35 Best Family Board Games (2025): Catan, Ticket to Ride, Codenames

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The great outdoors has plenty to offer, but there are times when you’re stuck inside for one reason or another. Family board games are a fun way to gather everyone around the table to engage in group escapism. It’s good to take a break from screens now and then.

My family has had a board game night most weeks for several years now, and we’ve discovered some great games. These are our favorite games, selected with the help of my two kids, now aged 13 and 16 (they were 8 and 11 when I first wrote this guide). We didn’t include board game classics you probably know all about (or own), like Clue, Monopoly, Connect 4, Scrabble, Operation, Chutes and Ladders, Battleship, Jenga, Guess Who, Pictionary, Uno, and Risk.

Updated November 2025: We've added Nature and removed some unavailable games.

Watch videos on YouTube to learn how to play: You can appoint someone to read the rules, but most folks will tune out after a few sentences. Videos allow everyone to learn visually, and you can usually find one for your chosen game on YouTube.

Prepare snacks in advance: People get hangry, and it can be frustrating if someone has to go on a snack run in the middle of a game. Set up your snacks before you start.

Pick a themed soundtrack: Some of the best family board games, like Mysterium, have a companion soundtrack you can find online, and it helps to set the mood and get folks immersed. If your chosen game doesn’t have a soundtrack, find a fitting playlist, or just go for gentle instrumental music (we often play movie soundtracks).

Make sure everyone has a good view: If you’re lucky enough to have a big dining table, that’s the best place to play games because everyone can sit in a chair and see the board in the middle. This is trickier in a living room, but do your best to ensure everyo

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