Best educational board games for kids

The best educational board games for kids are fun first, with learning built naturally into play. Choose games that suit your child’s age, confidence level and attention span, as well as the number of players and how much reading is needed.

For younger children, matching, memory, colour, counting and simple turn-taking games can help build early skills in a playful way. For older children, puzzle games, word games, trivia games, classic strategy games and cooperative games can support problem-solving, planning, reading confidence, teamwork and more tactical thinking.

As a quick guide:
Ages 3 to 4: matching, memory, colours, simple counting and taking turns.
Ages 5 to 8: early reading, number confidence, listening, following rules and simple strategy.
Ages 9 to 12: problem-solving, planning, word play, logic, trivia and teamwork.
Teens: strategy, quiz games, team games, social deduction and more tactical choices.

Before buying, check the recommended age, number of players, play time and whether adult help may be needed. You can also browse board games by age range, type and player number if you already know what kind of game you’re looking for.

We’ve grouped board games by age, play style and the type of skills they may support. This is to help parents, carers and gift buyers choose a game that suits the child, rather than relying on popularity alone. 

When shaping this guide, we considered: 

• Recommended age guidance.
• How easy the rules are to understand. 
• Typical play time. 
• Whether reading is needed.
• Number of players. 
• Suitability for solo, sibling or family play. 
• Whether the game may support skills such as counting, memory, matching, problem-solving, communication or teamwork. 

Age ranges are a helpful starting point, but children develop at different speeds, so it is useful to choose activities that suit the individual child.

Educational board games can help children practise skills through play, without making the activity feel like schoolwork. The most useful games are still enjoyable first, with learning moments built into the rules, pieces or decisions. 

Depending on the game, children may practise: 

• Turn-taking: waiting, listening and knowing when it is their go.
• Counting: moving spaces, adding points or recognising numbers.
• Memory: remembering cards, pictures, rules or patterns. 
• Matching and sorting: grouping colours, shapes, words or pictures. 
• Reading and word skills: recognising letters, words, questions or clues.
• Problem-solving: working out what to do next. 
• Teamwork: playing cooperatively or helping another player. 
• Focus: staying with a short task from start to finish. 

The Education Endowment Foundation describes play-based learning as activities that may be social, cognitive or physical, and notes that play-based approaches can have a positive impact on learning outcomes, although the evidence base is limited.

The sort of games and skills you’ll be looking to aid will vary depending on their age. The following guide will help you choose the right types of game for your child.

Educational board games can support different types of play. Here are some useful categories to consider. 

Matching and memory games 

Matching and memory games are a good starting point for younger children. They often use pictures, colours, shapes or simple symbols, so children can join in without needing to read. 

They may help children practise: 

• Picture and pattern recognition
• Memory and recall
• Matching and sorting
• Taking turns
• Simple concentration

Counting and maths games 

Counting games can make number practice feel more relaxed. Children might count spaces, collect pieces, add points or compare amounts as part of the game. 

They may help children practise: 

• Number recognition
• Counting forwards
• Comparing more and less
• Simple addition
• Following a sequence

Keep the difficulty level realistic. If the maths feels too hard, the game can quickly stop feeling fun. 

Word and spelling games 

Word games can be useful for children who are building reading confidence. Some games focus on letters and sounds, while others involve spelling, vocabulary, clues or quick thinking. 

They may help children practise: 

• Letter recognition
• Word building
• Spelling
• Vocabulary
• Reading simple prompts or clues

For younger children, check whether they can play independently or whether they will need an adult to read cards or instructions. 

Puzzle and logic games 

Puzzle games for kids can be a good choice for children who enjoy working things out. They may involve mazes, clues, patterns, matching, problem-solving or sequencing. 

They may help children practise: 

• Logical thinking
• Patience
• Planning
• Spotting patterns
• Trying different solutions

A good puzzle game should feel challenging but still achievable. Too easy can feel boring. Too hard can make it feel like homework. 

Classic strategy games 

Classic strategy games may help children practise planning, decision-making, patience and friendly competition. 

Classic games can be a good option when: 

• Different ages are playing together
• Adults already know the rules
• You want something that can come out again and again
• You need a familiar choice for family game night

Browse our range of classic board games for family favourites for your next game night. 

Cooperative board games 

Cooperative games allow players to work together as a team. They can be helpful for younger children, siblings with different confidence levels or children who find losing difficult. 

They may help children practise: 

• Teamwork
• Communication
• Listening
• Planning together
• Sharing ideas
• Taking turns without focusing only on winning

A good educational board game should match the child’s age, confidence and interests. It should also feel simple enough to start, but interesting enough to play again. 

Look for: 

• Age guidance: check the recommended age on the box or product page.
• Skill focus: think about whether you want counting, memory, reading, problem-solving or teamwork. 
• Play time: shorter games are often better for younger children. 
• Reading level: some games need reading, while others are picture-led.
• Number of players: check whether it works for solo play, siblings, friends or family groups.
• Rule complexity: if you can explain the aim in one or two sentences, it is usually easier to get started. 
• Small parts: always check product details, especially when buying for younger children.
• Replay value: choose games that can still feel fun after a few rounds. 

The best games will offer replay value and fun while learning, so consider your child’s interests and abilities when choosing.

Family board games are useful when children, parents, carers, grandparents or siblings want to play together. They can also help when you need one game to suit different ages and confidence levels. 

For mixed-age play, look for: 

• Simple rules with enough challenge for older players.
• Flexible player numbers. 
• Rounds that do not take too long. 
• Games where luck and skill are balanced.
• Team games where younger children can pair with an adult or older sibling. 
• Familiar classics that can be explained quickly. 

If one child is much younger, try giving them a helper role, such as rolling the dice, handing out cards or moving a piece. They still get to join in, even if they are not ready for every rule.

For a wide range of board and card games for all the family, look at our range of family games.