Need an idea for your next Family Fun Night? Here’s a list of board games for your little genius to make learning lots of FUN!
All of these games are easy to play, but pack a punch of educational value by using strategy, observation, and other mind-bending processes along your child’s route to the win.
These board games would also be great choices to keep your kids learning through summer vacation. They’re great boredom busters and excellent choices for birthdays, too.
8 Board Games for Your Genius
Your next Family Fun Night can be FUN and Educational, too! Here are a few of our go-to Family Favorites:
#1 Qwirkle Board Game
2 to 4 players
Ages: 6 and up
Hands down, this is our family’s all-time favorite. From the countless awards, apparently it’s a family favorite for many others as well.
Though the game seems simple enough–matching shapes or colors–it’s really about strategy and finding a way to score your highest without giving your opponent a chance to score even higher.
But that’s why it’s such a great board game. The matching concept makes it easy enough for the younger ones, while the strategy keeps it competitive enough for the older crowd.
#2 Mastermind
2 players
Ages 8 and up
Mastermind is another great one. Though it’s only for 2 players, it’s a fun game of reasoning, where the opponent has only a few chances to figure out the pattern (secret code) to win.
#3 Battleship
2 Players
Ages 7 and Up
If you’ve ever played this classic, then you get the Mastermind idea. Same concept, except with Battleship you’re using coordinates to guide your moves.
#4 Apples to Apples Family
Ages 8 and Up
4-6 players
Need a night of laughter? This game will do it!
It’s a great game for nights when you just want to sit around and enjoy time with your loved ones.
There are several versions to this one, but my son received the family edition for his birthday one year. [Again, these board games make great birthday gifts!] We like to play the family version because it’s topics are relevant for all ages.
I’m listing this one as a go-to for Board Games for Your Genius because it gives everyone an opportunity to think outside the box and get creative.
#5 Pay Day
2 to 4 Players
Ages 8 and Up
My husband still had this one when we married, so our version is a little outdated, but still it’s loads of fun. The game cycles through a month where players pay bills, make deals, and work with Savings and Loans.
It’s a wonderful way to practice money skills and budgeting, and doesn’t take that long to play, either.
#6 Rush Hour
Single Player
Ages 8 and Up
My boys love this game and I like that it’s versatile–can be played alone or with others.
Like Qwirkle, it’s an award-winning classic that requires a lot of thinking. The game uses cards that are leveled from beginner to expert that set up a traffic jam using colorful cars and trucks.
The red escape car must maneuver through the traffic jam by shifting cars and trucks around the board to the only exit on the other side.
There is also a Rush Hour Junior
#7 Timing It Right
2 to 4 players
Ages 7 and Up
I bought this game for my third graders years ago when I taught school and used it as a review in the math center in our classroom. Elementary school aged kids love it and it’s a wonderful way to review telling time.
However, it goes way beyond the basics. Each player not only match analog and digital clocks, but also check time zones and follow other time-related directions. You’ll be surprised at how quick kids will catch on to this one and how easy and fun it is to play.
#8 Guess Who?
2 players
Ages 6 and Up
This game is all about the process of elimination. 
It’s a lot like the game of Clue
–minus a violent crime–but uses only familiar faces to play–and there are lots of them to choose from.
Note: Clue happened to be my favorite game as a kid, but you can choose Clue Junior
What about you?
What’s your go-to board game for Family Game Night? Share your ideas with us.
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Popped over the check out your site–very nice 🙂 Our favorite games are Mouse Trap, Clue and we like the logic games similar to Rush Hour–thanks for the reminder I think I will get those out today. BTW, great image. Sharing! ~Sheila
thanks, Sheila, for the kind words about Written Reality and thanks for sharing, too!
This is such a great idea! I love that you shared your favorite board games with us. I haven’t played even half of these, but they sound like so much fun! Have you ever play Triopoly?
Never even heard of Triopoly–I’m adding it to my list, Thanks!
LOVE Mastermind and Rush Hour and have been considering purchasing Qwirkle. Sounds fun! The fact that it’s your family favorite sells me on it even more. Thanks for linking up!
Qwirkle is a must-have! Thanks, Erica 🙂
What a fabulous list of games! Family game night is a favorite with our family and even though my littles are too little for most of these, I can’t wait until we grow into them! Thanks for sharing on Makeovers & Motherhood’s Welcome Party Wednesday Link-Up! Featuring this week. Pinned too!
We have a lot of Apples to Apples fans in our house! (And even younger ones can play if you read the cards to them.)
We have Mastermind sitting in the game closet – thanks for the reminder – I think I’ll pull it out for the breakfast table, this morning 🙂
Qwirkle is a lot of fun. Thanks for sharing. Hello from Welcome Party Wednesday!