Board Games for Teens: Games to Play Before You Turn Sixteen

Board Games for Teens: Games to Play Before You Turn Sixteen

Are there a number of games that everyone should have completed before they reach their sixteenth birthday?

Sweet sixteen is a landmark in anyone’s life; traditionally it’s when a few legal rights are acquired and steps begin to be taken from childhood to adulthood.

But before too many steps are taken along the journey, it’s important that knowledge of a select number of board games is carried across the threshold into grown-up-ness!

The Value of Board Games for Teens:

Hopefully, board games represent time well spent with friends and relatives; moments of fun away from screens that form a rich tapestry of happy memories.

Board games are also a great way for children to acquire valuable skills such as fair play, patience, and the ability to lose with grace.

Nostalgia:

The intrinsic link of board games to childhood often sows the seed for a nostalgic love of them – seeing a picture on the box can transport us back to a living room floor and a game played with siblings on a rainy afternoon.

Similarly, encouraging an early appreciation for these gentle past times is a great way to form the development of a lifelong appreciation of board games, something that feels particularly poignant as our world grows increasingly dependent on screens.

In this board game “Route of Passage” we have suggested which board games everyone should have played ahead of their 16th birthday; some are super-simple and others are more challenging!

Classic board games for Teens

Scrabble:

Scrabble’s famous tiles have become design classics in their own right, adorning everything from mugs to cushion covers; and in fact, this game is an elite classic, with worldwide clubs and competitions devoted to it.

It is, however, a little bit more complex than the simplicity of its design might suggest. Things start out in a straightforward way: all players need seven tiles in their little rack and which they use to build words on board. Words must be horizontal or vertical and it is vital they form an integrated grid.

Where things get a little bit tricky is the introduction of a mathematical element. All the tiles have their own score but some of the squares on the board can boost that by double or even triple. This means it’s important everyone keeps track of the figures as well as the words.

The beauty of Scrabble is that it gives rise to another great pastime: crosswords as it’s likely a love for one could lead to an aptitude for the other.

Read More: The Best Big Potato Games you Need to Play this Year!

Cluedo:

The famous “who dunnit” murder mystery board game that has given rise to films, plays and television shows. Much of Cluedo’s enduring appeal can be attributed to the fact it captures a bygone age and everyone playing can imagine themselves at a country house party in the roaring twenties.

Both its characters and indeed the murder weapons are so well-known they have become part of our wider culture.

This super-sleuth classic requires players to move around the board as one of the game’s six suspects, collecting clues to deduce who murdered the poor victim, how and where.

A fair bit of concentration is required but Cluedo is great for encouraging important analytical skills.

Fun Board Games for Teens

Twister:

Nothing can be simpler than Twister and the beauty is that game can be continued into adulthood – although probably not old age!

A big plastic mat is covered with rows of different-coloured dots; spin the spinner and find out which body part should land where. By the end, it’s a tangled web of limbs!

Super easy and great fun; in fact could be a great game to play at a 16th birthday party!

Jenga:

This is a game that will survive well into adulthood so it’s important pre-sixteen year olds get a good grasp on its fairly simple rules!

The object of Jenga is to create a tower of blocks that never stops being built. Players take a block from somewhere in the structure and add it to the top without having the entire thing tumble down.

Adding to the challenge is the fact that the blocks are not uniform – some are slightly smaller or slightly larger than others. This means the tower’s weight is not usually distributed evenly across a row, adding to the architectural challenge.

Traditional Board games for Teens

Snakes and Ladders:

This overview of board games would not be complete without the all-time classic Snakes and Ladders. The very simple objective is to be the first to the top of the board by rolling the dice, avoiding the snakes and climbing the ladders.

A great way for young children to practice their number recognition and counting skills, as well as helping them master childhood frustration; Snakes and Ladders also serves as a valuable metaphor for life, as we all end up sliding down a snake at one point!

Ludo:

Up to four can play this “race against the dice” game which gives each player four pegs in a different colour that they need to get back to base as quickly as possible. The challenge in Ludo is avoiding another player landing on your peg which would send it back to the start.

This extremely popular board game has been followed up by Race to Base, a more slightly sophisticated update featuring dice in a plastic bubble that needs to be pressed in order to be rolled. This has also been given a makeover in recent years branded as

Skill Building Board Games for Teens

Chess:

The Game of Kings, having an early understanding of the rules of Chess will stand anyone in good stead!

The objective is to achieve Checkmate whereby an opponent’s King has no “legal” moves of escape. There are six different types of pieces in chess, and all move in their own, distinct way on a board made up of 64 squares.

A game forever; mastering the rules can help with important life skills such as strategic thinking and careful analysis. From the law through to big business, developing a mind for chess can only help achieve success.

The beauty of chess is that it would make a truly lovely 16th birthday gift. As well as being enduring, it’s a lovely decorative item. This marble version of a chessboard isn’t prohibitively expensive and yet it would serve as a lovely feature in any room.

Monopoly:

A game that has gained notoriety for the tensions it can cause – the late Queen Elizabeth II famously banned Monopoly from the Royal Family’s Christmas – this is where capitalism and ruthlessness come into play.

Although there are now multiple versions named after places and films, the classic is a board using London locations and a set of iconic tokens representing wealth and poverty.

Everyone starts building their empire with the same investment from the bank and it’s up to them to see how much they make through the ruthless buying and selling of assets around the board. Of course, no one is immune from fate – a roll of the dice can end someone in jail or indeed charge a fine that causes bankruptcy.

For budding economists, property moguls, and bankers; Monopoly is a great way to develop a taste for winning and success.

New Release Board Games for Teens

What do you Meme?

This is a hilarious new card game that capitalises on teenager’s love of their phones! What do you Meme? can be played by up to 20 people making it a great choice for parties. There are two sets of cards: 150 150 family-friendly “Inbox” cards and 300 family-friendly “Reply” cards.

Players take it in turn to present an “Inbox” card and everyone else must present their best reply using the cards they’ve been dealt.

Whosever is deemed the funniest takes the Inbox card with the winner being the player with the most at the end of the game.

The Logo Board Game:

Branding is a powerful tool that has been put to good use with The Logo Board Game, a fun new game that could be great for future marketeers.

Players make their way around a board, landing on different coloured squares and answering questions from cards that are either picture-based, theme-based, or general knowledge-based – easy and straight-forward

Easy, light-hearted fun from a series that also includes The Best of Christmas – a popular Christmas Board Game to play over the festive season.

Final Thoughts

Board games remain a favourite pastime for teenagers. From Lively party games to STEM games, there’s something for every taste.

If you’re planning a family game night or just hanging out with friends, consider diving into some of the best board games for teens.

After all, games are a timeless way to bond and enjoy together, regardless of age.