Let’s talk the best board games for teens and tweens. We’ve been doing family game night regularly and these? Are some of our favorites……….
Family Game Nights for Older Kids
There’s something magical about gathering everyone around the table for family game night. We had always enjoyed a fun board game, but as our daughter got older, it has been trickier to find games that she liked (or to be honest to get all of us to sit down and find the time). Tweens and teens don’t always want to play the “kid” games from their elementary school days, and let’s be honest — we were pretty over them too.
This is where the right board games come in. The sweet spot? Games that are clever enough to challenge older kids and this age group , easy enough to pick up without hours of explanation, and entertaining enough that nobody slips away to scroll their phone halfway through (parents included).
I recently had the chance to visit the Op Games headquarters and to learn about a bunch of their new games. The best part? They sent us home with a lot of board games and we have been testing them all out!
Tips for Hosting a Tween + Teen Friendly Game Night
Want to make game night something your kids actually look forward to? Here are a few ideas:
- Let Them Choose: Hand over the power. Rotate who picks the game each week so everyone feels included. Tweens and teens love having control (and a little friendly competition ).
- Keep Snacks Central: Game night snacks are half the fun. Think popcorn, nachos, or even theme the food to the game.
- Mix Up the Guest List: Sometimes it’s just the four of you. Other times, invite grandparents, neighbors, or your kids’ friends and other young adults . Games like Tapple and Telestrations are especially fun with a crowd.
- Embrace the Chaos: The tower will fall. Someone will knock over the cards. A round will end in heated debate about whether “cerulean” counts as blue. That’s part of the fun.
- Keep It Short and Sweet: Not every game night needs to last for hours. Sometimes a quick game or two after dinner is all it takes to reconnect.
The Best Board Games for Teens and Tweens to Play With Family
These are some of the best board games we’ve played lately, I hope that your family loves them as much as we do! This list has a great mix of classic board games and card game options…….so there is a right game for everyone (even those who claim they love video games more than board games).
Catan
If there’s one “gateway” game for families with tweens and teens, it’s Catan. Originally called The Settlers of Catan, this modern classic is all about building settlements, trading resources, and expanding across the island along with strategic thinking and planning.
What makes it great for tweens and teens:
- Negotiation is key: At some point, everyone ends up begging for wheat. Your tween learns to bargain, compromise, and strategize.
- Replay value: The board changes every game, so no two rounds feel the same.
- Teaches patience: Teens love that it isn’t just about luck — skill and planning pay off. This is a great game for older teens, it definitely takes some commitment!
Tip for parents: Keep snacks handy and set a time limit. A full game can stretch past an hour, but tweens will stay invested if they know it’s capped.
Telestrations
Imagine the classic “telephone” game, but this actual game is with doodles. That’s Telestrations. Each player draws a word or phrase, then passes their drawing to the next person, who guesses what it is. The guess gets passed again, drawn again, and so on — until the final reveal looks hilariously nothing like the original.
Why tweens and teens love it:
Fast rounds: A game doesn’t drag, which works perfectly for shorter attention spans.
Zero pressure to be good at drawing: In fact, the worse your art, the funnier the game gets.
Inside jokes galore: Families end up with references and doodles that get laughed about for weeks.
Pro tip: If your teen is hesitant, remind them it’s all about silliness. No artistic talent required — in fact, stick figures win every time in our household.
Tapple
Tapple is one of those games that looks simple but quickly becomes addictive (this one is my daughter’s favorite). Players take turns naming something that fits the category (like “types of fruit” or “movie titles”) and then hit the first letter of their answer on the Tapple wheel. The catch? You can’t reuse letters, and you’re racing against the timer.
Why it works for tweens and teens:
- Fast-paced energy: The timer makes every round exciting.
- Great for groups: This is the ideal game for family nights when cousins or grandparents join in.
- Brain flexing disguised as fun: Vocabulary, memory, and quick thinking all get a workout.
As parents, we love that this game sneaks in learning without it feeling like school. Our daughter just loves just love beating us when the pressure is on.
Hues and Cues
In Hues and Cues, players try to get others to guess a specific shade from a huge game board of 480 different colors. The only tool? one-word clues and then two-word clues. This is a good game for visual learners and art lovers!
Example: If the target color is a dusty rose, you might say “sunset.” If it’s lime green, you might say “guacamole.” Everyone then guesses which square you meant.
Why it’s one of the best board games for teens and tweens:
- Creativity meets logic: It’s part art, part language puzzle.
- Sparks fun debates: “That’s not teal, that’s aqua!”
- Accessible to everyone: No complicated rules to learn.
Tip for families: This is one of those games that is a great way to learn about each other’s brains. You’ll see how your teen interprets colors (and realize they might not know the difference between magenta and fuchsia).
Wonky
If you want something lighthearted and physical, Wonky is a must. Players stack funky, odd-shaped blocks to build a tower (the fun way ). Of course, it never stacks neatly — and that’s the fun.
Why tweens and teens keep reaching for it:
Perfect icebreaker: Great option when your teen has friends over and you want a group game , you don’t need much time to set up or clean up.
Unpredictable chaos: The tower always teeters, and the suspense makes everyone giggle.
Quick to learn: No lengthy setup or complicated rules. If you’re looking for party games this is a great choice!
Think of it as a more colorful, quirky cousin of Jenga.
Flip 7
Flip 7 is quickly becoming one of our family favorites. It’s part strategy, part luck, and involves flipping number tiles to make sets that score points. I love that this card game is easily portable, it’s great fun waiting for food when out to dinner!
What makes it fun for tweens and teens:
- Fast rounds: Each fun game is short, so nobody loses interest.
- Mix of math and chance: Teens like that skill helps, but luck can turn the tide.
- Competitive edge: Perfect for kids who thrive on friendly rivalry.
Here’s the secret: your tweens and teens may roll their eyes at first (ours did), but once the timer starts ticking or the tower begins wobbling, they’re all in. That’s the magic of family game night. It gets everyone off their phones, into the fun, and maybe even a little competitive.
And now? Our daughter is asking to play some of these amazing board games. It’s become a weekly tradition in our household. We have a great time (and sometimes this is one of the best ways to get the tea on what is happening at school in between games).
I hope that our guide to the best board games for teens and tweens inspires you to have a great time with your own family!
