Find the Perfect Gift With These Fun Board Games for Kids

Find the Perfect Gift With These Fun Board Games for Kids

With mobile phones, tablets, computers and gaming consoles it may surprise you to learn that board games are still extremely popular. In fact, the popularity of fun board games is only increasing. In the UK alone, the market is worth around $122.8 million, and predictions suggest that by 2027 this will have increased to $163.10 million.

The popularity of board games may be down to the fact that they can involve the whole family. Yes, there are board games for kids, but there are also family board games where everyone can get involved. This is a great way of bringing families together rather than leaving everyone with their heads stuck in a screen.

As you read on, we’re going to be taking a look at some of the best board games out there right now. These fun board games are ones that appeal to all ages and can add something a little special to your evening and weekends.

Board Games for Kids

The Game of Life Junior:

The traditional Game of Life was aimed at kids who were a little bit older. It took players on a journey where they could get married, start a job and even have a baby. This version has been altered slightly and it’s now about going on an exciting holiday. Players get to choose their destination and have the likes of a castle, a beach and a jungle to consider.

As fun board games go, this one is pretty great. Rather than just moving pieces around the board, there are animal action cards. These cards see players walking like penguins, making fish faces and a host of other fun activities.

The game has a touch of reality where there are negative events too. It’s possible to hit delays and lose luggage. These setbacks will cost you money. The player with the most money at the end of the game is the winner.

LOGO Best of Kids:

If you’re looking at family board games, then The Best of Kids is certainly a great option. This family game is all about asking funny questions and can provide an amazing source of fun and entertainment. If you already know about LOGO games, you’ll find that this one has a degree of familiarity with the presence of Picture Cards, Theme Cards and Potluck Cards.

You can be sure that this is a game that you can go back to again and again. With 252 question cards, there are over 1,000 questions to work through and this means that you can be sure of new ones coming up time and time again.

This game is aimed at those aged at least 7. As a family board game, it’s also great fun for adults and is designed to be played by 2 teams. What makes this board game really appealing is the fact that it’s so easy to play with no complicated rules to get your head around.

Cluedo Junior:

There are some great board games for kids that are based on some all-time classics. This is a prime example as you will find that this game has much in common with the well-loved Cluedo board game.  Toned down a little for kids, the focus here isn’t on solving a murder. Instead, it’s about finding the culprit behind a broken toy.

Aimed at kids aged 8 and over, the winner is the one who solves the broken toy mystery. This means working out which toy is broken, who broke it and what time it all happened. You can be sure that this board game offers hours of entertainment thanks to the fact that there are so many potential outcomes.

While there are some differences here, when compared to the original game, there is also plenty in common. That means that you can expect to come across the classic characters:

• Miss Scarlet
• Colonel Mustard
• Mr Green
• Mrs Peacock
• Professor Plum
• Dr Orchid

Monopoly Junior:

As fun board games go, this one has to be up there as one of the best. Based on the classic game that we all know and love, Hasbro has created a child-friendly version that has so much to offer. It’s developments like this that have helped Hasbro to experience so much success at the Toy of the Year Awards over the years.

Something that helps make this game so great for kids is that it’s been simplified and designed to be played a little faster than the original. As players move around the board, they still have the chance to buy properties but this time it’s things such as a theatre, a zoo and a video game arcade.

With the game aimed at players who are at least 5 years of age, the winner is the one who ends up with the most cash at the end. Just like with the original game, there’s great satisfaction to be had by seeing your co-players going bankrupt.

Articulate! For Kids:

If you’re looking for some of the best family board games, Articulate! For Kids is a great option. This game may be aimed at a younger audience, but it still offers all of the fun that you’d encounter with the original. It’s still about fast-talking descriptions and it’s a game that provides endless fun.

The aim is to describe a word without actually saying it. Yes, this may sound like it’s a little on the simple side, but throw a timer into the mix and things suddenly seem a little different. What makes this so great is that the kid’s version can be played alongside the original and this means that there’s great entertainment for the whole family.

As well as being great fun, this board game has plenty to offer in terms of educational benefits. With 2,000 new topics compiled by educational specialists, you can be sure that every player will come away having learned something.

Sshh, Don’t Wake Dad!

As fun board games go, this is one that you can be sure that your kids will love. Aimed at children aged 5 and over, the idea is a fairly simple one: players need to be the first to reach the fridge all without waking Dad on the way.

As the game plays out, you’ll hear Dad snoring away. However, it doesn’t take too much to disturb this sleep and see Dad jumping up in his bed. When this happens, the player that caused it heads all the way back to the start. So, what exactly wakes Dad? Just two examples are the clatter of pans and the scream of a cat as its tail is stood on.

The game needs at least 2 players and as many as 4 can play at the same time. The board looks great and the addition of the Dad character in the bed really makes this stand out.

Jumanji the Game:

Whether it’s the 1995 Robin Williams version, or the 2017 remake, the Jumanji film is one that captured our imaginations. The film itself is based on a board game and now you can play this yourself. As fun board games go, this one has to be finished (just as in the film) as you go on a quest through the jungle. This quest sees you needing to solve riddles and complete challenges. This is all while doing your best not to lose life tokens.

What makes this game so great is that it encourages a sense of teamwork. The player who reaches the centre first and shouts ‘Jumanji’ is the winner. However, if any player loses all of their life tokens during the game then everyone loses together. This means that there is a real need to work together, as well as being competitive.

If you’re wanting to find great family board games, this is one that needs to be added to your list. Yes, the kids will love it, but we can assure you that the adults will too.

Who Let the Chickens Out?!

This game is all about getting away from the raging farmer as you try and win the golden egg. Designed for kids around the age of 6, this is a game that’s simple, quick to play and, most importantly, full of fun. There is the opportunity to choose from 6 characters or, if you want to, you can take on the role of the angry farmer yourself.

What makes this game even better is the fact there it offers 2 in 1. There is a daytime board for players to enjoy and become familiar with. Once this one has been mastered, it’s time to move on to the nighttime board and give that one a go.

If you’re looking for fun board games that consider the environment, this is one that could top your list. Everything is made of wood. From the box to the board and characters, there are no nasties here. Not only is this great for the environment but it helps with durability too.

Battleship:

Designed for players aged 7 and over, this is a game that doesn’t really need any introduction. This is the classic naval game that the majority of parents, and even grandparents, will recall from their own childhood. The reality is that not a lot has changed simply down to the fact that the game has always been pretty close to perfect.

As you’ll probably remember, the aim of the game is to sink your opponent’s ships. As soon as you’ve sunk them all then you’re the winner. Of course, before you can launch your strike, you need to locate the battleships first and this is the part of the game that’s so much fun.

This game of strategy is great for kids and adults alike. As well as being great fun, it’s also about strategy and decision-making. These are great skills for people to master as they can be applied to all walks of life.

Enchanted Forest:

On the hunt for family board games? Well, this is another that’s now regarded as a classic. Designed for 2 to 6 players at a time, this game takes around 20 minutes to complete and that makes it perfect to hold even a youngster’s attention span. With magical treasures to find, there’s plenty to keep them entertained for that time.

One appeal of this game is that it’s so so simple to play. The instructions are really easy to understand and that means that you can simply take it out of the box and start playing almost straight away.

The hunt begins when the first treasure card has been revealed. Every time a new treasure is found, a new card is revealed. The game comes to an end when all of the King’s treasures have been found. The winner is the player who managed to collect the most treasures during the game.

The Gruffalo Deep Dark Wood Game:

There are plenty of fun board games that have been based on something else. With this one, the inspiration is the classic Gruffalo book, by Julia Donaldson. The fact that the Gruffalo is part of this is enough on its own to get children falling in love with the game and they’ll love it even more as soon as they start to play.

This dice game is all about getting your mouse home to safety. As well as the luck of the dice, players will also need a good memory to go on and win this game.

Just like the Enchanted Forest, this is a game that you can unpack and start to play straight away. The instructions are clear and simple and this makes it perfect for the younger child. If your child is a fan of the Gruffalo story then you can be sure that they’ll soon be fans of this game too.

Final thoughts:

That’s the end of our look at the best fun board games that are out there. It’s great to see that there are so many to choose from and it’s great to see that, in an age of technology, these types of games are still so popular.

Thank you for taking the time to read and happy playing!