Fun games for 8 year old boy


25 Best Games For 8-Year-Olds (Educational and Entertaining)

//  by Seda Unlucay

This wide range of classic party games, family board games, favorite card games, classic dice games, and abstract strategy games are an excellent way to develop critical thinking and strategy skills for 8-year-old kids while having lots of fun.

1. Play a Quick Game of Balloon Stomp

This fun game challenges players to stomp out each other's balloons every time the accompanying music stops playing. It's a great way to get kids physically active while helping them learn healthy competitive skills.

Learn More: Not So Perfect Parenting

2. Play a Quick Card Game of Solitaire

Solitaire is a simple card game that challenges players to match up cards while building their concentration and memory skills. The wide range of variations of this basic game is sure to keep kids engaged for hours.

Learn More: Kid Spot

3. Have Fun Making Art with Zentangles

Zentangles is a fun game for children with only one rule: Each shape needs to be filled up completely with whatever lines, objects, or words kids would like to include.

Learn More: Color Made Happy

4. Play a Game of Magic Maze 

Magic Maze is a fun cooperative board game that features a mage, a warrior, an elf, and a dwarf who must make their way out of a labyrinth after gathering the equipment they need for their next adventure.

Learn More: Amazon

5. Guess My Capital Game for Kids 

This educational type of game is a great way to develop geography and critical thinking skills as kids are challenged to identify a series of capitals around the globe.

Learn More: Not So Perfect Parenting

6. Medieval Theme Family Board Game

In this award-winning strategy game with hundreds of 5-star reviews, players try to expand their kingdoms by conquering new lands on the colorful game board. It's an excellent way to develop strategic thinking skills at your next family game night.

Learn More: Blue Orange Games

7. Storytelling Game

This engaging storytelling game has a strong educational aspect: players are challenged to tell creative stories based on beautiful, dreamlike illustrations.

Learn More: Amazon

8. Try a Trampoline Game

Trampoline games are sure to keep kids active and giggling for hours. Elevate this fun experience with balloons!

Learn More: How Wee Learn

9. Play a Pool Noodle Game

This collection of pool noodle games includes fun challenges and cooperative games that are perfect for family bonding time.

Learn More: Birthday Party Ideas 4 Kids

10. Yeti in My Spaghetti 

Who thought playing with spaghetti pieces could be so much fun? This hands-on game for 2-5 players requires kids to use their hand-eye coordination and strategic thinking skills to remove a piece of spaghetti at a time while keeping the Yeti from falling.

Learn More: Target

11. Rummy-Style Card Game

This classic card game is a great way to develop concentration and pattern recognition skills.

Learn More: Kid Spot

12. Play Nerf Target Games

This collection of Nerf target games is a great way to develop social skills while getting some solid physical activity.

Learn More: Frugal Fun 4 Boys

13. Play a Classic Dice Game 

The classic dice game is not only a great way to develop social skills such as taking turns but also has a math aspect of developing counting and numeracy skills for kids as young as 8 years old.

Learn More: Ice Breaker Ideas

14. Play a Game of Marshmallow Toss

The objective of this classic game is for kids to catch marshmallows in a paper cup that is thrown by their partners. The rapid speed of gameplay is sure to keep kids on their toes.

Learn More: Church Media Drop

15. Play a Balancing Game

This family favorite game idea is a great way to develop hand-eye coordination as well as cognitive and social skills. With hundreds of rave reviews, it also makes a portable and popular gift idea.

Learn More: Melissa And Doug

16. Bowling Game Craft

This simple DIY bowling pin set combines upcycled water bottles, paint, and some red Duct tape for a fun bowling game that can be played indoors or outdoors at your next family picnic.

Learn More: Everyday Dishes

17. Play a Classic Family Game of Bean Bag Toss

The classic family game of Bean Bag Toss is the perfect game for developing motor skills and developing hand-eye coordination. There are single and multi-player versions to choose from and many fun adaptations that have been added over the years.

Learn More: Take Them Outside

18. Wonderful Game with Stellar Online Reviews

Igloo Mania is a fantastic game that offers a fresh challenge: players are required to keep Parka Pete in place while removing the greatest number of ice block-shaped game tokens. It also makes the perfect gift for those new to balancing games.

Learn More: Speech Corner

19. Fast-Paced Strategy Game for Kids

Frenetic is a fast-paced strategy game for 2-6 players which incorporates the Periodic Table for science-based learning. It is sure to become a family favorite for providing a highly entertaining game experience.

Learn More: My Boys Club

20. Harry Potter Game For Kids

This Harry Potter version of Hedbanz is an ideal game for fans of the bestselling predecessor franchise of books and movies. There are various options for gameplay including acting out, rhyming or describing each clue.

Learn More: Spin Master

21. Play an Addictive Tile-Based Puzzle Game

This addictive tile-based puzzle game challenges players to create simple equations using numbered tiles. It is an ideal game for developing numeracy skills while creating a fun family challenge.

Learn More: The Grommet

22. Play a Silly Game of Sleeping Queens 

As players immerse themselves in this matching game, they will develop memory, letter recognition, and math skills.

Learn More: Game Wright

23. Junior Version of a Classic Family Game 

The Junior edition of this favorite board game is an excellent way to develop spelling, reading, and arithmetic skills as players have to tally up their own points.

Learn More: Kohls

24. Play a Game of Battleship 

Battleship is a complex game with lots of learning potential. It's a wonderful way to develop strategy, memory, and logic skills and a great concentration game for easily distracted players.

Learn More: The Spruce Crafts

25. Play Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza

This unique and simple card game is convenient enough for travel while making for lots of laugh-out-loud fun.

Learn More: Brimley Games

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Category: Classroom Ideas

Best Board Games for 8-Year-Olds To Play

We have an awesome collection of board games to keep your 8-year-olds entertained!

It’s important to focus on communication and strategy skills when choosing the perfect board game for 8-year-olds. By this age, children’s cognitive skills have developed to the point where they can focus their attention for longer and create more complex strategies. This makes for a great list of fun games to play. 

Let’s look at the best board games for 8-year-olds!

Table of Contents

Our Top Picks for Best Board Games for 8-Year-Olds

In a hurry? Take a quick peek before you go.

Best Overall

  • Magic Maze

  • 3.8

  • $34.99$31.81

  • Buy on Amazon

  • Buy at Noble Knight

Best Strategy

  • Agricola: Family Edition

  • 3. 8

  • Buy on Amazon

  • Buy at Noble Knight

Best Fantasy

  • My Little Scythe

  • 4.2

  • $50.00

  • Buy on Amazon

  • Buy at Noble Knight

Best Overall

Magic Maze

$34.99$31.81

Buy on Amazon

Buy at Noble Knight

Best Strategy

Agricola: Family Edition

Buy on Amazon

Buy at Noble Knight

Best Fantasy

My Little Scythe

$50.00

Buy on Amazon

Buy at Noble Knight

11/09/2022 09:30 pm GMT

Zombie Kidz Evolution

Players: 2-4
Playing time: 5-15mins
Difficulty: Easy

Zombie Kidz Evolution is a cooperative, dice-rolling, introduction to legacy games for your 8-year-old. While at school, the kids are attacked by a zombie invasion! It’s up to players’ quick wits and problem solving abilities to lock the doors and save the school.

In the game, players must work together to eliminate zombies and seal the 4 exits before the school is overrun. The more you play, the better your characters get! Move on to missions and win trophies for group and individual successes.

What we Liked

The “evolution” mechanism of this game is fantastic. The game actually grows with your kids and allows them to experience new things each time you sit down to a game.

What Could be Better

The game can be a bit predictable, especially for experienced gamers and may not offer as many surprises as you’d like. It is, however, a great gateway to both legacy and cooperative board games.

Zombie Kidz Evolution

$24.99 $22.99

Buy on Amazon Buy at Noble Knight

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11/09/2022 02:00 pm GMT

Magic Maze

Players: 1-8
Playing time: 15 mins
Difficulty: Easy

Oh no! A mage, a warrior, and a dwarf have all been stripped of their possessions. With nowhere left to turn they must rob the local Magic Maze shopping mall for all the equipment needed for their next adventure. Can they pull off this heist and dash to the exit?

What we Liked

Magic Maze is a fantastic cooperative board game without the alpha-gamer problem. Each player can control any hero they choose, in order to make that hero perform a specific action. Different types of actions include bravely exploring a new area to even just riding the escalator. To do so, communication and rigorous cooperation is needed.

What Could be Better

While fun and sometimes a bit tense, it might be difficult for 8-year-olds to maintain silence during the game without breaking the “no talking or gesturing” rules!

However, while moving through the map in a grid movement, children learn important skills all while having fun as a group. With a sand timer putting on the pressure, loiter to the best of your abilities before the mall security guards nab you! 

Magic Maze

$34.99 $31.81

Buy on Amazon Buy at Noble Knight

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11/09/2022 09:30 pm GMT

My Little Scythe

Players: 1-6 
Playing time: 45-60mins
Difficulty: Easy to Medium

My Little Scythe is a competitive family-friendly game where players embark on an adventure in the Kingdom of Pomme. Inspired by the best-selling game Scythe, My Little Scythe is an exploration fantasy game where little players take turns choosing to move, seek or make, all in the hopes to be the first to earn four trophies.

What we Liked

Credited with having very high-quality cute playable characters, young gamers can be introduced into the wonderful world of Scythe. This is a wonderful game for nearly all ages and skill ranges.

What Could be Better

As a kids’ game, it lacks depth and can be considered nothing more than a point salad Eurogame that frequently ends in ties.

Many adults, however, have just as much fun as the kids in this easy-to-learn Scythe prequel! By completing quests, learning magic spells, and even engaging in a pie fight kids can be challenged all while spending an enjoyable time together.

My Little Scythe

$50.00

Buy on Amazon Buy at Noble Knight

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11/10/2022 03:10 am GMT

Sushi Go Party!

Players: 2-8
Playing time: 20mins
Difficulty: Easy

Get ready to make some maki, savor some sashimi, and taste some tempura!

Sushi Go Party! is a fast and easy pick-and-pass card game where players try to grab cards as they whiz by to create the best sushi combos possible. The better combos you make, the more points you score at the end!

What we Liked

Sushi Go! is the perfect game to gift to kids (and newbies) to get players into the hobby. It teaches kids the card drafting ability without any fuss and has adorable artwork to boot!

What Could be Better

While not a deep or challenging game by any stretch, Sushi Go Party! offers a fun party game experience for a variety of age groups. If you can avoid the runaway leader issue, everyone will have a blast.

If you’re a fan of card drafting mechanics or games like 7 Wonders, you’ll love Sushi Go!

Sushi Go Party!

$22.00 $19.99

Buy on Amazon Buy at Walmart

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11/09/2022 02:00 pm GMT

Azul & Azul: Summer Pavilion

Players: 2-4
Playing time: 30mins
Difficulty level: Easy

At the turn of the 16th century, the king commissioned Portugal’s greatest artisans to construct a grandiose building. The king ordered a summer pavilion to honor the most famous members of the royal family but unfortunately, the king died before construction could even begin.

In Azul: Summer Pavilion, players take on the task of constructing and completing the most beautiful designs. With the finest materials, players draft tiles and place them on their individual player boards to score points, but be careful to avoid wasting your supplies!

What we Liked

Azul is a wonderful introductory game into card drafting and pattern building. As a great addition, Azul: Summer Pavilion adds the ability to gain a single wild tile that can be placed on your board.

What Could be Better

While most of the components are great, the individual player boards could be a bit sturdier.

If you’re looking for a game with design and patterns for your children Azul will have your kids creating intricate designs with beautiful tiles.

Azul

$39.99 $31. 99

Buy on Amazon Buy at Noble Knight

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11/11/2022 05:00 am GMT

Lanterns: The Harvest Festival

Players: 2-4
Playing time: 30mins
Difficulty: Easy to Medium

The harvest is in and it’s time to celebrate! Decorate the palace lake with beautiful floating lanterns to prepare for the upcoming festival.

In Lanterns: The Harvest Festival, players take turns to place tiles on the lake and all players receive lantern cards based on how they place the tile. That’s right, even your opponents get cards! When you create a set you earn points and more importantly bring honor to your family, of course.

What we Liked

Lanterns: The Harvest Festival is a great board game for 8-year-olds as it includes many different types of mechanics like tile placement, hand management network building, and set collection. It definitely covers a lot of bases!

What Could be Better

The only thing we didn’t love was that there are definitely major luck-based aspects of the game as to what tiles are drawn, which takes away a bit of the strategic depth of the game.

With colorful lantern cards and a cute wooden boat, however, this is an awesome abstract game with wide appeal.

Lanterns: The Harvest Festival

$34.99 $30.54

Buy on Amazon Buy at Noble Knight

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11/11/2022 11:00 pm GMT

Ingenious

Players: 1-4
Playing time: 45mins
Difficulty: Easy to Medium

The ultimate family strategy game, Ingenious is another tile-placement game that’s perfect for family game nights. 

The game is made up of hexagonal shapes in which you lay your tiles. Players take turns placing color tiles on the game board. Players earn points when they match colored symbols. But there’s a trick to these ingenuous hexagons. The player with the highest score in their lowest score color wins!

What we Liked

Although it may sound a little complicated, Ingenious is really easy to learn, simple, and actually quite addictive! If you’re a fan of pattern building, you’ll love this domino-solitaire-style game that leaves little to chance. 

What Could be Better

While it’s a challenging abstract board game, Ingenious lacks the aesthetics of similar games like Photosynthesis.

Ingenious is a rare game that appeals to serious gamers as well as casual non-gamers, and with its high replayability, it’ll have the family entertained for hours!

Ingenious

$39.95

Buy on Amazon Buy at Noble Knight

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11/09/2022 05:15 am GMT

Dragonwood: A Game of Dice and Daring

Players: 2-4
Playing time: 20mins
Difficulty level: Easy

Do you dare to enter Dragonwood? In the deep heart of a mystical forest lurks the angry ogres, goblins, and even dragons. Will you be the bravest and emerge victoriously?

Dragonwood introduces strategic skills to beginner players as the landscape of the game is ever-changing. By collecting sets of adventure cards, players earn dice they can roll against their foes. This game includes some fun activities for your characters like shrieking at a grumpy troll, stomping on some fire ants, or even striking a menacing dragon with a magical sword.

What we Liked

Dragonwood is highly recommended for children around 8 years old as it’s easy to learn as well as a good introduction to fantasy games. Dragonwood seamlessly combines card drafting with dice rolling.

What Could be Better

We tend to shy away from luck-based and push-your-luck style games, so while this isn’t our favorite mechanic, Dragonwood is a fun and silly dice game that can be entertaining… as long as you don’t roll a 1.

What a wonderful game for little adventurers. Take a walk through a mystical forest and let your imagination run wild… if you dare.

Dragonwood: A Game of Dice & Daring

$20.78

Buy on Amazon Buy at Noble Knight

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11/09/2022 12:30 pm GMT

Agricola: Family Edition

Players: 1-4
Playing time: 45mins
Difficulty: Easy

Guide your family to health, wealth, and prosperity!

Agricola: Family Edition is the introductory edition to the celebrated classic. To make it more family-friendly, the game features no cards and simplified rules. Players will begin with two family members on their farm but, of course, can grow their families throughout the game.

What we Liked

This gives players a little more freedom while teaching the importance of having enough food. It can be challenging! A simplified worker placement game, Agricola: Family Edition gives children the satisfaction of creating a well-built farm, no matter who wins the game!

What Could be Better

As a simplified version of the original, it lacks some variability and can be a bit flat at points. Also, we’re not huge fans of the one-time use scoring sheets. But for what it is, it definitely is a fun gateway to Eurogames.

Get your kids hooked into the world of Agricola and soon they’ll be top-notch farmers.

Agricola: Family Edition

Buy on Amazon Buy at Noble Knight

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Karuba

Players: 2-4
Playing time: 30-40mins
Difficulty: Easy

Karuba is an addictive tile-based puzzle game for a family of treasure hunters. 

A team of adventurers is dropped off on the beach of a mysterious island. They must explore the jungle to hunt for treasure with the ultimate goal of ransacking ancient temples. 

Think Indiana Jones meets the ultimate puzzler. Karuba is a network-building board game in which players lay their tiles on a grid to form paths. The game gets really fun as players are racing against each other to snatch the loot first.

What we Liked

In this fast-paced strategy game, every game can feel different as players take turns leading expeditions. With enough strategy for kids, Karuba feels a bit like a mix of Bingo and tile-laying games, but with colorful artwork.

What Could be Better

Basically a game of optimization, Karuba requires a fair bit of planning and misses out on a lot of the social aspects of board gaming that we love.

Karuba encourages children to find new ways of thinking all while having fun in the short playtime.

Karuba

$39.99

Buy on Amazon Buy at Noble Knight

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11/09/2022 11:00 am GMT

5-Minute Marvel

Players: 2-5
Playing time: 5 mins
Difficulty level: Easy 

If you too have children obsessed with the Marvel universe, 5-Minute Marvel will have children begging for game nights!

5- Minute Marvel is a cooperation card game that’s very fast-paced, hence the 5 minutes in the name. Players will choose a Marvel hero and team up with other players to defeat the evil villains. 

What we Liked

The game can be frantic and chaotic, sure to keep everyone’s adrenaline pumping, even if just for 5 minutes. By slapping down cards to match the villain symbols, you’re able to destroy them. Quickly swipe the cards aside and move on to the all-powerful Thanos. 

What Could be Better

With “5 Minute” in the name, you know what you’re getting into, but even so, it’s a bit hectic for some players. At points, it can be almost too fast to enjoy.

5-Minute Marvel encourages teamwork, communication, and strategy, with just a sprinkle of luck. With such a simple premise and a game that’s truly quick to play, 5-Minute Marvel is fun for all ages!

5-Minute Marvel

$24.99 $20.49

Buy on Amazon Buy at Noble Knight

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11/12/2022 04:00 am GMT

Forbidden Island

Players: 2-4
Playing time: 30mins
Difficulty: Easy

The island is sinking and time is running out! In Forbidden Island, players join a team of intrepid adventurers whose mission is to save sacred treasures from a sinking island before it’s too late.

Each turn, players are faced with new challenges, like rising water levels and using each player’s role to the best effect.

What we Liked

Cooperative games are wonderful for young children, getting them to work together and succeed as a team. Forbidden Island encourages communication and cooperation, as players talk through their solutions for saving the treasures (and themselves).

What Could be Better

The roles are a bit unbalanced as far as usefulness and at no point do you ever feel unsafe (like in Pandemic). That being said, it’s perfectly suited to a younger audience and can get them ready for the more intense cooperative games.

Forbidden Island

$19.99

Buy on Amazon Buy at Noble Knight

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11/08/2022 04:36 am GMT

Carcassonne: Safari

Players: 2-5 
Playing time: 35mins
Difficulty: Easy

Inspired by the classic Carcassonne, Carcassonne: Safari takes you to the savannahs of Africa under the blazing African sun.

In Carcassonne: Safari, players join a safari group to explore the plains, spotting any wonderful animals that live there. Walk the paths, hide in the bush, and blaze new trails with a range of vehicles as you observe the watering holes where animals come to peacefully gather.

What we Liked

If your children are big animal fans like I was, Carcassonne: Safari will take them on a journey to discover many different exotic and beautiful animals.

Just like in the original, this game is a classic tile-laying game but just with a unique setting. With monkeys swinging and lions roaring in the shade, players have the option to place their figures on features they discover to score points. As in a normal safari, variety is key, so keep your eyes open as you explore the beautiful vistas of Africa.

Although a favorite version of Carcassonne for children, Carcassonne: Safari is great for all ages. Get your hands on this exciting stand-alone game and outsmart your opponents while observing the majesty of nature.

What Could be Better

Safari is a lovely version of the game with a few new rules that may or may not be useful to the game. The biggest problem with this version is that it’s almost impossible to find! In that case, it might be better to stick with the original.

Carcassonne

$33.99

Buy on Amazon Buy at Noble Knight

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11/09/2022 03:30 pm GMT

Labyrinth

Players: 2-4
Playing time: 20mins
Difficulty: Easy

Ah, this Ravensburger classic, Labyrinth. Many parents will have fond memories of moving through the mazes themselves.

Labyrinth is an excellent puzzle-solving game for children that challenges players to move around the shifting paths of the labyrinth as quickly as possible to collect the treasures. To add a challenge, players will only know the next treasure after they find the one before.

What we Liked

Labyrinth is a tried and tested classic for children as it’s engaging and challenging. The rules are quick to learn and as players move through the mazes, tile-placing and network-building skills can be developed, all helping to practice essential cognitive skills.

What Could be Better

It’s hard for me to say anything bad about this game as I have loved playing it since age 6! It can, however, be a frustrating maze game for kids at points. With the paths constantly shifting, it can be hard to plan a good path.

Invest in this classic and find your way through the maze!

Labyrinth

$36.92

Buy from Amazon Buy at Noble Knight

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11/08/2022 07:51 am GMT

Don’t L.L.A.M.A

Players: 2–6
Playing time: 20mins
Difficulty: Easy

Decisions, decisions, decisions…

Can you beat the llama? In this colorful card game, players get three options on every turn. Play a card, pick a card or quit. The goal is to play all your cards so you don’t get stuck with markers. Don’t let llamas and markers accumulate. 

What we Liked

Although the rules are simple, Don’t L.L.A.M.A is definitely not as easy as it looks, bringing a little challenge and a lot of decision-making skills into play.

What Could be Better

Although this game may seem like an UNO rip-off at first glance, it has more strategy and substance. Goodbye UNO…. hello llama!

With colorful cards and an adorable llama on the box, Don’t L.L.A.M.A is an enticing, fun, and family-friendly game!

Don't L. L.A.M.A.

$12.99

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11/09/2022 06:02 am GMT

Marrakech

Players: 2–4
Playing time: 30mins
Difficulty: Easy

Pay a visit to the carpet markets of Marrakech and display your carpets beautifully and tactfully!

The bazaar is bustling and the market organizer inspects the rugs to determine which of them is the best. Marrakech is a game of area control in which players try to force opponents to move Assam onto your carpets so they must pay you with their coins.

Essentially, players are trying to cover their opponent’s carpets. The rules are very simple and easy to teach making it a light family-friendly game.

What we Liked

A Mensa Select award winner, this game is great to build up strategy skills and learn about area control.

Marrakech is an excellent introduction to strategy games for children as it requires some critical thinking skills but the game time is quick and fun. With unique and beautiful board and pieces, Marrakech is an underrated gem.

What Could be Better

If you dislike luck-based games and random outcomes, this game could be a bit of a letdown. However, for getting kids acquainted with board game mechanics, it does have its place.

Marrakech

$37.99 $34.91

Buy on Amazon Buy at Noble Knight

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11/09/2022 05:57 am GMT

Scotland Yard

Players: 3-6
Playing time: 45mins
Difficulty: Medium

Scotland Yard: a compelling detective game of dodging racing cornering and chasing.

Get ready to travel all around London chasing the mysterious Mr. X. Players take on the roles of detectives in Scotland Yard and your job is to trace Mr. X’s routes as he travels around London.

Mr. X teases the police when he changes between taxis, buses, and the London Underground, all while trying to evade capture. Players devise plans and strategies to try and capture him before he strikes again.

What we Liked

In Scotland Yard, 8-year-olds can develop their deduction skills by guessing and using various clues to find the fugitive’s new location.

What Could be Better

While a simple hide-and-seek-style game, the gameplay can be a bit dull for older children and adults as it focuses more on logic than exciting movement. It does, however, prepare kids for the more intense Fury of Dracula later on!

Scotland Yard needs a team of daredevil detectives, can you capture Mr. X?

Scotland Yard

$40.14

Buy on Amazon Buy at Noble Knight

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11/09/2022 05:52 am GMT

Hanabi

Players: 2-5
Playing time: 25mins
Difficulty: Easy to Medium

Race the clock, build the fireworks, and launch your rockets!

Hanabi is a clever deduction card game with an electrifying twist! Players work together and must share as well as remember important information to play cards in the correct sequence.

As players cannot see their own cards, communication and cooperation are of the utmost importance. Hanabi teaches children key social skills of working as a team.

What we Liked

A fantastic board game with many mechanisms, Hanabi is easy to learn and play all while growing deduction, memory, and cooperative skills.

What Could be Better

Hanabi can be quite group dependent, leading to some players getting easily frustrated and others giving up. But that’s the whole point! You’ve got to communicate to solve problems.

Light them all to create a dazzling display and avoid a fizzling fiasco!

Hanabi

$10.99

Buy on Amazon Buy at Noble Knight

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11/09/2022 05:46 am GMT

The Great Dragon Race

Players: 2-4
Playing time: 25-45mins
Difficulty: Easy

The Great Dragon Race takes racing to the next level!

It’s the first day of the international dragon championships and the first event is the prestigious obstacle course known as the Great Dragon Race. Take on the role of a skilled dragon rider and race your way to treasures!

What we Liked

The Great Dragon Race is a fun fantasy game in which players can delve into storytelling and immerse themselves in the backgrounds of each dragon and its rider. With bold and colorful artwork, this game is wonderful for children.

What Could be Better

The game could get overly aggressive if players decide to stop others from finishing the race (rather than advancing their dragon).

While dodging attacks like ballista bolts and flaming balls, players use special cards to advance to the finish. Encouraging imagination and adventure, the Great Dragon Race is a fantastic game for creative minds.

The Great Dragon Race

$24.99 $17.50

Buy on Amazon Buy at Noble Knight

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11/09/2022 05:10 am GMT

Kingdomino Duel

Players: 2 
Playing time: 20mins
Difficulty: Easy 

Inspired by the classic Kingdomino, Kingdomino Duel is a territory-building board game that captures the medieval theme all in a compact package. This game is travel-friendly making a great for family trips or to play at school.

Kingdomino Duel is a two-player fantasy game in which players take turns rolling dice, putting them in pairs, and creating the dominoes they want. Slowly filling up your map, gather power from wizards who can cause powerful spells to allow you to rule over all the lands.

What we Liked

If you’re looking for some one-on-one time with your 8-year-old, Kingdomino Duel is a perfect game as it’s a strictly 2-player duel. Kingdomino Duel encourages independent decision-making in a stress-free-style game with only one other player.

What Could be Better

Low player interaction and less interesting art on this version make it a clear runner-up to the original (which plays well with two, by the way).

Roll, write and build your kingdom!

Apples to Apples Junior

Players: 4-10
Playing time: 30mins
Difficulty: Easy

A game of crazy combinations!

Based on the popular party game Apples to Apples, the Junior version keeps the same hilarious fast-paced fun while building cognitive skills. Players match the red Apple card, a noun, with one of their green apple cards that contains an adjective.

What we Liked

Apples to Apples Junior is a delightful game that helps children expand their vocabulary and thinking skills. With 576 cards, Apples to Apples Junior has high replayability for hours of fun! Cards include a wide range of people places things in events, the game is easy to learn and play, and sure to provide loads of entertainment.

What Could be Better

As with the original, this game is highly dependent on who you’re playing with. But as long as you can find some common ground, Apples to Apples can play up to 10 players making it perfect for kids’ parties and get-togethers!

Apples to Apples Junior

$16.99

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11/09/2022 04:48 am GMT

Bang! The Dice Game

Players: 3-8
Playing time: 15mins
Difficulty: Easy

In the Wild West, officers and bandits continue their fierce fights on the outskirts of the city. Suddenly, a swarm of arrows darkens the sky. The sheriff and his deputies must battle against the bandits and outlaws to bring peace to the West.

Bang! The Dice Game is a card game in which players each take on a role card. Roles can vary from sheriffs to outlaws and renegades. The last players alive, win!

What we Liked

At the heart of this game is some good ol’ fighting in which players must bluff and deduce who has which role card. By using a process of elimination, children can learn deduction skills all while exposing or defeating the ruthless gunmen that surround them.

What Could be Better

This game is not terribly strong as a social deduction game as it’s usually obvious what each player is up to. It is, however, a good intro to bluffing games for kids.

It’s the Wild West, can you survive?

Bang! The Dice Game

$17.90

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11/09/2022 04:37 am GMT

Dixit 

Players: 3-6
Playing time: 30mins
Difficulty: Easy

A storytelling game for kids and adults, Dixit shows that a picture is worth a thousand words!

In each round, a player picks up a card and thinks of a sentence that’s inspired by the card, then places it face-down again. The other players choose cards that they think would match the sentence. After secretly voting, the best match wins!

What we Liked

Encouraging imaginative storytelling, Dixit is a classic light-hearted game in which your imagination unlocks the tale. With gorgeous artwork, players can be inspired and create their own stories.

Dixit is a fantastic game for children’s imaginations as the cards are fantastical, dream-like situations that prompt creativity and storytelling.

What Could be Better

Like other voting card games, the fun of Dixit is highly dependent on the group you’re playing with and whether or not you can find common ground (or have inside jokes).

Dixit

$49.99

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11/09/2022 02:30 am GMT

Wrap-Up

We hope you enjoyed our list of the best board games for 8-year-olds! Did we miss any of your children’s favorites? Which of these have you tried?

Board games can help children develop many cognitive and social skills in a stress-free environment. What board game did you play when you were 8 years old? Let us know your favorite childhood games in the comments down below!

YOU MAY ALSO ENJOY (BEST GAMES BY AGE GROUP): Toddler & Preschool | Kindergarten | 2-Year-Old | 3-Year-Old | 4-Year-Old | 5-Year-Old | 5-6-Year-Old | 7-Year-Old | 8-Year-Old | 9-Year-Old | 10-Year-Old | 11-12-Year-Old | Teens & Teenagers

Zombie Kidz Evolution
Magic Maze
My Little Scythe
Sushi Go!
Azul
Lanterns: The Harvest Festival
Ingenious
Dragonwood: A Game of Dice and Daring
Agricola: Family Edition
Karuba
5-Minute Marvel
Forbidden Island
Carcassonne
Labyrinth
Don’t L. L.A.M.A
Marrakech
Scotland Yard
Hanabi
The Great Dragon Race
Kingdomino Duel
Apples to Apples Junior
Bang! The Dice Game
Dixit

Fun games with kids at home: 22 ideas

We have all recently seen that a family can be stuck at home for a long time, and a child can be left without communication with peers. How to make the faces of the household do not become sadder day by day? Find at least half an hour for a fun game.

Kidpassage has collected family games that do not require special equipment. You can play some of them with your child when you are preparing dinner or when you want to lie in bed longer in the morning, and the child has already come running to communicate. Others will require more activity - but all will drive away boredom.

Contents:

  1. Games for children 2-4 years old
  2. Games for children 5-8 years old
  3. Games for children 9-12 years old
  4. Games with parents
  5. Games from books
  6. Competitions

Games for children 2-4 years old

To develop a child, it is not necessary to sit with a set of geometric shapes and a book about colors. You can fool around together and be pleasantly surprised when you notice new skills in your baby.

1. Mirror

One player shows movements or grimaces, and the second tries to repeat them simultaneously and exactly. It gets even funnier if both players look in a real mirror at the same time.

2. Worm and apple

You need a real apple, and a child will become a worm. He will need to sit on the floor and, pulling himself up with his legs, get to the apple. Parents can also participate, only for fairness, the distance that they have to crawl needs to be increased.

3. Feather

Players sit around a table with a feather (cork, a piece of tissue or cotton will also work). You need to blow on the feather, driving it towards the opponent. You can make the floor a training ground for the game, and drive a feather with a wave of any impromptu fan.

4. Home orchestra

What happens if you tap a plastic container upside down with a spoon? And if you run the same spoon over clothespins on a string? And bang on a large saucepan? Extract sounds from all the objects at hand and sing along or dance to the beat of the resulting music. If there are several children, a parent can become a conductor and manage an orchestra.

Games for children 5-8 years old

Preschoolers and younger schoolchildren already know how to do a lot, they develop a sense of humor. Who will you become in their game - leading or active players?

5. Window dressing

A well-known game can be easily simplified for a small children's company. Let the theme of the game be animals or school supplies - their names should be written on pieces of paper and put in a box. Each participant pulls the task out of the box and tries to explain to others with gestures and movements what is hidden.

6. Barrel of laughter

The rules are simple: each player thinks of a word and pronounces it in response to the host's question. No one knows the questions, the answers are random, and therefore funny. "What did you have for breakfast?" - "Grandma." “Who brings gifts to children in winter?” - "Hippopotamus".

7. Pillow fight

Two players enter the ring, marked with stripes of colored tape, with pillows in their hands. The goal of each is to push the opponent out of the ring using only pillow strikes. The referee monitors compliance with the rules, he also gives a signal if the fight goes on for a while. To keep the game safe, it is better to keep fragile items away and arm the players with lightweight synthetic-filled pillows.

8. Haute Couture

For the game you will need different clothes and shoes - all this must be put in a pile. One of the players turns away from the pile, and the other players take turns picking up a piece of clothing and asking, "Where to wear this?" The turned away player names a part of the body, the rest dress according to his instructions. You can turn around when all the clothes are taken apart. You can add more fun to the game if you announce a competition for the best name for the resulting costume.

Games for children 9-12 years old

The older the children, the more complex games they can be offered. For younger students, you can simplify the rules, and even teenagers and adults will like the ingenious options.

9. Hat

This game is also known as Alias ​​or Say Different. If there is no ready-made board game or application on your smartphone, you can write any words on pieces of paper and put them in a hat (or any container). The goal of each player is to pull random words out of the hat and explain them to others so that they can guess which word it is. The winner is the one who manages to explain as many words as possible in a minute.

10. Twister

Colored circles are a polygon to show reaction speed and flexibility. The presenter spins the arrow on the scale with markings and announces what the arrow has shown, for example: “Right foot on red!” Players must complete the command as soon as possible. With each move, the situation becomes more complicated, and in the end someone falls, dragging the others with them. A ready-made set for this game is for sale, but the color fields can be marked on the floor or fabric on your own, and the determination of which color to put your hand or foot on is entrusted to pieces of paper with inscriptions or an application.

11. Danetki

The facilitator tells the end of a story, and the players must ask him questions to understand what happened at the beginning. The ending usually sounds paradoxical, and questions should be such that they can only be answered with "Yes", "No" or "Unknown". Ready-made stories can be found on the Internet, and then, having got the hang of it, compose it yourself.

12. I'm going to the sea…

The facilitator thinks of some pattern - for example, words that end in a vowel. Then he tells the players: "I'm going to the sea and I'm taking my cap with me (chooses a word that matches the pattern)." The rest of the players take turns saying: “I am also going to the sea and taking it with me ...” - and then they pick up different words, trying to calculate the pattern. If the word fits, the host tells the player: “You are going to the sea”, if not, “You are not going to the sea”.

Games with parents

There are children's activities in which parents become active participants. In such games, new talents are discovered, and trust between family members is also strengthened.

  • A selection of resorts for families with children

13. Family Canvas

Large sheet of paper (even a piece of smooth wallpaper will do), pencils and felt-tip pens - that's all you need for the game. Sit at a table or on the floor and start painting the big picture. For example, draw a dream house in which everyone will depict their own room and add something important to those places where the whole family gathers - the kitchen or living room.

14. Soap stories

To start the game, you will need to dissolve food coloring or gouache in a small amount of water, and then add dishwashing liquid. Beat the foam by blowing into the solution through a straw, and then touch the bubbles with a piece of paper. Think with your child what the print looks like and draw the necessary details. You can just sprinkle paint on the sheet, fold the paper in half, then unfold it and think about what the resulting blots look like.

15. Fanty

An adult writes fun tasks on pieces of paper and puts them in a box. Children take turns pulling out pieces of paper and doing what is written there: for example, they read poetry in a squeaky voice or draw a picture with their eyes closed. In games with older children, all participants can write tasks - with the risk that their own phantom will fall out to them.

16. Swings

A game for toddlers, which even older children sometimes like to play. The child lies down on the blanket, the parents take the blanket by the corners and swing it.

  • Best entertainment for kids

Games from books

Reading is also a good option for family leisure. And how many times have children imagined themselves as characters in books! But in books you can still find descriptions of children's games that have been forgotten over time.

17. My love is called A…

The game played by the characters of Lewis Carroll's Alice Through the Looking-Glass was popular in Victorian England. Its goal is to compose a story according to a given scheme, filling in the gaps with words for one letter. One of the schemes is as follows: “My love is called on ... I love him because he ... I am afraid of him because he ... I feed him ... He lives in ... ". The answers may be out of place: Alice, whose love in the game was called Z, fed her casseroles and splinters.

18. Don't step on the floor

Pippi Longstocking from the book by Astrid Lindgren taught this game to her friends Tommy and Annika. Players need to go around the room without going down to the floor. You can move around furniture, build transitions from suitable objects, jump from place to place. Tommy and Annika got very dirty during the game - but they played in an untidy kitchen with an oven.

19. Peepers

Leo Kassil described the fun, popular in pre-Internet times, in the book “Konduit and Shvambrania”. Two players sit opposite each other and look into the eyes, trying not to blink or laugh. The one who blinked, looked away or laughed is considered the loser. Agree whether during the game you can make faces and try to incapacitate your opponent in other ways.

  • Best hotels for families

Competitions

Some children love to compete and win. Compete with the whole family - even the struggle for an individual victory can unite.

20. Tongue without bones

Who, without stuttering even once, is the fastest to say “Karl stole the corals from Clara, and Clara stole the clarinet from Karl”? Tongue twisters develop diction well, but at first all participants laugh at their own attempts to pronounce complex combinations of sounds.

21. Life on other planets

You will need balloons according to the number of participants - these will be uninhabited planets. All participants populate their balls by drawing on them with markers. There can be several awards at once: for the most densely populated planet, for the most beautiful alien, for convenient infrastructure (will someone draw roads, shops and kindergartens?).

22. Sell an elephant

Why do only parents convince children that broccoli is healthy and a scarf is necessary? Give each member of the family an item, and let everyone try to convince others how important this item is and how it can be used for other purposes. It's a good way to give a different look to a smartphone, sofa cushion, or cookie cutter.

You may soon get into the habit of playing with the whole family in the evenings, or on Saturdays, or on rainy days. What family games would you recommend to Kidpassage readers?

Funny games for children - analogies not

Content

  1. Yes-No
  2. Smeshinka
  3. Drawing games
  4. Ha ha and hee hee
  5. Laughter

Funny games for kids for kids of all ages. Play at home, at school, in kindergarten, at a children's party and just with your playground mates!

Funny games for kids: the top 10 most exciting and fun games, plus the 11th and 12th games as a bonus!

I like someone who…

Children stand in front of an adult, and he gives them a sign of someone he likes and counts out loud to 5. They need to quickly find and touch this sign.

For example: — I like the one with pigtails! (everyone runs and touches the girl with pigtails). Variations: I like someone who has something red/white sneakers/something iron/who screams loudly and jumps on one leg!

Knockout (over 8 years old) - whoever touched the desired item last, leaves the game, and so on until 1 winner.

Chamomile

A daisy is made from paper. On the reverse side of each petal, funny tasks are written that an adult reads to them.

Children tear off the petals and begin to perform tasks: walk in single file, crow, jump on one leg, sing a song, say a tongue twister, etc. , how mom prepares dinner, how the laundry is squeezed out ... More ideas for tasks for this game in the topic Funny tasks for fans Funny tasks for fans.

Wild people

Stand in a row and learn a few simple exercises:

- stood up straight, arms out to the sides
- raised arms up
- lowered arms, raised left leg
- lowered left leg, raised right leg
- clapped hands and jumped

First practiced, everyone is doing great. Now invite the guys to repeat the same exercises to the music and turn on a very, very fast melody. Of course, children will become confused in movements.
"Come on, don't stop," the host encourages those who are confused. “Start with everyone together!”

Funny little people

Equipment needed: sheets of paper, felt-tip pens (pencils or pens). Number of players: from 2 to 6.

Players, each on their own sheet, draw a predetermined hero in parts, the drawn part is folded, sheets are exchanged, then a continuation is drawn, and so on in several steps. It is best to divide the drawing into three parts: head, torso (with arms), legs. Then we look at the result.

Grandpa's panties

This game will help you to keep up a cheerful mood. Initially, we agreed on the so-called code word, that is, a universal answer to any question of the presenter. A word or a couple of words should be chosen funnier. We agreed that our code words would be "grandpa's pants. "

It's harder to keep from laughing in this game.
So, the host asks:
- What is your favorite toy?
- Grandpa's panties!
- What's on your plate?
- Grandpa's panties!

And again, the one who laughed out of the game.
We awarded the most serious player (who lasted the longest without laughing) a chocolate bar.

Draw a monster

This is a drawing game. Each player is given a sheet of paper, a pencil, and then blindfolded. The facilitator names some object or living being, and all players begin to draw. Even if someone has finished drawing, he does not remove the bandage until the last participant has finished drawing.

Then the players, on the leader's command, remove their blindfolds and admire their masterpieces. It's okay that instead of a cat someone will get a monster, because here it is absolutely not necessary to depict the object exactly.

The player with the most ridiculous drawing can be given a small prize.

Don't laugh!

It is clear from the name that the main goal of the game is not to laugh. The host gives tasks, and the players perform. Each task is a certain movement.

For example:
- take the neighbor on the right by the ear
- slightly pull the ears of the neighbor on the left
- pull yourself slightly by the nose
- twist the neighbor on the left at the temple
- make "horns" to the neighbor on the right

Even persistent players after a while can't help it and start laughing.

Yes-No

Funny danetki -
Without candy wrappers,

Only "yes" and only "no" -
Give the correct answer!

- If you run to the buffet,
So you're hungry?… (Yes)

— There is a moon and a star in the sky —
So it's noon?… (No)

— On the airfield of the train
Ready to take off into the sky?… (No)

— Who eats a lot of sweets,
He has a sweet tooth, right? ... (Yes)

- Pot and pan
Needed for catching fish? . .. (No)

- Keeping a big secret
Very difficult, right? ... (Yes)

- If you love ballet,
Will you go to the theater? ... (Yes)

- Mustaches and beards grow
For those who go to kindergarten?… (No)

— If you are always lazy,
In the five’s diary?… (No)

— You ate dinner with appetite,
Need to say thank you?… (Yes)

— If you lie everywhere, always,
So you are truthful?… (No)

— There is clear water in the well,
To swim and dive there?… (No)

Smeshinka

All the children stand in a circle, and each is given a name . For example: Saucepan, Ladle, Rolling-pin... We, so that no one would be offended, called all kitchen utensils (otherwise, if you call one Ladle and the other Dead Eye, insults cannot be avoided).

The facilitator's task is to walk around the children one by one and ask each one a question. The task of the children is to answer the question in one word - with their new name. For example:
- What is your name?
- Ladle.
- What did you eat today?
- Saucepan.

Whoever laughs is out of the game.

Drawers

Equipment needed: sheets of paper, felt-tip pens (pencils or pens). We paint a picture together. Each participant needs a sheet of paper and a pencil (pen). It is better if there are 4-5 players, but two, in principle, are enough.

Each participant thinks of some kind of creature - a dog, a turtle, a man, a monster that can be drawn standing up. Without peeping into someone else's sheet, everyone draws the head of "his" being. The sheet is folded so that the head is not visible, but so that the torso can be completed.
Then the participants exchange their sheets (if there are more than two participants - clockwise) and each in a new sheet continues to draw his intended creature - a torso with arms.

The paper is folded over again and passed around. Participants draw legs. Then, in turn, open all the sheets. The result is very unusual creatures.

Optimal: 4 - 5 players and the creature is divided into 4 - 5 parts for drawing, respectively (ie, head, torso to the waist with arms, torso from the waist and legs to the knees, legs from the knees).

Ha-ha and hee-hee

The conditions are quite simple: the first player says "ha" loudly, the second "hee" and so on in a circle. When the turn reaches the first player again, he says "ha-ha", the second player "hee-hee". And so with each circle, one syllable "ha" and "hi" is added. The more repetitions, the faster the pace of the game.

After a while, the game turns into a general merry laughter, and along with “ha-ha” and “hee-hee”, “ho-ho”, “he-he” and other funny sounds are heard.

Laughter

Before the start of the game, a leader is chosen, he is given a handkerchief in his hands. The rest of the children stand around the leader. The host throws the handkerchief high, the players should start laughing.


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