How to Pick a Board Game by Age
The age on the box is the quickest way to tell whether a game will land. Here is what those numbers mean and which of our games fit each stage, from first turns to teen game nights.
What the age on the box tells you
Every game we make carries an age grade, such as 3+, 6+ or 8+. It reflects three things: whether the game has small parts, how much reading and counting it asks for, and how long a player has to wait and plan. The first one is a safety matter. Many games include small pieces, dice or marbles that are a choking hazard, so anything graded 3+ or higher is not for children under 3. The other two are about fun. A child can often play a little above their age with help, but a game far above it usually ends in frustration.
Ages 3 and up: first turns
At this age the real lesson is waiting for your turn. Pick games with no reading and almost no rules. In Candy Land you draw a color and move to it. In Chutes and Ladders you spin and count. Don't Break the Ice and Hungry Hungry Hippos add something physical to do, which helps a wiggly player stay at the table. You will find them all on the preschool shelf.
Ages 6 and up: real choices
Around 6, kids are ready to make decisions that matter. Connect 4 and Guess Who? are two-player games with simple logic. Sorry! and Trouble add the thrill of sending someone back to start. Operation and Mouse Trap reward steady hands. The Junior versions of Monopoly, Clue and Scrabble start at age 5 and are a good bridge to the full games. Browse the family classics for most of these.
Ages 8 and up: the big boxes
Eight is when the famous games open up. A player who can read cards and handle money is ready for Monopoly, Clue, The Game of Life and Scrabble. These games run longer, often 45 minutes or more, so check that everyone has the patience for it. Quick card games such as Monopoly Deal and 5 Alive are a good fallback on a school night.
Teens and adults
Older players want either a challenge or a laugh. For the first, look at the strategy shelf: Risk from age 10, Betrayal at House on the Hill from 12, HeroQuest from 14. For the second, team games like Taboo and Scattergories are graded 13+, and several card games on the party shelf are for adults only.
Three quick checks before you choose
- Go by the youngest player. A game everyone can play beats a better game one person has to sit out.
- Match the length to the evening. Fifteen minutes for a weeknight, an hour or more for a weekend.
- Count the chairs. Some games are strictly for two, and others need four or more to work.
Still deciding? Open all games and use the age filter to see only the boxes that fit.
