A board game for kids has to work for the youngest person at the table, so this page sorts its picks by the age each listing states, from three and up to eight and up. We compared kids board games and card games on Amazon Australia by rating, rating count and the age, player count and play time each listing gives. For games the whole family plays, our family board game guide is the next step, and our board game guide compares more tabletop choices.
Best board game for kids overall: Candy Land
Best board game for kids overall: Candy Land, because it is the classic beginner board game for little kids, a race to the castle on coloured cards for two to four players from age three, and the most rated game on this page.
This is the World of Sweets edition. The listing calls it a sweet version of the classic board game, a race to the castle, and a classic beginner board game for little kids with the coloured cards and fun illustrations that kids love. The title gives ages 3 and up and the bullets say for 2 to 4 players. The box includes the game board, 4 pawns, a card deck and instructions, and the listing names Christmas presents among its uses. It holds 4.8 stars from more than 36,000 ratings across versions, the most on this page.
It suits a first board game within its listed ages of three and up. The honest catch: the title calls it a preschool game and the bullets describe a beginner game for little kids. Choose using that description and your child's preferences, whether they want a castle race, matching cards or tapping blocks.
Best dexterity board game for kids: Don't Break the Ice
Best dexterity board game for kids: Don't Break the Ice, because players tap out ice blocks one by one and try to keep Phillip the Penguin on top of the ice, in a preschool game listed for ages three and up.
The Hasbro Gaming listing calls it an exciting preschool game that has players tapping out ice blocks one by one. The object is to keep the penguin on top of the ice, but as the game goes on the blocks start falling, and one wrong block sends him through. The title gives ages 3 and up, and the detail table gives a player figure of four with no range, and plastic as the material. It holds 4.8 stars from more than 17,000 ratings across versions.
It suits a child who would rather tap blocks out than move a pawn around a track, and it is the game we would choose if Candy Land is already in the cupboard. The honest catch: the listing gives no play time, so the preschool label does not tell you how long a round takes.
Best matching game for ages 3 and up: Orchard Toys Shopping List
Best matching game for ages 3 and up: Orchard Toys Shopping List, because it is a memory game where kids learn different shopping items, with 4 shopping lists and 32 shopping items for two to four players.
The listing calls it a fun and educational memory game for kids ages 3 to 7, where kids learn about different shopping items, and the title gives ages 3 and up for 2 to 4 players. There are 4 shopping lists and 32 shopping items, made, the listing says, of durable recycled board with a wipe clean finish. It holds 4.8 stars from more than 10,000 ratings across versions.
It suits a child within the listed age range who likes playing shops and matching items. The honest catch: although the title says ages 3 and up, the bullets specify ages 3 to 7. Use that range when comparing it with the games listed from seven or eight.
Best cooperative game for ages 3 and up: Peaceable Kingdom Count Your Chickens
Best cooperative game for ages 3 and up: Count Your Chickens, because everyone works together to bring the baby chicks back to Mama Hen and everyone wins when all the chicks are gathered, in a counting game for two to four players of approximately 15 minutes.
The listing tells the story: the baby chicks have flown the coop and Mama Hen needs help to bring them back, so players spin and count numbers to travel and collect chicks while working together, and when all the chicks are gathered everyone wins. It is a cooperative counting game designed for 2 to 4 players ages 3 and older, with game play of approximately 15 minutes. The listed contents are a game board, a mother hen with stand, 40 baby chick markers, a spinner and instructions. It holds 4.7 stars from more than 2,000 ratings.
It suits a group that wants to work towards the same goal. The honest catch: the listing describes everyone winning together when all the chicks are gathered, so choose it for cooperative play. It also has fewer ratings than any other pick here.
Best card game for ages 7 and up: Mattel Phase 10
Best card game for ages 7 and up: Phase 10, because players race to complete 10 varied phases such as two sets of three or a run of seven, with Wild and Skip cards in a 108 card deck, for ages 7 years and older.
The listing calls Phase 10 the Rummy type card game with a twist. The aim is to be the first player to complete 10 varied phases, such as two sets of three, one run of seven, or seven cards of the same colour, and each player must complete one phase before advancing to the next round. The listing calls it fun and enjoyable for the whole family. The title gives 108 cards and ages 7 years and older, and the detail table lists 2 to 6 players. It holds 4.8 stars from more than 6,200 ratings and is the lowest cost pick on this page.
It suits a family interested in sets, runs and Wild and Skip cards within the listed ages of seven years and older. The honest catch: each player must complete a phase before advancing to the next round. Choose it for that card game structure and your child's preferences.
Best word game for ages 8 and up: Tapple
Best word game for ages 8 and up: Tapple, because its manufacturer panel describes naming words in a category against a ten second timer and tapping their first letters on a wheel.
The title gives 3 to 10 players and ages 8 and up, while the manufacturer panel says 2 to 8 players and ages 8 and up. That panel lists a portable Tapple wheel and 144 categories on 36 cards. Players choose a category, name an answer starting with an available letter within ten seconds, press that letter and reset the timer. Pressed letters cannot be used again in the round. The panel says a player wins by collecting three cards. It holds 4.6 stars from more than 11,000 ratings across versions.
It suits a group interested in timed word categories. The honest catch: its player counts conflict, so check the intended group size. The manufacturer panel gives 10 to 20 minutes, while the description gives 15 to 20 minutes. It shares the lowest rating on this page with The Game of Life.
Best family board game for ages 8 and up: The Game of Life
Best family board game for ages 8 and up: The Game of Life, because kids pick their own path around the board and make big life decisions such as college, marriage or retiring early, for two to four players from age eight.
The Hasbro Gaming listing describes pegs in 6 different colours that players pop into their car as friends and family while they travel around the game board, and says kids can pick their own path, with every crossroad bringing twists, turns and adventures. Players make some big life decisions, whether or not to go to college, to get married, to grow their family or to retire early. The listing gives 2 to 4 players and ages 8 and up. It holds 4.6 stars from more than 6,800 ratings.
It suits a child within the listed age range who wants a board game with choices in it. The honest catch: the listing gives no play time, and the game is built around big life decisions such as college, marriage and retiring early, so check it appeals to your child.
How to choose a board game for kids
Start with the age on the listing
Candy Land and Don't Break the Ice list ages three and up. Shopping List's title gives three and up and its bullets specify three to seven. Count Your Chickens gives three and older, Phase 10 seven years and older, and Tapple and The Game of Life eight and up. For a five year old, the first four games are within the listed age ranges. Our toys for 5 year olds guide covers more than games.
Count the players
Candy Land, Shopping List, Count Your Chickens and The Game of Life are listed for two to four players, and Phase 10 for two to six in its detail table. Don't Break the Ice gives only a detail table figure of 4, with no range. Tapple's title says three to ten, but its manufacturer panel says two to eight; check that discrepancy before choosing it for a larger group.
Choose the activity
Candy Land is a race to the castle on coloured cards, Don't Break the Ice is about tapping out blocks without dropping the penguin, and Shopping List is a memory and matching game. Phase 10 uses sets and runs, while The Game of Life lets players choose their path. Tapple adds timed word categories. Count Your Chickens is cooperative, with everyone winning when all the chicks are gathered.
Play time
Count Your Chickens gives approximately 15 minutes. Tapple's manufacturer panel gives 10 to 20 minutes and its description gives 15 to 20 minutes. The other five listings give no play time. Ten phases in Phase 10 describe its structure, not a duration, and a preschool label does not establish how quickly a round ends.
The picks side by side
Ages and player counts follow the titles and bullets, with detail table figures identified where used. Tapple's conflicting manufacturer panel and description figures are shown together. Four of the seven rating counts are ratings across versions.
| Game | Type | Listed age | Players | Play time |
|---|
| Candy Land | Race board game | 3 and up | 2 to 4 | not stated |
| Don't Break the Ice | Tapping block game | 3 and up | 4 (detail table, no range) | not stated |
| Shopping List | Matching memory game | 3 and up (bullets say 3 to 7) | 2 to 4 | not stated |
| Count Your Chickens | Cooperative counting board game | 3 and older | 2 to 4 | approximately 15 minutes |
| Phase 10 | Card game | 7 years and older | 2 to 6 (detail table) | not stated |
| Tapple | Timed word categories | 8 and up | 3 to 10 (title); 2 to 8 (manufacturer panel) | 10 to 20 minutes (manufacturer panel); 15 to 20 minutes (description) |
| The Game of Life | Family board game | 8 and up | 2 to 4 | not stated |
Frequently asked questions
What is the best board game for kids in Australia?
Candy Land is our pick for most families: a race to the castle on coloured cards for two to four players from age three, listed as a classic beginner board game, with 4.8 stars from more than 36,000 ratings. Don't Break the Ice is the tapping alternative, and The Game of Life the pick from age eight.
What are the best board games for 5 year olds?
Start with Candy Land, listed from age three for two to four players, or Shopping List, which its listing calls a memory game for ages 3 to 7, so a five year old sits in the middle of its range. Count Your Chickens is cooperative, and Don't Break the Ice has players tapping out ice blocks.
What are the best board games for 4 year olds?
Candy Land and Don't Break the Ice are both listed as preschool games for ages three and up, so a four year old is inside the range of each. Candy Land is a race to the castle on coloured cards, and Don't Break the Ice has players tapping out ice blocks. Count Your Chickens is the cooperative option.
Which board games suit kids aged 8 to 10?
Tapple and The Game of Life list ages eight and up; Phase 10 lists seven years and older. The Game of Life offers choices about college, marriage and retirement, while Phase 10 uses ten card goals. Tapple has timed word categories, but its title says three to ten players and its manufacturer panel says two to eight.
Which board games for kids are educational?
Shopping List and Count Your Chickens describe educational play. Shopping List is called a memory game for kids ages 3 to 7, with shopping lists and item cards. Count Your Chickens has players spin and count numbers together. Candy Land also lists Educational as its genre; choose the activity your child wants to play.
What is a good cheap board game for kids?
Phase 10 is the lowest cost pick on this page: a 108 card deck listed for ages 7 years and older, with 4.8 stars from more than 6,200 ratings, so it is the pick for a stocking. Among the younger games, Don't Break the Ice, Shopping List and Count Your Chickens cost less than Candy Land.
Which kids board games do adults enjoy too?
Phase 10's title explicitly names a kids, family or adult game night. The Game of Life is listed as a family board game for two to four players from age eight. Candy Land, Don't Break the Ice and Shopping List also describe family game nights, so choose by the listed age and the activity everyone wants.
What is a good board game to give a child for Christmas?
Match the game to the listed age first. Candy Land's listing names Christmas presents and birthday presents and gives ages three and up. The Game of Life lists ages eight and up for two to four players. Tapple also lists ages eight and up, but check its conflicting player counts before choosing it for a group.
