Best Family Board Games (Award Winners)

Exceptional consensus · 6 wins

Azul

Best for: Families, gateway gamers, mixed experience groups, couples

Mensa SelectGolden GeekDice Tower

2–445mLight

Exceptional consensus · 5 wins

Cascadia

Best for: Families, solo gamers, nature lovers, puzzle enthusiasts

ATTAGolden GeekDice Tower

1–445mLight

Love Letter

Best for: Travel, filler games, casual groups, beginners

Sushi Go Party!

Best for: kids, family, large group

2–820mLight

Hot Streak

Best for: Party groups, families, casual game nights

ATTAGolden Geek

2–620mLight

The Crew: Mission Deep Sea

The Crew: Mission Deep Sea

Best for: Trick-taking fans, cooperative gamers, couples, travel

The Mind

Best for: Experiential game fans, groups open to unusual games

Dorfromantik: The Board Game

Best for: family, cooperative, relaxing

Kingdomino

Best for: kids, family, quick

Mensa SelectGolden Geek

2–420mLight

ATTADice TowerGolden Geek

The Crew: Quest for Planet Nine

Best for: Trick-taking fans, cooperative gamers, travel gaming

Harmonies

Best for: Puzzle fans, solo gamers, nature lovers, spatial thinkers

Golden GeekSwiss Gamers Award

1–430mMedium

7 Wonders

Best for: Mixed groups, gateway strategy, large gatherings

2–730mMedium

Splendor

Best for: Gateway gamers, families, casual groups, couples

2–430mLight

Exceptional consensus · 2 wins

Bomb Busters

Best for: Families, cooperative fans, deduction lovers, mixed ages

2–530mLight

Akropolis

Best for: Families, gateway gamers, puzzle fans

Forbidden Island

Best for: Families, cooperative beginners, kids 8+

Dice TowerMensa Select

2–430mLight

Thunder Road: Vendetta

Best for: Action game fans, families, retro gaming enthusiasts

Trio

Best for: family, kids, travel

Golden GeekUK Games Expo

3–615mLight

Heat: Pedal to the Metal

Best for: Racing fans, families, mixed-experience groups

1–660mMedium

Captain Flip

Best for: Young families, beginners, gateway gaming

ATTASwiss Gamers Award

2–520mLight

Award winner

Qwirkle

Best for: Cross-generational play, families, non-gamers, abstract fans

Golden GeekMensa Select

2–445mLight

Forbidden Desert

Best for: Families, cooperative game beginners, kids 8+

Mensa SelectDice Tower

2–545mLight

King of Tokyo

Best for: Families, kids 8+, casual groups, monster fans

2–630mLight

Award winner

Cubitos

Best for: Push-your-luck fans, racing game lovers, families

Qwixx

Best for: Travel, filler games, families, non-gamers

In the Footsteps of Darwin

Best for: Families, science enthusiasts, gateway gamers

Wandering Towers

Best for: Families, kids 8+, casual groups

Camel Up

Best for: Large families, gateway gaming, party groups

Colt Express

Best for: Families, party groups, casual game nights

Pictures

Best for: Non-gamers, families, creative people, multilingual groups

Hanabi

Best for: Cooperative fans, puzzle lovers, travel gaming

Dixit

Best for: Creative groups, families, non-gamers, art lovers

Cat in the Box: Deluxe Edition

Best for: Trick-taking fans, puzzle lovers, unique mechanism seekers

One Night Ultimate Werewolf

Best for: Party groups, social deduction fans, large gatherings

Point Salad

Best for: Beginners, families, filler games, non-gamers

My City

Best for: Families, legacy game fans, casual campaigners

Calico

Best for: Puzzle fans, cat lovers, solo gamers

Planet Unknown

Best for: Puzzle fans, polyomino lovers, simultaneous-play fans

Happy City

Best for: Beginners, families, kids 8+, gateway gaming

Abandon All Artichokes

Best for: Beginners, families, deck-building fans, filler games

Draftosaurus

Best for: Kids, families, filler games, dinosaur fans

Catch the Moon

Best for: Families, dexterity fans, party groups

Catan

Best for: Gateway gamers, families, social groups, new gamers

Ticket to Ride

Best for: Gateway gamers, families, travel fans, non-gamers

Carcassonne

Best for: Gateway gamers, families, couples, non-gamers

Santorini

Best for: Families, abstract fans, couples, gateway gaming

The Isle of Cats

Best for: Cat lovers, puzzle fans, families (family mode), drafting fans

Mysterium

Best for: Creative groups, Dixit fans, cooperative gamers, families

Oriflamme

Best for: Bluffing fans, quick-game seekers, strategy lite

Blob Party

Best for: Party groups, families, kids 6+, icebreakers

The Gang

Best for: Cooperative fans, poker fans, casual groups

7 Wonders: Architects

Best for: Gateway gamers, 7 Wonders fans, large groups, families

Hues and Cues

Best for: party, large group, friends

Ticket to Ride: Europe

Best for: Gateway gamers, families, Ticket to Ride fans, travelers

IceCool

Best for: Families, kids 6+, dexterity fans

Spinderella

Best for: Young children 6+, families with small kids

Valley of the Vikings

Best for: Young children 6+, families, dexterity fans

Flip 7

Best for: Filler games, icebreakers, large groups, non-gamers

Ticket to Ride: First Journey

Best for: Young children 6-8, Ticket to Ride families

Zombie Kidz Evolution

Best for: Kids 7+, family co-op, legacy game introduction

Planet

Best for: Families, nature enthusiasts, component admirers

Just One

Best for: Party groups, families, holiday gatherings, non-gamers

Living Forest

Best for: Families, push-your-luck fans, nature gamers

1–450mMedium

Award winner

Sea Salt & Paper

Best for: Casual groups, couples, travel gaming

Castle Combo

Best for: Casual gamers, couples, gateway gaming

Let's Go! To Japan

Best for: Travel enthusiasts, families, strategy gamers

Magical Athlete

Best for: Kids, families, light gaming groups

Trekking the National Parks

Best for: Families, travel lovers, national park fans, gateway gaming

Snake Oil

Best for: Party groups, icebreakers, creative groups, non-gamers

Lanterns: The Harvest Festival

Best for: Families, gateway gamers, calm game sessions

The Quacks of Quedlinburg

Best for: Families, push-your-luck lovers, casual groups

2–445mMedium

Daybreak

Best for: Climate-aware players, cooperative fans, Pandemic lovers

1–490mMedium

Forest Shuffle

Best for: Nature lovers, tableau-building fans, casual strategy

Deutscher Spiele Preis

2–560mMedium

Challengers!

Best for: Large groups, casual gamers, tournament fans

1–845mLight

Faraway

Best for: Card game fans, puzzle lovers, travel gaming

Odin

Best for: Quick filler, travel, mixed groups

Photosynthesis

Best for: Nature lovers, visual appeal fans, families

Mensa Select

2–460mMedium