Over the years, weโve found the best geography board games are the ones that actually make learning feel like play.
Whether weโre brushing up on U.S. states or racing across world landmarks, these games sneak in real knowledge while keeping the whole family engaged.
Most of these are best for kids ages 8 and up, but weโve used many of them throughout upper elementary and middle school.
Theyโve helped us memorize capitals, learn about national parks, and even explore new cultures, all without a worksheet in sight.
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Best Geography Board Games for Kids
Weโve played most of these geography games in our homeschool over the years, and theyโve stuck around for a reason.
Some became part of our geography curriculum, others just made learning feel less like school, but all of them helped make geography more fun and memorable.
Add This to the Mix! Our Random City Generator is a quick, fun way to explore U.S. geography. Spin for a random city and challenge kids to find it on the map or name its state, itโs a great warm-up before game time.
Trekking The World
This is the geography board game we reach for most often during family game night. Trekking the World combines strategy with global landmarks, so kids are learning geography without even realizing it. My son especially loves planning his route to collect souvenirs, and I like that we end up talking about real places as we play. Itโs best for ages 10+ and works well with mixed-age groups because the visuals and gameplay are so engaging.This is our top pick for geography gifts for kids, perfect for inspiring a love of world exploration!
We started playing the card version of The World Game when we were learning about continents and flags. Itโs compact and surprisingly challenging, even adults get stumped! The cards cover capitals, flags, location trivia, and more, and weโve used it both at home and on the go. Itโs become a staple in our homeschool geography toolkit, especially for quick review or when we want a screen-free travel activity. This is one of our favorite one person card games.
If your kids enjoy geography challenges, the board version of The World Game adds another layer. It's more structured than the card version and includes a colorful world map that helps with visual learning. Weโve used this one as part of our continent studies, it helps reinforce what weโre learning in books, and the competitive format keeps it exciting. Great for ages 7+ with enough depth to keep older kids interested too.Related: Best books about geography
We originally got this as a travel game, and it ended up being a fun flag recognition tool during our world geography unit. Itโs small, portable, and super simple, just flip the card and guess the flag. My son used to bring it in the car, and itโs helped him memorize more flags than any workbook ever did. Not a full board game, but a great add-on if you're focusing on world countries and symbols.Download our free geography scattergories too!
This one has become part of our trivia night rotation, especially when we want something a little more academic. What sets it apart is the double-sided cards with beginner and advanced questions, so we can adjust the difficulty depending on whoโs playing. Itโs been useful for reinforcing content weโve already covered in lessons and offers a good mix of U.S. and world geography. Great for middle schoolers and up.This is a great geography game for middle schoolers.
We absolutely love these guess in 10 games and have most of them, including this one. They are great for the whole family to enjoy, how many clues will you need to guess the city?Suitable for kids aged 8+
If your kids are Wild Kratts fans, this oneโs an easy win. The game blends animal trivia with a world map, so it sneaks in some geography while keeping the focus on wildlife. Itโs been especially helpful during our animal habitat lessons, and the game itself is fast-paced enough to keep kids moving. While itโs lighter on traditional geography, itโs a great way to build interest in global locations through animals.Related: Free printable geography printables.
We picked up Sweep the World during a co-op game day and ended up ordering our own copy right after. Itโs one of the fastest-paced geography card games weโve played, perfect for quick review sessions. It focuses on capitals, countries, and cultures, and the speed element makes it fun even for older kids. I like that it works well in mixed-age groups and doesnโt require a lot of setup.
This one's definitely more challenging, so we usually save it for older kids or mix it into our high schoolerโs trivia nights. What I like is that there are two levels of questions, so younger players can still join in. It covers everything from world capitals and flags to animals, languages, and world records. We donโt play this one often with younger kids, but itโs great when youโre looking to stretch geography skills beyond the basics.Related: Printable continent worksheets
Ticket to Ride Europe has been a favorite in our house for years. Itโs more strategy-focused than pure geography, but it really helps with learning European cities and countries. My son now knows more about Eastern Europe thanks to this game than he ever picked up from a textbook. It's fun, competitive, and a great intro to map reading and route planning. Best for kids 8+ and definitely one we still enjoy as adults.Related: Ticket to Ride board game review
Continent Race is great for younger kids who are just starting to understand world geography. It was one of the first geography games we used when my son was around 7, and it made a big impact. The game focuses on matching countries to the right continent, and since it was created by a kid, itโs simple and fun without being too easy. We still recommend it to friends starting out with geography.Related: Check out the best geography subscription box.
This oneโs more luck-based than others weโve played, but itโs still a fun way to reinforce world geography. Players move around a map and answer questions to keep going, so there's some strategy involved too. Itโs especially good if youโre looking for something light that still includes capitals and country facts. We use it as a fun Friday wrap-up when weโve had a geography-heavy week.
The Golden Journey stands out because it ties geography to history. The race from New York to Paris gives it a real-world hook that sparked my son's interest in early aviation and travel. Itโs a slower-paced game, but great for combining map work with historical context. Weโve pulled it out during our early 1900s history unit and found it works well with both geography and social studies themes.
This version of Guess in 10 is a great way to explore world geography in bite-sized pieces. Weโve used it alongside our country studies, itโs fun to see how quickly my son can guess a country from just a couple of clues. The questions cover landmarks, flags, and cultural facts, which makes it a good mix of trivia and memory work. It’s one of the few games that doesn’t feel repetitive, even after several rounds.
This has been a go-to game during our U.S. geography units. The silly characters and fast-paced matching make it fun even for reluctant learners. Itโs helped my son get really confident with state shapes and capitals, and he doesnโt even realize heโs practicing. We usually play this one when we need a quick review that doesnโt feel like schoolwork, perfect for ages 7+.This is one of the best 50 states games for kids
We first used The 50 States Game during our U.S. state study unit, and it was a hit. It includes map challenges, trivia, and quick-thinking rounds that make it feel more like a game than a test. What I like most is how it helps with state shape and location recognition, something that can be tricky with just worksheets. Itโs perfect for upper elementary kids, and we even pull it out now and then for a review boost.Related: America coloring pages
This is one of those games we keep going back to. Guess in 10 States of America is all about asking the right questions, and itโs great for critical thinking and logic. My son loves trying to stump us with obscure clues (and he usually does). It works well for family play or independent review, especially if youโre trying to get kids to remember key facts about each state. We started using it around age 8, and itโs still fun now in middle school.
In Trekking The National Parks, players not only traverse the board collecting trail stones, but also encounter unique challenges and opportunities inspired by real-life national park experiences. From wildlife sightings to geological wonders, players learn about the importance of conservation and stewardship while exploring the beauty of America's natural treasures.This is one of the best educational board games.
Great States is one of those games that quietly reinforces learning while still feeling like play. It uses state-specific facts and challenges, like identifying state flags or matching landmarks, and itโs great for visual learners. We brought it out a lot during our 50 states study, and it helped break up the routine of worksheets and videos. Ideal for grades 3 and up.
This one blends trivia and movement across the map, so it feels like a mix of learning and adventure. Itโs especially helpful for reinforcing state capitals, landmarks, and historical facts. We used it in place of flashcards for a while, it was just more fun. I also like that itโs easy to set up and doesnโt require reading a complicated rulebook. Definitely a favorite for U.S. geography review.This is included in our best map games for kids too!
This was our first Ticket to Ride game, and it's still one of our most-played. Building train routes across the U.S. helps kids get familiar with geography in a low-pressure, strategic way. Itโs not a โteaching gameโ exactly, but it absolutely builds location awareness and planning skills. Weโve used it with both friends and family, and it always sparks conversations about travel and U.S. cities.
We picked this up when my son was younger and still watching Ryanโs World, and it ended up being more educational than I expected. Itโs not as detailed as some of the others, but itโs a fun intro to U.S. landmarks and road trip geography. Great for early elementary ages, especially if your kids are already familiar with the show. We used it as a warm-up before diving into more detailed U.S. geography games.