Facebook
When you shop through links on our site, we may receive compensation. This educational content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice.

Best Preschool Board Games of 2023

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

Games offer benefits for children of all ages, especially preschoolers. You want to teach cooperation at this age — learning to take turns and playing nice with others. Board games are fantastic for this as several people can play, and parents can have fun, too.

When starting your search, the vast range of games available will hit you. So, how do you go about finding the best board games for preschoolers? That’s what we’re here for.

We went by personal experience, parent reviews, and looked for those that all the family found fun. Then we narrowed our picks down to the top 25.

Our Top Picks

We independently research, assess and evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on the links we provide, we may receive compensation.
Image
Model
Product Comparison Table
Features

Product Image of the Orchard Toys Shopping List
Best Board Game Overall
Orchard Toys Shopping List
  • Enhance memory skills
  • Develop social skills
  • Educational Game
Product Image of the Educational Insights Game
Best for Learning Colors
Educational Insights Game
  • Develop strategic thinking
  • Develop motor Skills
  • educational Game
Product Image of the ThinkFun Zingo Bingo
Best Bingo Game
ThinkFun Zingo Bingo
  • Develop critical skills
  • Builds language skills
  • Easy to learn
Product Image of the Wonder Forge Richard
Best Busytown Board Game
Wonder Forge Richard
  • Encourages teamwork
  • Builds confidence
  • Reinforces matching skills
Product Image of the Peaceable Kingdom Hoot Owl Hoot
Best Color-Matching Game
Peaceable Kingdom Hoot Owl Hoot
  • Cultivate emotional development
  • Creative problem solving
  • Cooperative game
Product Image of the Ravensburger Snail's Pace
Best Racing Board Game
Ravensburger Snail's Pace
  • Noncompetitive play
  • Cooperative Game
  • Cultivates patience
Product Image of the Sequence for Kids Game
Best Sequence Game
Sequence for Kids Game
  • Develop logical thinking
  • Develop strategy-building skills
  • Easy to understand
Product Image of the The Yoga Garden Game
Best With Parents
The Yoga Garden Game
  • Cooperative game
  • Enhances imagination
  • Easy to play
Product Image of the Hasbro Gaming Candy Land
Best Candy-Inspired Game
Hasbro Gaming Candy Land
  • Teaches color recognition
  • No reading required
  • Fun illustrations
Product Image of the Chutes & Ladders Board Game
Best Basic Number Game
Chutes & Ladders Board Game
  • Develop counting skills
  • No reading required
  • Classic game


The Best Board Games for Preschoolers of 2023

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 is a blast. The game is suitable for preschoolers aged 3 to 7 years.

In the game, 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 percent 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 they should pick. Then, they 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 among parents. 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. In the box are clear instructions explaining the game.

It puts a fun twist on Bingo by including a Zinger dispenser, which distributes cards for the players to match on their board. Once one 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, taking turns 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

Ravensburger Snail's Pace Race Game

Best Racing Board Game for Preschoolers

The Snail’s Pace Race is great for teaching team building and cooperation skills before attending school. Players must work to get the snails across the board to their respective colors. Each player can move any colored snail by rolling the color dice.

Rules are simple and easy to understand, plus the wooden snails are solid, so even excited children can join in. Completing the game will take around 15 minutes, a good duration for ages 3 and up.

The board and snails include bright colors that will delight children and fun-loving adults. Ravensburger received a Golden Seal award for this game, suggesting it’s well worth a look.

Product Specs

Time to Play 15 minutes
Number of Players Two to six
Minimum Age Three 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. The dragon, however, removes one of the opponent’s chips.

Product Specs

Time to Play N/A
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 children.

Much like other preschool board games, this one focuses on building team working 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 perhaps 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 is putting 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. 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 as well as fun Hasbro characters.

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, 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 don’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 hat 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. 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, at the same time, they get to build on the city to discover every corner. There’s minimal competitiveness as you get to work together in different teams.

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 would love.

Each player can choose a different character — they can play as a villain or hero. You may see your child’s selection of their character change 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. Then, 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’re met with different challenges to complete, 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 Early Entomologists

If your little one loves ladybugs as much as mine do, then they’ll love this game too. Before we get into details, 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 Treasure Hunt-Inspired 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, down to 3 years of age, 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 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 one who has all the five-course meal pieces first 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 — combine the two, and you’ve got a winner. The Orchard Game does that. It’s suitable for ages 3 to 6 years.

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 — 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 play as — Cinderella, Rapunzel, and Ariel.

Throughout the game, there are cards to guide players, and the one who reaches the castle first wins. There are 44 cards and easy-to-follow instructions.

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 buttons, they’ll likely adore this game.

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.

Requiring great hand-coordination skills, your little one’s aim is to prevent touching the sides of the operation while still aiming for the goal of alleviating ailments of Cavity Sam. 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, use a bug card to go back.

In the package are clear instructions to get your preschooler ready to play. The game seems to be fun, interesting, and appropriately challenging.

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
Ravensburger Snail’s Pace Racing Board Game 15 mins 2 to 6 3 years
Sequence for Kids Game Sequence Game N/A 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 iPads, Wii, and other digital gadgets, we all loved sitting down with our parents 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:

  • Opportunities for early learning: Board games include lots of counting and 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 them 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.
  • Anxiety soothing: Because of the structure of board games, children who find it challenging to communicate can benefit. They know what’s expected of them, which helps them express themselves better.
  • Teamwork building: 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. You might already have an old favorite in mind, but they may hate it. 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 children of younger ages soon become boring.
  • Consider their interests: Whether your youngster 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. So, avoid games that take too long, unless you know they can handle it. Generally, 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, too.

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.

It’s Family Fun Night

Board games have been around for centuries — it’s an ancient idea, reinvented millions of times. Such games have immense benefits for all ages. They promote early education, teach how to be a good loser, teamwork, patience, and even anxiety soothing.

When looking for the best board games for preschoolers, consider their interests, their age, and level of maturity. If they tend to put items in their mouths, don’t let them play unattended. Also, don’t forget to pick something you find enjoyable so that you can join them in the fun.

Feedback: Was This Article Helpful?
Thank You For Your Feedback!
Thank You For Your Feedback!
What Did You Like?
What Went Wrong?
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.