges players’ communication skills and teamwork. In this game, players split into two teams, each led by a spymaster. The objective is to identify and contact all of your team’s agents, represented by codenames on the board.
Spymasters provide one-word clues related to multiple words on the board, while teammates attempt to guess the correct words based on the clues. The game combines strategy, deduction, and a bit of risk, as players must avoid guessing the opposing team’s words and the assassin who ends the game.
How to Play Codenames?
To play Codenames, players form two teams, each selecting a spymaster. A 5×5 grid of words (codenames) is placed on the table, and a key card indicates which words correspond to each team, as well as neutral and assassin words. The spymasters give one-word clues and a number indicating how many words their team can guess.
Teammates then discuss and select words based on the clue. If they guess a team word, they cover it; if it’s a neutral word, their turn ends; if it’s an opposing word, they give up that turn. The first team to correctly identify all their agents wins the game.
14. Blokus
Players: 2 to 4
Age: 5 and up
Playing Time: 30 to 45 minutes
Blokus is a captivating strategy board game that combines spatial reasoning and tactical placement. Players take turns placing their uniquely shaped pieces, resembling Tetris blocks, on a 20×20 grid. The objective is to fit as many pieces onto the board as possible while blocking your opponents from doing the same.
Each piece must touch at least one piece of the same color at the corners, encouraging strategic positioning and foresight. Blokus is easy to learn yet offers deep strategy, making it suitable for players of all ages and skill levels.
How to Play Blokus?
To play Blokus, each player selects a color and receives a set of 21 geometric pieces. Players place one piece at a time on the board, ensuring that their pieces connect only at the corners to pieces of the same color. Players can block opponents by strategically placing their pieces while aiming to occupy as much board space as possible.
The game continues until no more pieces can be placed. Players count the number of squares left in their hands, and the player with the fewest remaining squares is declared the winner, emphasizing strategic planning and competitive blocking.
15. 7 Wonders
Players: 2 to 7
Age: 10 and up
Playing Time: 30 minutes
7 Wonders is a strategic card-drafting game set in the ancient world, where players lead a civilization to greatness by building structures, developing science, and constructing wonders. Each player represents one of the seven great cities of the ancient world and must gather resources, engage in commerce, and invest in the military to achieve victory.
The game unfolds over three ages, and players draft cards each round to enhance their cities, gain points, and hinder their opponents. With multiple paths to victory, 7 Wonders offers endless replayability and challenges players to balance their development and strategy.
How to Play 7 Wonders?
In 7 Wonders, each player starts by selecting a wonder board and receiving cards for the first age. Players draft cards each round, choosing one card to play and passing the rest to the next player. Cards can gather resources, build structures, or enhance military, science, and commerce.
Players compare military strength with neighbors and score points at the end of each age. The game progresses through three ages, and at the end, players tally points from military victories, wonders, resources, and other structures. The player with the highest score wins, making careful card selection and resource management key to success.
16. Scrabble
Players: 2 to 4
Age: 8 and up
Playing Time: 50 to 90 minutes
Scrabble is a classic word game where players use letter tiles to create words on a board. Each player starts with a set of seven tiles and takes turns placing tiles to form words, similar to a crossword puzzle. The goal is to score the most points by creating high-value words using premium squares on the board, such as double-letter or triple-word score tiles.
Players can challenge each other’s word placements if they think a word is invalid. Scrabble combines vocabulary, strategy, and luck, making it a fun and educational game for all ages.
How to Play Scrabble?
To play Scrabble, each player draws seven letter tiles and takes turns forming words on the game board. Words must connect to existing words, similar to a crossword, and be valid according to the official dictionary. Players score points based on the value of the letters and any special bonus squares they use, like double-letter or triple-word scores.
After playing a word, players draw new tiles to replace those used. The game ends when all tiles have been played, or no more moves are possible. The player with the highest total score wins.
17. The Game of Life
Players: 2 to 6
Age: 8 and up
Playing Time: 45 to 60 minutes
The Game of Life is a classic family board game that simulates a person’s journey through life, from college and career choices to marriage, parenthood, and retirement. Players spin the wheel and move along a winding path, making decisions about careers, investments, and family while encountering good and bad fortune.
The ultimate goal is to accumulate wealth and success as they reach retirement. The game encourages players to balance career growth, financial decisions, and life events, making it a fun and engaging way to explore different life choices.
How to Play The Game of Life?
To play The Game of Life, each player chooses between going to college and starting a career. Then, they spin the wheel to move along the board, landing on spaces that represent life events like getting a job, buying a house, or starting a family. Players earn money, pay taxes, and make investments throughout the game.
The goal is to reach retirement with the most wealth. Once all players have retired, their money is totaled, and the player with the highest amount wins. Choices made during the game can influence the player’s final outcome.
FAQs
What is the best game to play with your family?
There is a wide list of best family board games to enjoy exciting and fun time with your families.
- Snakes & Ladders
- Ludo
- Pictionary
- Blokus
- 7 Wonders
- Scrabble
- Pandemic
- Ticket to Ride
- Cluedo
- Dixit
What are the best family games in the world?
Family board games are the best way to spend quality time with your family on holidays, trips, or weekends. Some of the best board games for families include Ludo, Snakes and Ladders, Cluedo, Pandemic, Tickets to Ride, Catan, Risk, etc.
What makes a good family board game?
A good family game must be friendly for all age groups and allow over 4 or more players to play together at a time. It is easy to connect and must provide a user-friendly interface that is easy to learn even for elders in the family. Some of the best board games for families are Snakes & Ladders, Ludo, Codenames, Risk, Cluedo, Pictionary, Pandemic, Catan, etc.
What are popular board games for adults?
There are many popular family board games for adults include Ludo, Snakes & Ladders, Cluedo, Codenames, Scrabble, 7 wonders, etc.
Which game is considered the most family-friendly board game?
Ludo is one of the best board games for the family; it dates back to the 90s, when people used to spend a lot of their entertainment time playing this game with their families, friends, or cousins. Play Ludo on MPL and get a chance to earn up to $50,000 daily with daily events and multiplayer cash tournaments.
What board games should everyone have?
Below is a list of some of the best board games for the family, especially selected as suitable family games everyone should have.
- Ludo
- Snakes and Ladders
- Cluedo
- Tickets to Ride
- Catan
- Codenames
