17 Best Strategy Board Games for Families and Kids (2024)
Are you looking for the best strategy board games for families to enjoy on family game night?
Finding a game that is fun for the whole family and strikes the perfect balance between being engaging for adults and enjoyable for younger players can be challenging.
I am going to share with you our favorite fun strategy games that are specially designed to be family-friendly, offering an ideal blend of fun and intellectual challenge. These games not only entertain but also help in developing strategic thinking and problem-solving skills among kids.
Discover the top strategic family board games that promise hours of quality time and friendly competition.
Whether you’re planning a game night or looking for the best ways to keep the kids engaged. These fun board games for all ages are sure to be a hit. They are carefully selected to suit players of all skill levels, ensuring that everyone in the family, from young kids to older kids, can participate and enjoy.
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What are the benefits of playing strategy games?
Strategy games offer more than just fun—they sharpen critical thinking and analytical skills through decision-making and planning.
Players improve memory and concentration by keeping track of rules and gameplay, and their math skills get a boost through resource management and calculations.
Planning several moves ahead develops predictive skills that are useful in real life. When played in groups, strategy games enhance social skills like communication, cooperation, and negotiation.
Beyond cognitive benefits, these games provide a mental break, offering relaxation and a chance to escape daily stress. They also teach patience, the value of long-term planning, and coping with setbacks, which builds resilience.
Additionally, these best family board games stimulate creativity by encouraging innovative problem-solving. These combined benefits make strategy games a rewarding activity for both individuals and families.
Best strategy board games for kids
Settlers of Catan is a strategic family board game where players collect resources and build settlements to earn points.
Known for its dynamic gameplay and replayability, this great game emphasizes resource management and trading, suitable for ages 10 and up.
It's a perfect blend of strategy and luck, making every game unique. Ideal for 3-4 players, it takes about 60-120 minutes.
The junior version of this game is included in our best board games for 5 year olds too.
King of Tokyo is a fast-paced game board that combines strategy and luck, where players assume the roles of monsters vying for control of Tokyo.
With its engaging monster-battle theme and straightforward rules, it's ideal for family game nights and players aged 8 and older.
The game play is fast, a lot of fun, and easy to learn, suitable for 2-6 players, and lasts about 30 minutes.
Forbidden Island is a standout cooperative experience. We're adventurers on a sinking island, trying to secure treasures and escape.
Each player's different abilities are critical in strategic planning and resource management.
The rising tension and need for team strategy make it engaging. It's best for 2-4 players, with a playtime of around 30 minutes.
Ticket to Ride is a cross-country train adventure game, where players collect cards of various types of train cars and use them to claim railway train routes across North America.
This game is celebrated for its simple yet engaging gameplay, suitable for ages 8 and above, and you can see why in our Ticket to Ride review
Best-selling Qwirkle is a tile-based game that combines logic and strategy, where players match colors and shapes to score points.
This abstract game is easy to learn but offers deep strategic play, making it suitable for players aged 6 and older.
Ideal for 2-4 players, it's a thoughtful, engaging game that lasts about 45 minutes.
A classic board game and fast-paced card game, combining elements of strategy with a touch of luck.
Players aim to form a row of five chips on the board by playing corresponding cards, making it a fun, easy-to-learn game for ages 7 and up.
It's a game of strategy and luck, suitable for 2-12 players, typically lasting 10-30 minutes.
Labyrinth is a shifting maze board game, where players move walls and corridors to create paths to collect treasures.
This game is notable for its ever-changing board layout, offering a unique challenge for players aged 7 and older.
It's a test of planning and adaptability, with a delightful twist of unpredictability. Great for 2-4 players, the game takes about 20-30 minutes.
A strategic board game where players act as bees, building a hive, making honey, and fulfilling orders.
It stands out for its engaging theme, beautifully designed components, and is suitable for players aged 10 and up.
Strategic planning, resource management, and timely actions are essential. It's engaging and beautifully designed, ideal for 1-4 players, and takes around 45-90 minutes.
Tetris transforms the classic video game into a tabletop experience, where players compete to drop blocks into the grid to complete lines.
This game captures the essence of Tetris in a physical format, ideal for ages 8 and above.
A strategic role-playing card game set in a fantastical world, where players build powerful parties of heroes to slay monsters.
Known for its creative artwork and dynamic gameplay, it's suitable for players aged 10 and older.
It's a blend of strategy and luck, suitable for 2-6 players, with a playtime of about 30-60 minutes and is one of our favorite card games.
A visually striking tile-placement board game where players draft colored tiles to their player board to score points.
Its unique artistry and strategic depth make it an appealing choice for players aged 8 and up.
The award-winning game requires foresight and strategy, especially when competing for specific tiles. Perfect for 2-4 players, it typically lasts about 30-45 minutes.
A family strategy board game where players take on the roles of Disney villains, each with unique objectives and abilities.
This game stands out for its engaging theme and the ability to play as a standalone or expand with other sets, suitable for ages 10 and older.
It's a game of strategy, deception, and thematic immersion. Suitable for 2-6 players, it takes around 50 minutes, but I have seen it played for hours!
An educational game focused on the United States presidential elections, blending strategy with math and geography.
This game encourages learning through play, making it a fun and informative choice for players aged 8 and above.
Ideal for 1-4 players, the game lasts about 45-60 minutes.
Related: Election Day coloring pages
A strategy history board game set in an alternate-history 1920s period, combining area control, resource management, and strategy.
Known for its intricate gameplay and stunning artwork, it's designed for ages 10 and up.
It's a test of tactical skill and diplomacy. Suitable for 2-6 players, it's a longer game, often lasting several hours.
A tile-laying board game where players build a medieval landscape, claiming areas with their followers to score points.
This game is renowned for its simplicity and depth, suitable for ages 7 and older, and is one of our favorites. See our Carcassonne review for more details.
It's great for 2-5 players and typically takes 30-45 minutes.
A fast-paced, pirate game for kids. It's known for its engaging gameplay and strategic decision-making, making it a great family game for ages 8 and up.
It's fast-paced and involves both strategy and bluffing. Ideal for 2-6 players, each game lasts about 30 minutes.
A classic two-player connection game where players drop colored discs into a grid to form a row of four.
This game is celebrated for its simplicity and quick game play, making it a timeless choice for ages 6 and older.
It's a game of simple strategy and foresight, great for all ages. Typically, it's for 2 players and each game lasts about 10 minutes.
Last Updated on 5 September 2024 by Clare Brown