Board Game Recommendations
There are so many wonderful board games available now and new ones come out every year. Are you looking for a new board game or card game but have no idea what to pick? Did you discover a new game that you love and you'd like to share it with others? This is the place for you!
Below you will find board game recommendations submitted by GT parents from our community. We hope you see something you like! If you have a recommendation of your own to share, please use our Board Game Recommendation Form to let us know.
updated November 2020
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Throw Throw Burrito
Recommended by: Sunshine
Age Range: 3rd grade to Adult
Play Time: 30-60 minutes
Description: This is a dodgeball card game similar to the game Spoons. If that doesn't make sense to you, watch the video and you'll understand.
Why do you like this game: It's a fun family game that gets everyone laughing. It's good for hand eye coordination and focus.
SET
Recommended by: Michelle
Age Range: all ages
Play Time: 20 minutes
Description: This is a simple game of visual perception. The goal is to build sets based on color, shape, number, and shading as described in this video.
Why do you like this game: It's both a single & multiple player game. From the packaging: "Not only is it fast-paced fun, it also builds skills and exercises the brain! Because it has a rule of logic, and because players must apply this rule to the spatial array of patterns all at once, they must use both left brain and right brain thought processes!" My daughter started playing this game in Kindergarten and still plays it as a Freshman in High School. As a parent be prepared for your kid to kick your butt at this game!
Outfoxed!
Recommended by: Rachel
Age Range: Grades K-2
Play Time: less than 30 minutes
Description: In Outfoxed, you and your fellow detective chickens need to solve the case of the missing pot pie! You gather clues as to who the suspect might be, and try to stop the sneaky fox before they leave town!
Why do you like this game: This is a great 2+ player game that involves logic and strategy for young learners. It’s a fun and silly take on the classic game Clue.
Disney Villainous Board Game (and Expansions)
Recommended by: KarenE
Age Range: Grade 6 to Adult
Play Time: 1-2 hours
Description: In this epic contest of sinister power, take on the role of a Disney Villain and strive to achieve your own devious objective. Discover your character's unique abilities and winning strategy while dealing twists of fate to thwart your opponents' schemes.
Why do you like this game: Great family game - you can help each other as you try to obtain your objective or be a true villain and help only yourself, while sabotaging your opponents!! Skills involved: math, logic, strategy.
Kill Doctor Lucky
Recommended by: KarenE
Age Range: Grade 3 to Adult
Play Time: 60-90 minutes
Description: In this notorious game, an inversion of Clue, you hate Doctor Lucky. Maybe he left you out of his will. Maybe he killed your pet rock. Whatever the reason, you want him dead. Unfortunately, so do the other players.
Players move around the mansion, collecting murder weapons (to make the murder attempt stronger - doubly so if the weapon is used in an appropriate location); failure cards (to thwart opponents' plans); and movement cards (to try to get together with Doctor Lucky in a secluded location for his inevitable demise.) Players try to convince others to use up their failure cards first, the better for when their own attempts come.
Why do you like this game: SO MUCH FUN! An inversion of the game Clue, but better!! Skills involved: math, logic, creativity, strategy, and humor. If you love the game Clue, you must give Kill Doctor Lucky a try!
Potion Explosion, Photosynthesis, Azul, Sagrada, Carcassonne, Scotland Yard
Recommended by: Carolyn Chen
Age Range: Grade 3 to Adult
Play Time: 30-45 minutes
Description: This recommendation is for multiple games. Click the game name for a more detailed video explanation.
Potion Explosion: In this fun, family-friendly game, you mix and match marble "ingredients" to get a potion explosion.
Photosynthesis: In this green strategy game, you plant and shape the forest game board to win points.
Azul: Build a mosaic through careful placement of this game's beautiful tiles.
Sagrada: Compete to build the most beautiful stained-glass window, like a stained-glass Sudoku.
Carcassonne: A modern classic tile-laying game with easy-to-learn rules and endless strategy.
Scotland Yard: Play as a Scotland Yard detective tracking Mr. X through the streets of London.
Why do you like this game: All are fun, competitive, and strategic!
Rummikub
Recommended by: Kerstin Benson
Age Range: Grades 3-12
Play Time: 20-40 minutes
Description: You have numbered tiles and you try to get rid of all of them by laying down groups of three or more or runs of numbers. You can use what is in your hand or what other people have played.
Why do you like this game: This is a fun four 2 to 4 player game (we own two sets and can play up to 8 players) it involves some logic and strategy and we enjoy it. It's a classic game that I played with my grandparents.
Munchkin (plus Expansions)
Recommended by: KarenE
Age Range: Grades 6 - Adult
Play Time: 45-120 minutes
Description: Munchkin is a satirical card game based on the clichés and oddities of Dungeons and Dragons and other role-playing games. Each player starts at level 1 and the winner is the first player to reach level 10. Players can acquire familiar D&D style character classes during the game which determine to some extent the cards they can play. Fast-playing and silly, Munchkin can reduce any role-playing group to hysteria. And, while they're laughing, you can steal their stuff. More info on how to play Munchkin
Why do you like this game: The starter kit (Munchkin Deluxe comes with a game board, dice, and pawns) stands on its own quite well - but when you add in the various expansion packs (there are sooooo many. CAUTION: be sure to read the details for each of the expansion packs you may consider for your family. Some of the expansion packs can be a little "naughty".) you broaden the scope and visualization of the game and can make it all your family's own. This game is so much fun - hilarious!! - and will either bring your family together or cause division (in a fun way). You can help each other along the way, or go rogue and stomp your way to the top! Much like Dungeons & Dragons, Munchkin is what you make it. The game is flexible and forgiving and.... oh, just try it! I (mom) was never a big fan of Dungeons & Dragons, but Munchkin is great for the whole family - even me!!
Spy Alley
Recommended by: Joanne Bliss
Age Range: all ages
Play Time: 30-60 minutes
Description: Each player is assigned a secret spy identity at the beginning of the game. Your goal is to move around the board, collect your required items, and get back to your embassy square, all without letting the other players guess your identity! There are two ways to win this game: get to your embassy with all of your items OR be the last one standing after all other spies have been eliminated.
Why do you like this game: This game has all the deductive reasoning of Clue but more fast-paced and direct game play. It is not too difficult for my 7-yr-old but has enough complex reasoning to keep my 12-yr-old engaged. It's one of the few games that we all enjoy! It is definitely more fun when the players are actively trying to deduce the spy identities of the other players.
10 Days in the USA
Recommended by: Rebecca B.
Age Range: Grades 3-8
Play Time: 30 minutes
Description: Pick up and rearrange the tiles to make a connected 10-day trip across the United States.
Why do you like this game: It teachers the location of the states in a fun way.
Forbidden Desert/Forbidden Island, Dixit, Hanabi, Llama Drama, Sushi Go
Recommended by: Mike
Age Range: Grades K-8
Play Time: 10-60 minutes
Descriptions:
Forbidden Desert/Forbidden Island: Cooperative games where the group of players must use their special abilities to overcome a changing board that is accelerating toward ruin. They can be a nice change to where all the kids are winners or losers together. Dixit: An unusual and unique game of something like visual charades. Each player has a hand of cards with surreal images, the player whose turn it is describes their choice in a way that some of the other players will be able to identify it, but not all. The other players also select one of their cards that they think matches the clue. Lots of fun for imaginative kids, harder on those who are very literal.
Hanabi: A game where you are trying to build a sequence of cards, but you can only see your opponents/teammates cards, not your own. On your turn you can give other players specific clues, or act on other players' clues.
Llama Drama: A fun fast-paced card game with a bit of strategy involving your Llama's powers and chance. The goal is to be the first one out.
Sushi Go: A hand-building card game to build the perfect sushi lunch that is a lot of fun whether playing strategically or just being goofy.
Why do you like this game: These games involve a variety of skills from co-operative problem solving to find the only sequence of moves to escape the sinking island (Forbidden Island) to the surreal imaginative puns that can be used in Dixit. Others like Llama Drama or Sushi Go are reliably 10 minutes of fun with the family.
