When rain’s running down the windows, the telly’s off, and you’ve got exactly 45 minutes before someone asks for a snack, that’s prime board-game time. The trick to board games is picking ones you’ll actually be able to pull out on a random Tuesday night, teach in five minutes, and finish before bedtime.
In this guide, you’ll find 10 family-friendly picks that balance quick rules with proper replay value. Go from fast party chaos to gentle strategy, depending on what tickles your fancy. You’ll also spot two newer LEGO titles and a modern UK classic that parents love introducing to kids.
How to choose your board game
The 10 we’ve picked share the same family-friendly DNA. You can teach them to your kids while the kettle boils, finish a round before toothbrushing, and play again without having to reread the rulebook. They scale neatly from two players to a full house, reward kids without patronising them, and (crucially) keep adults awake after 9 p.m.
Here’s what makes these titles work in real homes (yours included):
● Teaching time is under five minutes. If you can’t explain it to your 5-year-old, it won’t be a household staple. The best games are easy to learn, especially when you’re dealing with younger kids who tend to have shorter attention spans.
● Scales to your household. Look for games that suit between two and four players, but can stretch to more than five players when friends or cousins come over.
● Mixes co-op and competition. Cooperative games are brilliant training wheels for strategy and good sportsmanship, while competitive games build character and encourage decision-making.
The top 10 board games for families (and why they work)
LEGO® Brick Like This! – Describe models fast and test your listening skills
This game is played in pairs. One person in the team can see the model on a card, while the other can’t. Player 1’s job is to talk Player 2 into building the model correctly—without touching the bricks themself.
When played with another team, everyone can race at once, which keeps the energy high and the downtime low. Think Pictionary, but with mini LEGO builds and glorious miscommunications, making it one of the best board games for families.
Best for: 4 to 8 players split into teams, aged 7 and up
Why you’ll replay it: The card deck with 92 different shapes keeps combinations fresh and interesting.
LEGO® Monkey Palace – Build staircases, earn banana points, and outsmart the troop
This building board game blends light strategy with the joy of clicking bricks together. You’re building staircases up a palace, earning “banana points,” and nicking clever card effects to get more bricks.
Although the game is slightly competitive, there’s still an element of teamwork thanks to the shared goal of building a structure. Then, the 3D tower you create with your family makes for an interesting and satisfying centrepiece.
Best for: 2 to 4 players, aged 10 and up
Why you’ll replay it: Multiple routes to victory (and kids will adore the banana-point drama).
Dobble – 15 minutes of detective work that challenges your vision
In Dobble, each pair of circular cards shares exactly one matching symbol. Your job is to find it faster than anyone else. That’s the main way to secure points for the game, and it’s brilliant for game nights with the whole family. Because it’s pure reflex and observation, kids can genuinely beat adults (which they will endearingly remind you about for days).
Best for: 2 to 8 players, quick game bursts that finish in 15 minutes
Why you’ll replay it: Five mini modes keep it fresh, and the setup is quick.
Ticket to Ride – Gather train routes to create the longest railway
Similar to the cult favourite Monopoly, this game entails you collecting coloured cards to claim railway routes across a map. You simply need to draw cards, claim routes, or take tickets to keep the game going. Players earn more points the longer their railway routes go.
Best for: 2 to 5 players who enjoy gentle competition
Why you’ll replay it: Different ticket goals each game
Barbecubes – Stack and balance to win the game
If you want something you can teach in 30 seconds and finish before bedtime, start with this game. In Barbecubes, you’re racing to stack wooden “food” cubes without dropping them into the BBQ. Rounds are short (about 3 to 15 minutes), it scales from 2 to 6 players, and it’s packed in a small tin that’s easy to throw in a bag. This is one of the most compact and easy-to-play board games for families.
Best for: 2 to 6 players within 3 to 15 minutes, aged 8 and up
Why you’ll replay it: Every round feels different because the cube placement and player order influence the difficulty. It also scales well. You can have two players for a quick duel or six for some party vibes.
Splendor – Collect gems to maximise your points
This is your family’s first proper “strategy” game. On your turn, you either take gem tokens or spend them to buy a card, which in turn makes future cards cheaper and can attract nobles for bonus points.
The rhythm is simple, turns are fast, and a full game takes around 30 minutes with 2 to 4 players. To keep things easy during the first game, ignore nobles until someone gets close. Just aim to buy a level 1 card every round or two.
Best for: 2 to 4, ages 10 and above
Why you’ll replay it: There are multiple paths to reach 15 points (focus on cheap engine cards, time a noble visit, or pivot to high-value purchases), so you’ll try new routes each game. Turns are short and the rules are consistent, which keeps it moving and quick.
Exploding Kittens: The Board Game – The original Exploding Kittens made better
The party card game has been turned into a race on a flippable 3D board, which will make it more engaging for younger kids. You’ll move, set traps, and literally flip sections to sabotage each other, so expect more table talk and bigger reactions than the original.
It’s easy to learn and suits mixed ages because the “gotcha” moments are clear and quick to resolve. Keep games snappy by setting the rule: “first to the finish line wins” with no extra victory conditions.
Best for: 2 to 6, ages 7 and above
Why you’ll replay it: The sections you can flip and trap placement change the route and tempo throughout the game, so playtime stays engaging and exciting. It’s easy to teach, and the “gotcha” moments land fast, which is perfect when you’ve only got half an hour.
I Want My Teeth Back – Help the monster smile again with this easy card game
A 10-minute card-collection race with a spinner and a friendly monster is ideal for first game nights with 4 to 7-year-olds. You’ll draw, spin, and collect sets, and along the way, kids get to practise counting and simple decision-making without needing to read text.
Best for: 2 to 4, ages 4 and above
Why you’ll replay it: Short rounds, simple set collection, and a spinner keep younger kids engaged without hand-holding from adults. It’s a quick, dependable game that still lets older siblings join without getting bored.
You Little Stinker – Help the pig shake out the right dice and ditch yours first
You pop the dice into the Piggy Shaker, pour them out, then match what you roll to the picture cards on the table. The rule is that apples help, while muddy puddles don’t. First to clear all their dice wins. Set-up is just laying out the cards, so you can get younger kids playing without reading the rules. This is one of the easiest board games for families to learn.
Best for: 2 to 5, ages 4 and above
Why you’ll replay it: Rounds take minutes, the shaker keeps little hands engaged, and the visible “fewer dice each turn” progress makes it easy for kids to follow.
Giants Moving Tiny Furniture – Use only your pinkies to move mini furniture as a team
You plan who carries what, stack the tiny pieces, and ferry them to the right house using only your pinkies. The challenge is coordination. You have to decide routes, avoid drops, and complete more “moving jobs” than the other team. It teaches teamwork without needing long explanations.
Best for: 3 to 8, ages 7 and above
Why you’ll replay it: Every table layout changes the task, so roles shift. You have to determine who stacks, who spots, and who carries for each round. The simple “pinkies only” rule keeps it funny and focused, and you’ll want another go to beat your best run.
Find the best board games for families with Red Sun Collectables
Game nights don’t require a cupboard stacked with games—just two or three you’ll actually play. Ready to pick yours? Browse Red Sun Collectables’ family games and add your favourites to the basket!