Best family board games 2026: played, reviewed and loved by real families

Tested and reviewed by Mumsnet baby and child editor Jenny Wonnacott: Read our in-depth Ticket to Ride review

Ticket to Ride comes up time and time again on the Mumsnet forums as one of the best family board games - and for good reason. It’s a fun cross-country train adventure where players use strategy to connect cities and score points.

When I first played it, only my eldest was old enough to join in, but since then it's become a firm favourite - so much so that a family games night doesn't go past without my youngest (now six) requesting "the train game". Ticket to Ride is officially recommended for ages eight and up, but if you play with open hands (ie cards in your hand revealed to all players) for younger children it works surprisingly well. Like many great games, the rules may feel tricky at first but become second nature the more you play.

What I love most is that Ticket to Ride appeals just as much to adults as it does to children. It’s competitive without being cutthroat, and it always feels satisfying to build your routes - though be warned, with several players, a game can run well over an hour.

The original version takes you across America, but there are now spin-offs that whisk you by rail all over the world, plus a junior version for younger players.

Read next: Discover our pick of the best kids' tablets which can handle games, videos and online tutoring tasks

Tested by Mumsnet baby & child editor Jenny Wonnacott: Read our in-depth Labyrinth review: coming soon!

Labyrinth is one of those games I instantly understood the appeal of; it’s simple, quick and fun - all the makings of a classic. The aim is straightforward: shift the maze to find the shortest route to your treasure, and collect them all to win.

What I really like about this game is that you only have to focus on one thing per turn. Unlike chess (which I admit I find tricky because of the forward-planning and the difficulty of doing that when my mum-brain is full to capacity), Labyrinth keeps things simple while still developing great problem-solving and visualisation skills. In fact, I think it works as a really good pre-cursor to chess for kids, since they’re learning how to think ahead without getting overwhelmed.

It’s not all strategy though - there’s a bit of luck involved too, which keeps it fun and unpredictable. One rule my children struggled with at first is remembering where they’d picked up the moveable tile from, since you can’t put it back in the same place on your turn. Once they got the hang of it though, it became a game we play regularly.

I’d recommend Labyrinth as one of the best family board games for mixed ages. Younger children may take a little longer to get to grips with it, but once they do, it’s quick to set up, exciting to play, and bound to become a family favourite - and at just £14 from Argos, it's a brilliant gift option for Christmas.

Read next: If you're on the hunt for fun geared more towards younger children, don't miss our guides to the best toys for five-year-olds

Tested and reviewed by Mumsnet writer Laura Cooke: Read our full Throw Throw Burrito review

Throw Throw Burrito combines a card game with dodgeball, except instead of a ball you have a foam burrito – yes, really. Players must collect matching sets of cards whilst simultaneously throwing and dodging the foam burritos.

It seems all too obvious to state the reasons as to why kids would rate this as one of the best family board games – they do get to lob a burrito at mum and dad’s heads after all!

I played this game with my extended family aged from five to 50 and thoroughly enjoyed it. While my kids (five and seven) found it a little overwhelming, it was a huge hit with my nieces (18 and 20) and their friends. Just move the breakables out of the way before the chaos erupts.

Read next: Check out our guide to the best dolls' prams and the best dolls to ride in them

Tested and reviewed by Mumsnet writer Laura Cooke: Read our in-depth Chicken Vs Hotdog review

Chicken Vs Hotdog is simple, silly, and completely hilarious - the kind of game that works brilliantly at family gatherings. Imagine the classic bottle-flipping challenge, but with two goofy rubber characters instead of bottles, and you’ve got the idea.

We first took it to my sister-in-law’s house for a big family get-together, and it was an instant hit. Four adults (all in our 40s and 50s) and four kids and teens (aged five, six, 17 and 19) all joined in, and after a few practice throws we were hooked. I’ll admit it felt tricky at first, but once we’d mastered a few flips, the competitive streak kicked in - and needless to say the hotdog trick shots after a couple of glasses of wine had us all in stitches.

One of the things I loved most about the game is how quick and easy it is to set up. The rules are so straightforward that even children younger than the suggested eight years can join in. It might take a little time to find the knack of flipping a chicken so it actually sticks the landing, but once you do, it’s ridiculously addictive -the kind of game you’ll keep pulling out time and again.

Read next: Don't miss our guides to the best laptops for kids and the best kids' smartwatch

Tested and reviewed by Mumsnet baby and child editor Jenny Wonnacott: Read our in-depth Dobble review

Dobble isn’t just one of the best family games - it also makes a brilliant birthday gift for kids of all ages (it’s been our go-to for primary school parties over the last few years!). The beauty of Dobble is that anyone can win, with young kids often beating far older players easily, making it an ideal choice for family gatherings.

Players must turn over cards and compete to be the first to spot the matching symbol on each one. As the game requires sharp eyes and quick reflexes, you’ll probably find that little ones often come out on top with this one. You can get special edition sets too, like Harry Potter, Friends and Marvel, making them a great option for a variety of ages.

Related: Discover our pick of the best kids' headphones

Tested and reviewed by Mumsnet writer Laura Cooke: Read our full Cheeky Monkeys review

If you’re after a board game you can play with toddlers as young as three, Orchard Toys is always my go-to. Honestly, any of their games could take the top spot for best preschool pick, but our favourite has to be Cheeky Monkeys.

It’s not only one of the best budget family games, but also a brilliant way to build decision-making, maths, and fine motor skills. The goal is simple: collect as many bananas as you can - while dodging the cheeky monkeys trying to steal them!

The 3D board is a real crowd-pleaser for little ones, and the action of hanging the monkeys adds a lovely sensory element while helping to develop coordination. It’s engaging, affordable, and fun - making it both a fantastic preschool game and one of the best toys for 4-year-olds as well.

Read next: On the hunt for the best tech toys for your little one? Check out our guides to the best kids' camera and top-ranking games console

Tested and reviewed by Mumsnet writer Laura Cooke: Read our in-depth Herd Mentality review

Herd Mentality is a firm favourite among board game enthusiasts. Parents love the simple premise and it's a great way to engage even the most monosyllabic of teenagers in light-hearted and humorous discussions.

If you’ve seen Pointless, think of the premise – now reverse it and you’ve got Herd Mentality except with cows. Whilst there’s nothing offensive about the topics in this game, some of the cultural references may be lost on younger kids so you may have to discard the odd card along the way. "It's recommended for older kids," said parent tester Laura, "but my four- and six-year-old were able to play easily as part of a team. It's all good, clean family fun."

Many parents will notice that once their child hits 10, there’ll be a huge leap when it comes to their cognitive growth, particularly regarding their critical thinking. Children of this age will typically relish a challenge so it’s a great time to introduce a slightly more complicated style of board game to keep them on their toes - and CATAN is hands down one of the top choices to deliver just this.

CATAN is a cleverly designed strategy game in which players control and develop their own civilisation. Players will have to think logically and plan ahead to succeed.

Although CATAN takes the crown for best family board game for kids aged 10 or over, there is a Catan Junior for ages six-plus (which, according to equally games-obsessed friends of ours, is arguably even better than the base game).

Related: The best kids' cameras as chosen by real UK families

Tested and reviewed by Mumsnet baby and child editor Jenny Wonnacott: Read our in-depth Carcasonne Board Game review

Carcassonne is another firm favourite in my household - and it’s one that Mumsnetters often recommend too. Compact and easy to take anywhere, it’s one of the best family board games we’ve found for both travel and games nights at home. I’ve even played it with my youngest at four (with a bit of help), and it’s become a game we return to again and again.

What makes it so good is the way you build the board as you play, with a new layout every time. That means gameplay is always different, giving it great replayability. It’s also a brilliant way for younger players to learn strategy and problem-solving in a simple, no-reading-required format.

Mumsnet users also rate Carcassonne highly for being easy to pick up but still offering just the right amount of challenge - making it a go-to choice for family fun.

Read next: Best iPad for kids, tried and tested by parents

Tested and reviewed by Mumsnet writer Laura Cooke: Read our in-depth Exploding Kittens review

Exploding Kittens is deceptively simple yet endlessly funny, thanks in part to its brilliantly quirky card illustrations. It’s no surprise it’s become a big hit with families in recent years: the rules are quick to learn, games don’t take long to play, and it’s the kind of card game you can whip out anywhere for up to five players (though with expansions you can definitely play with more).

We’ve taken our pack on countless family holidays, to friends' houses and out to restaurants, and even after playing over and over again, it's still a big favourite. The compact size makes it ideal for travel, and with no fiddly pieces to lose, it’s stress-free too.

Although the box says two to five players, you can easily expand that with an extra deck or one of the expansions. There’s even a NSFW version, which is hilarious but definitely not family-friendly, and we’ve also enjoyed the Good vs Evil edition, which adds some fun new twists to the gameplay.

Read next: Best dumb phone for kids

Tested and reviewed by Mumsnet writer Laura Cooke: Read our in-depth P for Pizza review

At just £13, P for Pizza is a great budget choice - though it's more of a card game than a board game. We loved it for its simplicity - it’s quick to set up, the rules are easy to learn, and everyone can join in straight away, which makes it a brilliant game for kids and adults alike.

The idea is simple: shout out a word that links the letter on one card to the category on another, and if you’re first you win the card to add to your pizza slice. The first player to complete their slice is the winner. Easy, cheesy, and always good for a laugh.

There’s also P for Pizza Kids, designed for younger players aged six and up, and P for Pizza Adult, with a little extra spice, for players aged 17+.

Related: Best robot toys

Scotland Yard is a cops and robbers chase game where players must work together to catch a villain on the streets of London. Like Carcassonne, it's a great board game for longevity as the game changes every time you play.

Manufacturers state that the game is suitable for eight years and older, but some reviewers did report that it was pretty challenging and gameplay is longer than some other options, so if you don’t think your children are quite ready for it, there’s also a junior version for ages six and above.

Related: Whatever your child is into, we've a guide to help: from the best dinosaur toys to the best coding toys