Family-tested, kid-approved. Top board games for ages 6–9
Board games are a fantastic way for children to learn valuable skills while having fun. In this section, you’ll find the best board games for 6-9 years olds. Family board games not only entertain but also promote social interaction, critical thinking, and teamwork. This age group is perfect for exploring a variety of themes and mechanics, from cooperative board game adventures to strategic challenges.
In this collection, you’ll find easy-to-learn board games with a mix of board games that encourage creativity, problem-solving, and friendly competition.
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- 6+
- 2-4 Players
- 30-60 mins
Probably no surprises with this one. This game has been loved for generations and is now available in over 33 different languages—proof that it’s one of the best board games for kids aged 6–9.
Game designer, Alan R. Moon, wrote “The rules are simple enough to write on a train ticket—each turn you either draw more cards, claim a route, or get more destination tickets.” The publisher, Days of Wonder, has even stated that the game can be learned in under 5 minutes.
Hence, it’s a contender for the best strategy board game for 8-year-olds.And that’s for a good reason; it’s an easy-to-learn and fun family game that incorporates luck with the cards in your hands and strategy in trying to map out a route and score points along the way.
Choose your Destination
The orginal version was North American and Canada, however, today and I am not sure exactly how many, but it has been remodelled to so many different destinations:
- India
- Northern Lights
- Netherlands
- New York
- Paris,
- Asia
- Legends of the West
- London
- Germany and oh so many more
Head to Days of Wonder to choose your destination.
Objective
Connect cities by claiming train routes to earn points.
How to Play Ticket to Ride
On your turn, you can choose one of the following actions:
- Draw Train Cards: Players can draw two train cards from the face-up cards or the draw pile. If a player takes a face-up wild card (locomotive), they can only draw one card during that turn.
- Claim a Route: Players can claim a route between two cities by playing a number of train cards that match the colour and length of the route on the board. The colour on the board does not need to match your trains, which you place on the board to claim that route.
- For example, to claim a blue route that requires three cards, the player must play three blue train cards. After claiming the route, they place their train pieces on the route. You can earn points based on the number of trains placed (points awarded are shown on points card).
- Draw Destination Tickets: Players can choose to draw three new destination tickets from the deck. They must keep at least one but can keep all three if desired.
- 8+
- 2-5 Players
- 20-30 mins
Objective
Wake the most queens and score a combined value of 45 points.
How to Play Sleeping Queens
Each player is dealt 5 red cards, and the rest are placed in the middle. Green cards are placed on either side of the deck in four rows of three.
On a player’s turn, you can either place a number card or a power card.
If you play a number card, you get to draw a new card for the draw pile. If you have matching numbers, e.g., 3 & 3, you could place these both down and draw two cards at the end of your turn.
Power cards. Each power card has a different rule. For example, a King Card can be used to wake up any queen (which is the face-down red card). A Jester Card lets you take someone else’s queen. There are also power cards that can stop some of these actions; e.g., a dragon can stop someone from stealing your queen.
Sleeping Queens is an exciting card game with lots of outcomes to keep you entertained.
- 8+
- 2-4 Players
- 30-45 mins
Objective
Capture creatures and earn points by defeating them.
How to Play Dragonwood
Each player is dealt 5 cards. On their turn, players can choose to capture a creature or pick up (no more than 9 cards in your hand). To capture a creature, you have one of three options:
Strike: Numbers in a row, e.g., 2, 3, 4 (any colour)
Stomp: Same number, e.g., 4, 4, 4 (can be different colours)
Scream: Same Color (any number)
Each creature is worth different points; e.g., Crazy Bats is worth 1 point, but it’s easier to get, as if you wish to stomp it with one card, you get to roll one die.
The stomp value for Crazy Bats is 3 (boot), so you need to roll a 3 or more to claim that card. You get to roll as many (up to six) dice as you wish, based on the number of cards played to capture that creature.
You can also capture enhancement cards such as “add two points to all capture attempts,” so this is a highly prized card to capture.
Why I love Dragonwood
We bought this game when our boy was around 8 years old for xmas. We must have played this game for about 2 hours solid. I remember lying on the floor with the sun coming in and just playing it over and over.
What I love most is that we’re still playing it years later now that he’s a teenager. It’s become one of our go-to family board games, the kind we pull out on a weeknight or holiday because it’s easy to set up, simple to learn, and doesn’t take too long to play.
As parents, we also enjoy this game and appreciate that it’s a board game the whole family can enjoy together, connect, and build memories without screens.
- 6+
- 2-4 Players
- 30-45 mins
Objective
Is to score the most points by creating lines of tiles that are either matching in colour or shape by placing tiles beside an already placed tile.
Qwirkle is the best board game to hone a player’s tactical maneuvers, strategic planning, and forward thinking. This family board game features a massive amount of choices, including 3 tiles each of 36 possible colour-symbol combinations.
How to Play Qwirkle
Each player is dealt 6 tiles, which are kept hidden from other players. The person with the largest combination starts, e.g., 3 of the same colour (different shapes) starts. Once placed, this would give that player 3 points.
Simply build lines by matching tiles based on either colour or shape, and score points as you go. On your turn either;
- Place a tile or tiles from your hand to create a line of matching tiles in either shape or colour.
- Or replace tiles with a new one. If you cannot make a move, you can choose to replace tiles for your turn.
For each tile placed in a line, you earn points equal to the number of tiles in that line after your placement.
If you complete a line of six tiles (a “Qwirkle”), you earn an additional 6 points.
- 6+
- 2-4 Players
- 20 mins
How to play Tightrope Strategy
Each player is dealt 5 pegs and bands, and each person takes turns to place these on the board. Bands must go around at least 3 pegs. Once completed, each player then places a marble onto the bands. If they fall through, you place them back in your container. The first person to place all the marbles wins.
A great board game for hand-eye coordination and spatial recognition.
These are our top recommendations for the best board games for 6–9 years. Looking for more options? Check out our card games for families here or visit our Age Group page.
There are plenty more options if you wish to explore more.
- Board Games By Age
- Board Games By Type
- Or Explore our Articles for something different
- Uno Show Em No Mercy is always a favourite.
- Fast paced games
- Monopoly Deal
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