Kids' board games: seven games for ages 6 to 9

Buying a board game for a child nearly always goes wrong at the same point: the age. Too easy and it is boring after two rounds, too hard and there are tears before the rules have been explained. That is why each of these kids' board games comes with the age, the number of players and how long a round lasts, right at the top.

This has not become a top 10 of kids' games but a list of seven. That is deliberate: these are the games we actually have on the shelf right now, and we would rather put down seven titles you can take home today than ten of which half are not in.

Six of the seven start at age six, one at age eight. What there is for children of three, four or five, we explain honestly at the bottom.

What should you look for in board games for children?

The age on the box is a guideline, not a law. A five-year-old who plays every week can often handle more than it says. An eight-year-old who never plays actually needs more explanation.

Also check whether players can be knocked out. For young children, losing is big news, and a game in which you are eliminated halfway through rarely ends cheerfully. Bandido below does not have that problem at all, because there you all play together against the game.

And look at the playing time in relation to the age. Half an hour is already on the long side for a six-year-old. Better two short rounds than one long one where nobody is paying attention for the last ten minutes.

Ages 6+

Six games that a six-year-old can play without help, and that will not send an adult to sleep.

Beverbende

2 to 6 players, ages 6+, about 30 minutes.

In front of you lie four cards and you may only look at a couple of them. The rest is a gamble. You swap, you peek, you remember what your neighbour did, and at the end you want to finish as low as possible.

The memory element is exactly what children are good at and adults are sloppy at. Count on losing to an eight-year-old because you forgot which card you put away two turns ago. Beverbende

Splendor Kids

2 to 4 players, ages 6+, about 30 minutes.

The children's edition of Splendor, and one of the few junior versions that does not feel like a stripped-down copy. You collect tokens, use them to buy cards, and those cards make your next purchase cheaper again.

That snowball effect is the whole charm. After three turns a child sees that it keeps getting easier, and so understands, without anyone explaining it, what an engine in a game is. Splendor Kids

Spots

2 to 4 players, ages 6+, about 30 minutes.

Dogs have spots, dice have spots. You roll and place the spots on your dogs, and whoever fills all the spaces wins. That is how simply it starts.

Where it gets interesting: you may keep rolling, but one roll too many and you lose your turn. For a six-year-old, that is the first time they really have to choose between safe and greedy, and you can see how hard that choice is. Spots

Bandido

1 to 4 players, ages 6+, about 15 minutes.

Bandido is trying to escape yet again, and together you lay down cards to seal off every tunnel. If you manage it, you all win together. If you do not, you all lose together.

That makes this the calmest game on this list. There is no winner at the table, so there is no loser either, and with a fanatical little brother at the table that makes more of a difference than you would think. Fifteen minutes, and you can also play it on your own. Bandido

Happy Salmon

3 to 8 players, ages 6+, about 10 minutes.

Everyone calls out what is on their card at the same time and looks for the person calling the same thing. Find them and you do a high five, a handshake or a salmon slap together, and the card can go.

There is no thinking and a great deal of shouting. Ten minutes is just right. At a birthday party with eight children, this is the game the parents come over to watch too. Happy Salmon

Jungle Speed Eco

2 to 10 players, ages 6+, about 10 minutes.

A totem stands in the middle. You take turns flipping a card, and as soon as two symbols match, you grab. Whoever is first passes their cards on to the other player.

Expect clashing hands and a toppled totem. It goes up to ten players, which makes it one of the few games on this list that can take on a whole class. Jungle Speed Eco

Ages 8+

Flip 7

3 to 12 players, ages 8+, about 20 minutes.

Drawing cards and stopping in time. Draw a number you already have and you lose everything from that round. Draw seven different ones and you earn a hefty bonus.

It earned Eric Olsen a Spiel des Jahres nomination in 2025, the year Bomb Busters won. It goes up to twelve players and takes twenty minutes, so it works just as well at a children's party as at the kitchen table with four of you. This is also the only game on this list that an eleven-year-old still fancies playing. Flip 7

And for children of 3, 4 or 5?

This list is aimed at children aged around six and up. Our range also includes games for younger children, such as Bunny Boo, a block puzzle for ages 2 and up, and Regenwormen Junior.

Looking for something for a toddler or pre-schooler? Just send us a message. We order titles on request, and then you know straight away when it is in, instead of clicking a sold-out button.

Which game should it be?

If it is for one child of around six, go for Beverbende. Playable from six, thirty minutes, and it stays fun until about ten because the memory element never wears out.

If it is for a birthday party with a mixed group of children, Happy Salmon or Jungle Speed Eco is the safest choice. Both ten minutes, both with no explaining needed, and both suitable for children who do not know each other yet.

If the whole family is joining in, parents included, take a look at our family games. And as the children get older, the top 10 board games is the next step.

Frequently asked questions

What are good board games for children of six or seven? Beverbende and Bandido. Both from age six, both explained in under five minutes, and with both it does not help if an adult who already knows the game joins in. At this age, that last point matters more than the theme.

Are these kids' board games also suitable for a birthday party? For a birthday party with a mixed group of children, Happy Salmon and Jungle Speed Eco are the safest choices from this list. Ten minutes per round, no explanation needed, and it does not matter whether the children already know each other.

Why are there no games for children of 3, 4 or 5? Because we cannot supply them right now. We explain this honestly further up in the article; we would rather recommend nothing than something you then have to go hunting for.