2025 Board Game Gift Guide

We love giving board game gifts.

Board games encourage us to connect with each other, stretch our minds, and practice important skills. And of course, if you give a board game as a gift, you might get to play it with the recipient! Every year, we compile a list of great board games to help you find one that’s the right fit for your holiday gifts.

Click on the name of a game to buy it on Amazon with an affiliate link that helps support The Family Gamers.

We always recommend games based on our own experience. Although many of the games listed below were sent to The Family Gamers at no cost, all of our recommendations are games we are buying for our own family and friends.

Very young children are still learning to take turns and follow rules. They need games that are simple and fast, and will help them practice motor skills and matching symbols. The best choices are ones that don’t make a big deal out of one player “winning”. And of course, none of these games require reading.

Octo Grabbo (our review) is a chopsticks grabbing game with two modes: one that’s about luck and taking turns, and one that’s a frantic free-for-all as everyone tries to fill their plates. Kids love the cute octopus chopstick holders and the chance to show their skill at matching and grabbing. Get it directly from Chip Theory Games, or at your local game store.

Dragomino (our review) is a kid-friendlier take on the classic Kingdomino. Match up similar terrain types to hatch dragon eggs. Who doesn’t love cute baby dragons?

Bear in Mind (our review) is a remarkably engaging memory game. Tell stories about what Bobby Bear’s friends did, in order to remember which object tile was placed in a location. We liked playing this one, even as adults. It’s also available directly from Chip Theory Games.

My First Castle Panic (our review) is a mainstay on our lists. It encourages kids to team up and protect their castle from monsters that want to knock it down. Draw cards and match their symbols with symbols on the path to defeat the monsters and throw them in the dungeon. So easy to learn, your preschooler may start setting it up and playing it on their own – and it cleans itself up as you play!

Not quite what you’re looking for? Check out our recommended games for the youngest children.

These games take a little longer and reward practice and skill; they’re great to play with Mom or Dad to handle some reading.

Dodo (our review) is perfect for that 6 or 7-year-old who’s ready for more than just memory. Roll the die and try to find a matching tile to fill up the “planks” and build a ramp to save the dodo egg that slowly rolls down hill! This game has lots of ways to increase the difficulty as kids get older, so it won’t be outgrown right away. Plus, you’ll all marvel at the toy “dodo egg”. How does it roll so slowly?

Micro Macro Kids: Crazy City Park (our review) is a seek-and-find game building on the success of the more adult-themed Micro Macro: Crime City. This game is completely kid-friendly, with tokens to hold your place as you find objects on the large fold-out map. You may want an adult or older helper to read the instructions for each mystery. But don’t worry! The game supports the helper being part of the fun of solving the mystery, too.

Star Realms Academy (our review) is a perfect introduction to deck-building games with NO reading required. Build up your deck of ships and bases to attack your opponent before you run out of health!

Toriki: The Castaway Island (our review) lets a group of up to 4 players explore a mysterious island, with help from an interactive app. This is a great adventure for all ages, but it needs a strong reader to work through the instructions for each day. We loved it with an iPad in a stand for all to see while we played together.

Still looking for more? Check out our top ten games for six year olds and our theme-based guide for kids ages 7-10.

These more “grown-up” games require reading skills, longer attention spans, and an openness to strategy. They’re appropriate for both younger readers, and for adults who appreciate a less challenging game.

Disney Lorcana: Gateway (our review) is an excellent introduction to the collectible card game Lorcana, slowly unfolding the rules over several games until both players can build their own decks from booster packs – or stick with the decks that come with the game. Lorcana has been a smash hit, with new packs being released regularly; so if your recipient loves it, there are endless opportunities to expand.

Little Alchemists (our review) can be played by children as young as 6; it’s designed to slowly add more decisions and deduction in a way that won’t feel overwhelming. But it really shines at the higher difficulty levels for older kids. This game also requires an app, but you’ll be handing the device to each player on their turn.

10 Days in the USA isn’t your average educational game. This family classic is easy to learn: try to put ten cards in order so that each one is connected to the ones before and after (geographically or using airplanes), to construct a trip across the country. We’ve been playing 10 Days in the USA for a decade, but the current version published by The Op is much prettier than the one we have at home.

All of the games in this section are playable at age 10+, but the themes and game style are more attractive to adults.

Back Stories: Alone Under the Ice (our review) and Back Stories: The Emerald Wedding Anniversary (our review) are choose-your-own adventure stories told through a deck of cards. The stories include death and sometimes foul language, making them less appropriate for younger kids – unless you’re willing to edit on the fly. But we found them gripping, and it felt like every decision we made really mattered. Anyone who enjoys adventure stories or spy thrillers should try Back Stories.

Rebel Princess (our review of the game, and the Happily Never After expansion) is a trick-taking game with a fun theme: turning down fairy-tale princely proposals. Best for teens and adults who are already comfortable with trick-taking games.

In the Footsteps of Marie Curie (our review) lets you follow the life of the double-Nobel-winning scientist, but only takes about 45 minutes to play, making it perfect for most science- and history-lovers.

Avatar The Last Airbender: Aang’s Destiny (our review) is perfect for fans of the TV show. Work together to defeat the Fire Nation in this cooperative campaign game. Upgrade your character’s deck of cards and watch the changes that happen over seven “books” until you ultimately save the world!

Lost Ruins of Arnak (our review of the game, our review of the campaign expansion) is a sprawling adventure game, reminiscent of Indiana Jones or Tomb Raider. Compete to see who is the best explorer! Or add the campaign expansion, then cooperate to save Professor Kutil and discover a story full of betrayal and magic.

If these themes aren’t quite right for you, check out our top recommended games for teenagers.

These games are best at three or more players. We promise these games will get everyone in the family playing, even grumpy great-aunts and surly teenagers.

Red Letter Yellow Letter (our review) is a speed word-guessing game that keeps changing, which will keep everyone engaged for the 15 minutes it takes to play. You can even play it in the car on the way home after the holiday!

Caution Signs (our review) is a speed drawing challenge that leaves us laughing every time. You’ve got just 20 seconds to draw a sign for your secret combination of adjective & noun. Then the guesser mixes up all the adjectives and all the nouns, and tries to figure out which words go with each drawing. Even though the game is competitive, it feels cooperative to us, as everyone guesses what other people drew.

Chit Chat is a cooperative game of putting numbers in order, where each card presents a trivia question with a number for the answer. Discuss amongst the group and decide where each card belongs… then check your list at the end and see how close you all got! This game supports casual in-and-out play. Pull it out at a family gathering and let people engage as they like.

Cabanga! (our review) is a card-shedding game that we also recommended last year. Watch out as players put down numbers on either side of a gap – if you have cards that fit in the gap, you can get rid of them, and force the other player to draw! Get it from Barnes & Noble or your local game store.

Tasso Banana (our review) is a stacking game that’s surprisingly portable. Unfold the box and start placing wooden bananas on it, stacking them on each other to get an extra turn; but if they fall, you’ll have to take the extras. Who can use up their bananas first?

Check out our stocking stuffers list for more games that the whole family can enjoy.

Whether it’s date night or special one-on-one times with a child, these games are perfect for two players.

Floristry (our review) might just be our favorite game of 2025. It’s intuitive and fast-moving without feeling frantic. Use a webapp to bid on a randomly-pulled set of flower tiles. Then use the tiles you win to make groups of flowers. This is a game that uses your brain but doesn’t need 100% of your focus.

Obelus (our review) is a gorgeous abstract game in a tiny box. Place your obelisk dice and move them around the circle to capture or block your opponent. If they can’t move, you win!

Duel for Cardia (our review) is best for gamers ready for short bursts of intense tactical thinking. Out-maneuver your opponent over a series of one-card duels. And change up the gameplay by adding locations or using the second set of decks in the box!

boop the Halls (our review) is a Christmas-y sequel to boop, an adorably mean game we recommended in 2023. Festively-dressed kittens and cats can bounce around a Christmas tree, knocking off ornaments while they boop each other away.

For relatives that get a little too intense – or kids who can’t stand losing – give the gift of cooperation. Everyone can work together toward a common goal in these cooperative games.

Landmarks (our review) is a word clue-giving game. The Pathfinder tries to direct the rest of the group to treasure, water, and bonuses around the map, avoiding curses and traps. Get one treasure and get out to win – or challenge your team to find all THREE treasures in each map! This cooperative game can also be played as team vs. team with at least four players.

Toriki: The Castaway Island is a non-threatening app-assisted story we already recommended above for children. This island adventure is a fun way for family to spend a few hours, and it’s easy to save between play sessions.

Back Stories is a cooperative adventure we already recommended above for adults. Immerse yourself in an Arctic mystery (Alone Under the Ice) or a spy thriller (The Emerald Wedding Anniversary). Discuss as a group what you want to do next, but know that every decision will close off future choices!

Bomb Busters is a cooperative bomb-defusing game – with no time pressure! This game won the 2025 Spiel des Jahres (game of the year) award, and it’s easy to see why. Try to find number tiles in other players’ hands that match your own. Slowly “clip the wires” and work your way through over 60 different challenges!

When you need a stocking stuffer or something small for a randomized gift exchange, these games are a great fit. Each of these games are under $20.

Flip 7 (our review) feels a lot like Blackjack, but your goal is to amass points by collecting a variety of numbers each round. Flip 7 is incredibly easy to learn; you can have the whole family (up to 18 people!) start playing right away. Under $10, you could put a copy in everyone’s stocking.

Circus Flohcati (our review) has you build a flea circus by picking just one cutely-illustrated card each round to add to your hand. You’ll only score for the highest number you have in each of 10 colors, so make your choices carefully!

The Walking Dead: Surrounded (our review) is a great choice for fans of the comics or the TV show. This cooperative game captures the tension of scavenging and survival… and fits in a pocket when you’re done! Get it from Button Shy Games for less than $15.

A Nice Cuppa (our review) is a solo puzzle with a gentle theme. Encourage your recipient to slow down and take a few minutes for themselves. Get this one from Button Shy Games as well.

Trio (our review) is one of our absolute favorite games, and we recommend it often. Use your memory and deduction to find “trios” of matching cards. But you can only ever reveal the highest or lowest card in anyone’s hand. Keep working to find those triples – three triples wins the game!

Holiday Hijinks games (our reviews) offer an hour or more of low-stress mystery-solving fun, each with a holiday theme: Santa and his cookies, a romantic Valentine’s dinner, Halloween trick-or-treating, and even Groundhog Day! Find the ready-to-play games, or the print-and-play versions, at Grand Gamers Guild.

Still Looking for More?

Thankfully, board games don’t expire! So check out these older guides for more ideas.

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