The Best Family Board Games for 2024

Curated by Zero Sugar

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Periodic breaks from digital screens are valuable, and board games serve as a fantastic means of uniting people for shared enjoyment and leisure. Over the years, our family board game nights have allowed us to delve into a diverse array of games. These suggestions are inspired by the younger members of our family. In choosing our games, we've deliberately steered clear of the classic, well-known ones like Clue, Monopoly, Connect 4, Scrabble, and others, preferring to highlight a variety of other engaging and fun alternatives instead.

List of 12 boardgames

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1. Labyrinth (1986)

By Ravensburger

2-4 players | 20-0 mins | 8+ age

family
Replayability
High (3.95/5)
Easiness
Moderate (2.40/5)
Strategy Factor
Moderate (2.84/5)
Interaction
High (3.75/5)
A Simple Starter
Labyrinth was among the initial board games our family played together, offering simplicity that's accessible to all. It features a maze-like board where players aim to gather treasures as dictated by their dealt cards. The intriguing aspect of this game, created by a German psychologist, lies in its dynamic nature - each turn allows players to alter the maze by sliding tiles on and off the board. This mechanic not only lets you strategize your own path but also offers opportunities to hinder your opponents' progress.
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2. Exploding kittens (2015)

By Ad Magic, Inc. ( AdMagic Games) and Exploding Kittens

2-5 players | 15-0 mins | 7+ age

party
Replayability
High (3.58/5)
Easiness
Moderate (2.25/5)
Strategy Factor
Moderate (2.17/5)
Interaction
High (3.35/5)
This deceptively simple card game is easy to pick up but has layers of strategy as you try to avoid exploding kitten cards. It combines fun elements from classic card games, like Old Maid, and adds a modern twist. There’s just enough complexity to make things fun, but never so much that it gets confusing. The card art features some cute, and not so cute, cats with all sorts of special powers to turn the tables on your opponents. When it starts to get old, the expansions do a great job of breathing new life into the game.
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3. Catan (1995)

By KOSMOS

3-4 players | 60-120 mins | 10+ age

family | strategy
Replayability
High (3.95/5)
Easiness
Moderate (2.40/5)
Strategy Factor
Moderate (2.67/5)
Interaction
High (3.88/5)
Trade and Build
Formerly known as Settlers of Catan, this addictive strategy game challenges you to gather and trade resources to build and settle a randomly generated board of hexagonal tiles. Dominating the map and gaining enough points for a victory requires the right strategy and a bit of luck with dice rolls. My eldest (13) loves this game, especially the trading portion and the robber mechanic, which allows you to steal cards from your opponents and block their resources (though it can cause arguments). It works well with three or four players and is easy to grasp, and you can finish a game in an hour. There’s plenty of replay value and a wide range of expansions. For younger players, a junior version of Catan is suitable for kids starting in kindergarten.
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4. The crew: mission deep sea (2021)

By KOSMOS

2-5 players | 20-0 mins | 10+ age

family
Replayability
High (3.98/5)
Easiness
Moderate (2.25/5)
Strategy Factor
High (3.50/5)
Interaction
High (3.83/5)
cooperative card game
"The Crew" is an engaging cooperative card game designed for 3-5 players. Each game session introduces a unique underwater mission with an intriguing backstory, where the complexity and difficulty progressively increase. Players work together to achieve mission success by completing specific tasks, yet the twist lies in the inability to discuss the cards each holds. This element adds an intriguing layer of challenge. The game is not only easy to learn and quick to play but also highly addictive, offering immense replay value.
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5. Pandemic (2008)

By Z-Man Games

2-4 players | 45-0 mins | 8+ age

family | strategy
Replayability
High (3.98/5)
Easiness
Moderate (2.25/5)
Strategy Factor
High (3.00/5)
Interaction
Moderate (2.18/5)
cooperative game for a change
Playing Pandemic may seem odd post-recent events, yet its cooperative nature shines. Players unite to combat four diseases, using unique abilities and strategizing together. Exciting and communicative, it completes in under an hour, with deeper expansions available for those who enjoy it.
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6. Cat in the box: deluxe edition (2022)

By Hobby Japan

2-5 players | 20-40 mins | 13+ age

family
Replayability
High (3.90/5)
Easiness
Moderate (2.40/5)
Strategy Factor
Moderate (2.34/5)
Interaction
High (3.58/5)
If you believe you've experienced all that trick-taking card games have to offer, Cat in the Box will make you reconsider. It features several mechanics, such as pre-play bidding on the number of tricks you anticipate winning. However, the unique aspect of this game is choosing the color of your card. Initially, it might appear complex, yet younger children familiar with card games can easily understand it due to its cleverly clear design.
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7. Micromacro: crime city (2020)

By Edition Spielwiese

1-4 players | 15-45 mins | 12+ age

family
Replayability
Very High (4.08/5)
Easiness
Moderate (2.35/5)
Strategy Factor
High (3.50/5)
Interaction
High (3.73/5)
MicroMacro: Crime City is a unique and engaging cooperative game, perfect for solo or up to four players. It's an exciting adventure where you unfold a giant city map and use a magnifying glass to search for suspects and clues, reminiscent of Where’s Waldo but with more complex crime-solving narratives. The game encourages lively discussion as you piece together mysteries, with cases varying from a quick 10 minutes to an immersive hour of gameplay. Ideal for players aged 12 and up due to mature themes in some scenarios, it may lack replayability but makes up for it with intriguing, step-by-step crime-solving. While the original game is a blast, its sequel, MicroMacro: Crime City—Full House, promises new mysteries and a fresh map to explore.
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8. The isle of cats (2019)

By The City of Games

1-4 players | 60-90 mins | 8+ age

family | strategy
Replayability
High (3.96/5)
Easiness
Moderate (2.25/5)
Strategy Factor
High (3.50/5)
Interaction
High (3.65/5)
The game involves rescuing cats and strategically placing them on your boat in a Tetris-like manner to flee the island before the villain arrives. Luring them requires fish, and the game is enriched with numerous cards that introduce various strategic elements. Initially, it might seem quite complex, but it becomes clearer after playing a few rounds. We found the complete version more enjoyable than the simpler rules, although the scoring system is a bit intricate. Be prepared to dedicate a few hours to fully engage in this game.
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9. Wingspan (2019)

By Stonemaier Games

1-5 players | 40-70 mins | 10+ age

family | strategy
Replayability
Very High (4.00/5)
Easiness
Moderate (2.25/5)
Strategy Factor
High (3.34/5)
Interaction
High (3.80/5)
This game stands at the top of nature-themed board games and is perfect for bird enthusiasts. It skillfully combines genuine information about various bird species, their habitats, and characteristics with a significant level of strategic gameplay. Initially, it might come across as complex, so it takes a few games to fully grasp it, and it might be challenging for younger children. However, once you get the hang of it, the game becomes incredibly addictive. It's versatile, offering a great experience for different player counts, including the option to play solo.
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10. Port royal (2014)

By Pegasus Spiele

2-5 players | 20-50 mins | 8+ age

family
Replayability
Very High (4.00/5)
Easiness
Moderate (2.40/5)
Strategy Factor
Moderate (2.84/5)
Interaction
High (3.78/5)
In this game, you take on the role of merchants vying for influence in the Caribbean. Your journey involves accumulating wealth, assembling a crew, embarking on expeditions, and seizing ships. The base game includes a 120-card deck with beautiful artwork and is straightforward to learn. The real excitement lies in deciding when to stop drawing cards, as pushing your luck too far could cost you the round. The variety of cards allows for multiple strategies, and children as young as 7 or 8 can easily understand and enjoy the game.
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11. Ticket to ride (2004)

By Days of Wonder

2-5 players | 30-60 mins | 8+ age

family
Replayability
High (3.95/5)
Easiness
Moderate (2.40/5)
Strategy Factor
High (3.50/5)
Interaction
Low (1.83/5)
Short Fun Game
Ticket to Ride charms with its classic steam engine theme and offers rules simple enough for even young children to grasp, making it an excellent gateway to more intricate board games. Developed by the esteemed Days of Wonder, this German-style game invites players to compete in laying down vibrant plastic rail cars across an expansive map of the US and Canada. Players use cards to secure various railway routes, with additional points awarded for linking specific cities. The game's European variant introduces new elements like ferries and tunnels, enhancing gameplay, and numerous expansions are available to keep the adventure fresh.
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12. The chameleon (2017)

By Big Potato Games

3-8 players | 15-0 mins | 14+ age

party
Replayability
High (3.95/5)
Easiness
Moderate (2.40/5)
Strategy Factor
Very High (4.34/5)
Interaction
High (3.75/5)
Game to Bluff
In this engaging party game, players are dealt a topic card containing 16 words, with a roll of the dice determining the word in focus. Among the players, one receives the Chameleon card, tasking them with blending in without knowing the selected word. Each participant must then say a word related to the chosen one, leading to a round of voting aimed at identifying the Chameleon. This game is a hit for quick, entertaining gatherings of up to eight players, often leaving children in fits of laughter. Although playable with three, it truly shines with a larger group, ideally six or seven players. Some of the topics may pose challenges for younger participants, but the game allows for the creation of custom topic cards. This game mirrors the social deduction aspects found in Werewolf, where players must also deduce who among them is not who they claim to be, blending strategy with deception and deduction.
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