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25 Best Board Games for Preschoolers of 2024

Updated
These preschooler- and parent-approved board games are sure to be a hit!

If you’re looking for a new board game for your preschool, you’ve probably already discovered that there are hundreds of options on the market. But preschoolers tend to be choosy kids. Just because a game is marketed to this age range does not mean that your preschooler is guaranteed to love it.

We spent many family game nights testing and evaluating countless products with our preschoolers, comparing features such as fun factor, skill-building aspects, educational value, and level of social interaction. Then we narrowed our picks down to the top 25.

Spice up your family game nights with one — or several — of these best preschool board games.

Our Top Picks

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Best Board Game Overall: Orchard Toys Shopping List
  • Enhance memory skills
  • Develop social skills
  • Educational Game
Best for Learning Colors: Educational Insights Game
  • Develop strategic thinking
  • Develop motor Skills
  • educational Game
Best Bingo Game: ThinkFun Zingo Bingo
  • Develop critical skills
  • Builds language skills
  • Easy to learn
Best Busytown Board Game: Wonder Forge Richard
  • Encourages teamwork
  • Builds confidence
  • Reinforces matching skills
Best Color-Matching Game: Peaceable Kingdom Hoot Owl Hoot
  • Cultivate emotional development
  • Creative problem solving
  • Cooperative game
Best Silly Board Game: PlayMonster Yeti in My Spaghetti
  • Quick and easy to play
  • Fun for all ages
  • Easy to set up and put away
Best Sequence Game: Sequence for Kids Game
  • Develop logical thinking
  • Develop strategy-building skills
  • Easy to understand
Best With Parents: The Yoga Garden Game
  • Cooperative game
  • Enhances imagination
  • Easy to play
Best Candy-Inspired Game: Hasbro Gaming Candy Land
  • Teaches color recognition
  • No reading required
  • Fun illustrations
Best Basic Number Game: Chutes & Ladders Board Game
  • Develop counting skills
  • No reading required
  • Classic game


Product Reviews

Here are 25 cool, fun, and exciting board games for preschoolers.

Orchard Toys Shopping List

Best Board Game Overall

The Toys Shopping List game by Orchard has received stellar reviews from parents and kids alike, and it’s been a favorite of our kids. The game is suitable for preschoolers aged 3 to 7 years.

Players must exercise their memory skills by collecting all the items on their shopping list. The one who finishes first wins. In the package, there are four grocery lists, two shopping baskets, two carts, and grocery cards.

Orchard made the game from 100% recycled cardboard material with a smooth finish that’s easy to keep clean.

Product Specs

Time to Play N/A
Number of Players Two to four
Minimum Age Three years

Educational Insights The Sneaky, Snacky Squirrel

Best Board Game for Learning Colors

If you’re looking for a fun, educational game, The Sneaky, Snacky Squirrel is ideal. It puts a fun spin on color recognition, math, and sorting skills.

To play the game, children must turn the spinner to see which color to pick. They then use the squirrel squeezer to place the matching acorn in the correct log. Users can choose to pick, steal, and even lose an acorn to another player.

Although it’s suitable for 3 years and up, the acorns are quite small. Because of this, don’t let young children play unattended.

Product Specs

Time to Play N/A
Number of Players Two to four
Minimum Age Three years

ThinkFun Zingo Bingo

Best Bingo Game for Preschoolers

This preschool-friendly take on Bingo is a favorite. The game is advertised for pre- to early readers and will exercise language and matching skills.

Up to seven people can play, trying to match the cards. The box contains clear instructions explaining the game.

The Zinger dispenser adds a fun twist to this Bingo game, distributing cards for the players to match on their board. When a board is complete, the player must yell “Zingo” to declare victory.

Product Specs

Time to Play N/A
Number of Players Two to seven
Minimum Age Four years

Wonder Forge Richard Scarry's Busytown

Best Busytown Board Game

Calling all fans of Busytown, this board game is a great pick for you — I mean, your preschooler. It’s an Eye-Found-It game with a 6-foot board full of lovable characters going about their busy lives.

Your preschooler must cooperate with other players as they race through the town to find the hidden objects. Spin the spinner, and every time it lands on Goldbug, players have to work together to search the entire board.

Product Specs

Time to Play N/A
Number of Players Two to four
Minimum Age Three years

Peaceable Kingdom Hoot Owl Hoot

Best Color-Matching Board Game

Hoot Owl Hoot is fantastic for those who want to incorporate a matching game into a board game. The set includes colors and matching, great for pre-readers who are getting ready for school.

With the Hoot Owl Hoot board game, your preschoolers must cooperate to help the little owls find their nest before sunrise. The game doesn’t pit players against each other — instead, everyone must work together.

Players will learn simple strategies, turn-taking, and following directions. There are two levels of play, allowing the game to grow with your child. Included are the instructions for both versions.

Product Specs

Time to Play N/A
Number of Players Two to four
Minimum Age Four years

PlayMonster Yeti in My Spaghetti

Best Silly Board Game for Preschoolers

This 2017 “Game of the Year” winner is sure to be a favorite. Although it’s not exactly a “board game,” since it doesn’t have a board, it’s still a fun game that’s played at a table or on the floor.

With a similar theme to the old favorite Pick Up Sticks game, Yeti in My Spaghetti is a silly game that will make your preschoolers laugh — even if they don’t win.

It’s easy for even then youngest player. Simply dump the “spaghetti noodles” on top of the bowl and balance the yeti on the noodles. Each child will take turns removing a noodle. The point is to avoid having the yeti fall into the bowl on your turn. The game is recommended for ages 4 and up, but our 3-year-olds love it too!

Product Specs

Time to Play 5 minutes
Number of Players Two or more
Minimum Age Four years

Sequence for Kids Game

Best Sequence Game for Preschoolers

This child-friendly take on Sequence is excellent for preschoolers. It’s straightforward and doesn’t require any reading.

Players must play a card and then place a chip on the correct character on the board. The first one with four in a row is the winner. This is the animal version, great for children aged 3 to 6 years.

For more excitement, there are also wild cards that players can pull. One example is the unicorn card, which allows a player to place a chip anywhere. However, the dragon removes one of the opponent’s chips.

Product Specs

Time to Play 15 minutes
Number of Players Two to four
Minimum Age Three years

The Yoga Garden Game

Best Board Game for Preschooler and Parents

The Yoga Garden Game puts all the focus on yoga. The creator of the game is Jennifer Durand, a yoga teacher from San Francisco, who specializes in teaching yoga to children.

Much like other preschool board games, this one focuses on building teamwork skills by having players cooperate. As they move the bumblebee around the board, they learn about yoga poses and associated animals and plants.

Included in the bundle is a straightforward rule book. The illustrations are stunning and soothing, but some boys may dub it as too girly.

Product Specs

Time to Play N/A
Number of Players N/A
Minimum Age Four years

Hasbro Gaming Candy Land Kingdom Of Sweet Adventures

Best Candy-Inspired Board Game for Preschoolers

The Candy Land Kingdom of Sweet Adventures is a reinvention of the classic many of us played as kids. It’s an excellent, fun introduction to board games since it includes colors and candy.

Players must race to the castle to find King Kandy, who has been kidnapped. The cards will tell players where to move their gingerbread man on the board. Reading isn’t a requirement — each card shows a color, indicating their next move.

Parents love how easy the game is to play. The pieces are plastic, and up to four players can join in.

Product Specs

Time to Play N/A
Number of Players Two to four
Minimum Age Three years

Chutes and Ladders Board Game

Best Basic Number Board Game

We all remember the Chutes and Ladders game. Hasbro puts a preschooler-friendly touch on it by using vibrant colors and fun characters.

It’s all about reaching the 100 square. Players must spin the spinner for their next move, but watch out for those slides. Along the way, your child can practice number recognition and get a bit competitive.

This is one of those games where everyone wants to join in. Still, a few parents say that young children might have trouble concentrating for a whole game or may need assistance counting forward or backward — especially with the higher numbers. This suggests it’s better suited for older preschoolers.

Product Specs

Time to Play N/A
Number of Players Two to four
Minimum Age Three years

Hasbro Hi Ho! Cherry-O Board Game

Best Board Game for Teaching Math Skills

Hasbro’s Hi Ho Cherry-O game is an opportunity for hours of entertainment while sneaking in some math. It’s all about picking fruit and placing it in your basket. During the fun, players will count, add, and subtract — wonderful for developing math skills.

It’s quite interactive since there are various fruits to pick, touch, and then place gently. There are blueberries, apples, oranges, and cherries, and the fun Hasbro characters make the game more endearing.

Product Specs

Time to Play N/A
Number of Players Two to four
Minimum Age Three years

Ravensburger World of Disney Eye Found It

Best Disney-Inspired Board Game

Eye Found It games are awesome for the preschool age, and this Disney-inspired version is simply amazing. The game board measures 6 feet long, which means there’s a lot to discover.

We’re in love with this game. It takes you through various Disney realms. With more than 1,000 treasures to discover, you can play several times without getting bored.

During your race to Cinderella’s castle, you have to flip the Search Cards, which tell you what to look for. Players can help each other get to the finish line before midnight (the game’s version of midnight — you and your child won’t have to miss your bedtimes to play this game).

Product Specs

Time to Play 15 minutes
Number of Players Two to three
Minimum Age Four years

Outfoxed! Gamewright Board Game

Best Investigative Board Game for Preschoolers

In the Outfoxed! game, players must put their investigator hats on to solve the ongoing mystery. The case revolves around Mrs. Plumpert’s pot pie that has suddenly vanished, and now players must crack the whodunit.

During the game, players will find new clues that they must use to solve the case. However, they’re fighting against the clock as the guilty fox is rushing toward the exit. If they don’t crack the case, they’re “Outfoxed.”

Outfoxed is suitable for ages 5 years and up, but even our younger preschoolers love it. It’s great for game night, and we’re positive parents will love it too.

Product Specs

Time to Play 20 to 30 minutes
Number of Players Two to four
Minimum Age Five years

Carcassonne Board Game

Best Board Game for Older Preschoolers

If you want to get your preschooler interested in geographical sites, Carcassonne is a winner. With this board game, they get to discover the fortified city one tile at a time.

Players have to build and claim roads, monasteries, and fields while building onto the city to discover every corner. There’s minimal competition as you get to work together in different teams. Although this game is recommended for children ages 8 and up, our younger kids enjoy it too.

Product Specs

Time to Play 20 minutes
Number of Players Two to five
Minimum Age Eight years

Hasbro Gaming Marvel Spider-Man Web Warriors

Best Spider-Man Board Game

Here’s another Chutes and Ladders game but with a Spidey twist. This one is all decked out in Spider-Man attire, something my little one adores.

Each player can choose a different character — they can play as a villain or hero. We discovered that our children’s character selection changes with their moods.

Players will spin the spinner and get ready to race to the 100 square. When you land on a ladder, you get to skip a few steps ahead of the others. Watch out, though — those chutes bring you right back.

Product Specs

Time to Play 20 minutes
Number of Players Two to four
Minimum Age Three years

Peaceable Kingdom Dinosaur Escape

Best Board Game for Dinosaur-Loving Preschoolers

For dinosaur-loving children, we found a game that’s a roaring good time. Dinosaur Escape is about helping yourself and other players flee the rumbling Jurassic Island before the volcano erupts. It touches on logic, memory, and a little bit of luck.

Players must cooperate to move the dinosaurs around the course. They’ll uncover dinosaurs under the tokens and get them to safety to complete the game. The game is for ages 3 and up.

Product Specs

Time to Play N/A
Number of Players Two to four
Minimum Age Three years

Pete The Cat — The Missing Cupcakes

Best Get-Up-and-Move Board Game

Pete the Cat’s cupcakes are missing, and the players will help retrieve them from Grumpy Toad. During the game, you need to complete different challenges, such as singing, dancing, or identifying an object or animal. It’s fantastic if you want to incorporate some physical activity into game night without having to turn on the Wii.

There are 14 cupcakes to bring back from Grumpy Toad’s tray, as he stole them all from Pete’s birthday table. Spin the spinner to know your next move. Up to four players can play, and there are 20 birthday present cards with various activities.

Product Specs

Time to Play N/A
Number of Players Two to four
Minimum Age Three years

The Ladybug Game

Best Board Game for Bug Lovers

If your little one loves ladybugs as much as mine do, then they’ll love this game too. We love that the creator of the game is a first-grader named Kylie Copenhagen, and she did an amazing job. It’s an award-winning game, voted by the Parent’s Choice Foundation as one of the best board games for kids.

The Ladybug Game takes children through a magical board to bring Ladybug home to the Rose Garden. The board is large, with vibrant colors and cute bugs hiding in the grass. It’s straightforward, so children will even be able to play independently with friends.

Product Specs

Time to Play 20 minutes
Number of Players Two to four
Minimum Age Three years

Gotrovo Treasure Hunt Game

Best Preschool Scavenger Hunt Game

Family Treasure Hunt is an award-winning game that takes your youngster on a pirate scavenger hunt. It’s suitable for the whole family, from 3 years of age and up, and it’s one you can play repeatedly.

You can play anytime, anywhere, even outside for more fun. Players have to follow the trails that can change with every game to find the gold coins. There are 100 clue cards to solve with either pictures, riddles, or words.

Product Specs

Time to Play N/A
Number of Players One and more
Minimum Age Three years

Frankie's Food Truck Fiasco Game

Best Matching Board Game for Preschoolers

In this game by Educational Insights, children get to play Frankie the food-delivering cat. He must deliver all the food without being sabotaged by pesky flies or greedy guests.

Players must use the Frankie squeezer to collect items that match the corresponding shapes. The first player with all the five-course meal pieces wins. The game lets your little one practice fine motor skills, math, and shape recognition.

Product Specs

Time to Play N/A
Number of Players Two to four
Minimum Age Four years

HABA Orchard Game

Best Jigsaw Board Game

Both jigsaws and board games are fun for kids of all ages. Combine the two, and you’ve got a winner. The Orchard Game, which is suitable for children ages 3 to 6 years does just that.

In the game, children must pick the fruit before the hungry raven steals it. However, they have to be quick and get all the pieces before the raven jigsaw is complete. If they finish before the jigsaw, they win.

It’s an excellent game for kids and adults, and up to eight people can play, making it great for game night. It requires some thinking, though it’s still considered a beginner’s game.

Product Specs

Time to Play N/A
Number of Players Two to eight
Minimum Age Three years

Candy Land Disney Princess Edition

Best Board Game for Girls

Here we have a Disney Princess version of the popular game, Candy Land. The package includes three characters that players can choose to be — Cinderella, Rapunzel, and Ariel.

Throughout the game, there are cards to guide the players, and the one who reaches the castle first wins. With 44 cards and easy-to-follow instructions, this is sure to become your preschooler’s favorite princess game.

Product Specs

Time to Play N/A
Number of Players Two to three
Minimum Age Three years

Pete the Cat Groovy Buttons Game

Best Pete the Cat Board Game

Whether your little one loves Pete the Cat or easy-to-play spinner games, they’ll likely adore this option.

Children must collect all the buttons to win. But, it isn’t as easy as it may seem.

Players can take buttons from each other or collect them from the pile. Once the pile is empty, the player with the most buttons wins.

It’s a fun game full of colors, counting, and decision making. The game is suitable for ages 3 and up.

Product Specs

Time to Play N/A
Number of Players Two to four
Minimum Age Three years

Hasbro Operation Electronic Board Game

Best Board Game for Future Physician

Let your little ones practice the art of medicine as they help Cavity Sam feel better. The game is fully cooperative and challenging at the same time as players work together in the entire game.

The game requires great hand-coordination skills, as your little one’s aim is to prevent touching the sides of each cavity while alleviating Cavity Sam’s ailments. The board is simplistic yet intriguing for preschoolers.

Product Specs

Time to Play N/A
Number of Players Two to four
Minimum Age Four years

ThinkFun Robot Turtles Board Game

Best Introduction to Programming Board Game

If you want to introduce your youngster to the world of programming and coding, you might like this game. The Robot Turtles board game is all about getting the turtle to the jewel for the win. To get there, players must interpret code cards. If they make a wrong move, they’ll have to use a bug card to go back.

In the package are clear instructions to get your preschooler ready to play. This unique game is fun, interesting, and appropriately challenging and addresses skills you don’t see often in other board games.

Product Specs

Time to Play N/A
Number of Players Two to five
Minimum Age Four years

Product Comparison Chart

Product Best Play Time No. of Players Minimum Age
Orchard Toys Shopping List Overall Choice N/A 2 to 4 3 years
Educational Insights Learning Colors N/A 2 to 4 3 years
ThinkFun Zingo Bingo Bingo Game N/A 2 to 7 4 years
Wonder Forge Richard Busytown Game N/A 2 to 4 3 years
Peaceable Kingdom Hoot Owl Hoot Color-Matching Game N/A 2 to 4 4 years
Yeti in My Spaghetti Silly Board Game 5 mins 2 and up 4 years
Sequence for Kids Game Sequence Game 15 mins 2 to 4 3 years
The Yoga Garden Game With Parents N/A N/A 4 years
Hasbro Gaming Candy Land Candy-Inspired N/A 2 to 4 3 years
Chutes and Ladders Board Game Basic Number Game N/A 2 to 4 3 years
Hasbro Hi Ho! Cherry-O Teaching Math Skills N/A 2 to 4 3 years
Ravensburger Eye Found It Disney-Inspired 15 mins 2 to 3 4 years
Outfoxed! Gamewright Game Investigative Game 20 to 30 mins 2 to 4 5 years
Carcassonne Board Game Older Preschoolers 20 mins 2 to 5 8 years
Hasbro Gaming Web Warriors Spider-Man Game 20 mins 2 to 4 3 years
Peaceable Kingdom Dinosaur Escape Dinosaur-Loving Preschoolers N/A 2 to 4 3 years
Pete The Cat The Missing Cupcakes Get-Up-and-Move Game N/A 2 to 4 3 years
The Ladybug Game Early Entomologists 20 mins 2 to 4 3 years
Gotrovo Treasure Hunt Game Treasure Hunt-Inspired N/A 1 or more 3 years
Frankie’s Food Truck Fiasco Game Matching Board Game N/A 2 to 4 4 years
HABA Orchard Game Jigsaw Board Game N/A 2 to 8 3 years
Candy Land Disney Princess Edition Girls N/A 2 to 3 3 years
Pete the Cat Groovy Buttons Game Pete the Cat Game N/A 2 to 4 3 years
Operation Electronic Board Game For Future Physician N/A 2 to 4 4 years
ThinkFun Robot Turtles Board Game Introduction to Programming N/A 2 to 5 4 years

Benefits of Board Games for Preschooler

Before the iPad, Playstation, and other digital gadgets, we all loved sitting down with family and playing a game of Chutes and Ladders. It was a Friday night must or a lazy Sunday go-to.

Not only are board games fun, but they’re also beneficial for children’s development (1). Here are a few examples of the benefits of board games:

  • Opportunities for early learning: Board games include lots of counting, identifying, and other skills. These are all within the category of early education, which benefits your preschooler immensely.
  • Language skill boosters: Children will talk, get competitive, explain strategies, feel emotions, and so on. This, while they also listen to other players, expands their language.
  • Teaches about losing: Being a good loser is an essential skill to have, and board games are excellent teachers. You can’t win every time, so if you show your kids ways to cope with the subsequent feelings, they’ll soon catch on. Remember to encourage them to try again.
  • Sharpen focus: When you play a board game without interruptions, it can work to expand your child’s attention span.
  • Sooth anxiety: Because of the structure of board games, they benefit children who find it challenging to communicate. They know what’s expected of them, which helps them express themselves better.
  • Build teamwork: Being able to work in a team is crucial. Many board games for preschoolers call for players to cooperate to win. This also exercises their social skills.

How to Choose Board Games for Preschoolers

Choosing the best board games for your preschooler can become a headache. Kids don’t always like the games we expect them to like. Here are some tips to help you out:

  • Age-appropriateness: Looking at the recommended age is essential. Games for older kids are likely to be too advanced and include small pieces, which could become a choking hazard (2). Games designed for younger children may soon become boring.
  • Consider their interests: Whether your child is into dolls or loves a good toy car, you can find a suitable board game. Choosing something of interest will increase the chances of it being a success.
  • Mind the playing time: A preschooler’s attention span isn’t as advanced as an adult’s. Avoid games that take too long unless you know they can handle it. It’s a good idea to stick to 15 to 30 minutes per game.
  • The fun level for parents: You’ll probably have to play the game with your child. Find something you feel is fun. Then you can enjoy the experience, which ultimately makes it more enjoyable for them.

Keep Safety In Mind

Before purchasing, look at the pictures of the board game. If there are small pieces, don’t let your preschooler play unattended.

Preschoolers Board Games FAQs

What is the Easiest Board Game to Play?

Simple board games like Candy Land or Chutes and Ladders are easy and ideal for preschoolers, as they teach basic counting and color recognition.

What Board Games Teach Kids About Money?

Games like Monopoly Junior can introduce basic money concepts to preschoolers in a fun, accessible way.

What is the Most Common Card Game for Kids?

Go Fish and Old Maid are popular and easy-to-understand card games for kids, helping with memory and matching skills.

What Board Games Teach Kids Math?

Games like Hi Ho! Cherry-O is excellent for teaching basic math skills like addition and subtraction.

What Do Preschoolers Learn By Playing Board Games?

Preschoolers learn turn-taking, following rules, basic counting, and sometimes even early literacy skills through board games.

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Headshot of Shannon Serpette

Edited by

Shannon Serpette

Shannon Serpette is an award-winning writer and editor, who regularly contributes to various newspapers, magazines, and websites. Shannon has been featured on Insider, Fatherly, SheKnows, and other high profile publications. As a mother of two, she loves to write about parenting issues and is dedicated to educating other parents at every stage of their child's development.