Image: MomJunction Design Team
When children grow up to ages six or seven, they start taking more interest in group activities like board games. So, here’s our list of the best board games for 7-year-olds with exciting features and upgrades. These board games are educational but easy to follow and offer new learning opportunities without being too complicated. Board games help foster brain development, critical analytical thinking, and problem-solving skills. They help keep your child away from screens and are entertaining. So, read about the available best-selling and time-tested options to choose the right board game.
Top Picks
19 Best Board Games For 7-Year-Olds
1. Best Portable:Catan Junior Game
Image: Catan The Catan board game is an adventure game you can play in a group, making it suitable for family nights. It introduces children to the world of Catan. The skill-building game is designed in the ring of tropical isles and has an island theme involving mystery and resources. The Catan board game has no age limit, and the average playtime is thirty minutes. With many interesting game pieces, this junior version of the classic board game includes 106 die-cut markers, 28 pirate hideouts, four-player cost boards, and one two-sided game board.
Pros
- Fast-paced
- Builds up thinking and strategy skills
- Easy to setup and understand
- Long-lasting material
Cons
- May be slightly difficult to play for some children
- Some may find the instructions too long
2. Best Travel-Friendly Game:Skillmatics Guess In 10 Card Game
Image: Skillmaticsworld The award-winning Skillmatics Guess in 10 card game is simple but offers a lot in terms of learning and having fun. This parent-recommended fun card game includes 50 cards of different animals and six clue cards. Play in groups by picking a card from the box and letting your opponents guess the animal by asking strategic questions. The clue cards and bonus questions help you plan your strategy, and the person who guesses the first seven cards wins the game. Here’s an honest review of the product.
Pros
- Ideal for two to six players
- Travel-friendly game
- Age-appropriate board game
- Educational game
- Suitable for family nights
- Fun for adults as well
- Memory game for children
- More themes available for extension
Cons
- Some pieces of information on the cards may be incorrect
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
The 20,595 positive customer reviews on Amazon are a testament to its quality and reliability.
Quick tip3. Best Realistic Design:Hasbro Gaming Battleship Board Game
Image: Hasbro Remember the classic board game battleship with only ships to sink? Here’s an updated battleship game that includes planes to make the battles more interesting. The set includes two battle cases with the ships and planes and then the red and white pegs to mark the hits and misses. The game is filled with suspense and excitement as it allows children to strategize and destroy the enemy’s fleet. This review video showcaisng a tester’s experience can help you make an informed decision.
Pros
- Travel-friendly and convenient to store
- Extra pegs to use when you miss some
- Realistic design and details
- Close to the classic board game
Cons
- All the planes and ships may not fit into the box
"Battleship remains a classic hit in my family. The addition of planes in this version added a fresh twist. Though it can take some time to set it up, my kids have a blast strategizing. Hence, despite some minor drawbacks, I would still recommend this game as it has managed to keep my little ones off their screens."
Quick tip4. Best Child-Friendly Design:Ravens burger Labyrinth Board Game
Image: Ravensburger Ravens burger’s Labyrinth board game is a maze game that can be played by two to four players and is recommended for ages seven and up. Arrange the board and deal out the deck of cards, check the top card on your turn, and make your move to reach the right place on the board while taking the shortest route. If there is no clear path, you can use the extra tile piece to move the maze, and that’s how the game changes with every turn. This is one of the best-selling mystery games that allows children to think and play strategically while guaranteeing lots of fun and excitement.
Pros
- Durable
- Simple yet challenging
- Easy-to-store box
- Sturdy cardboard tiles
- Beautifully designed pawns
- Child-friendly design
- Teaches cause and effect
- Ideal for keeping children engaged for 20-30 minutes
Cons
- Quality of the cards may not be great
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
Join the 19,632 satisfied buyers on Amazon who have said the product meets their needs and expectations.
5. Best Easy To Learn:Taco VS Burrito The Card Game
Image: Taco Vs Burrito Taco VS Burrito’s innovative and fun card game is designed for ages seven and up. This strategic, kid-friendly game includes 32 action cards, 24 ingredient cards, four cardholders, and an instruction booklet. Each player is given a cardholder to prepare the most valuable meal. Deal the cards and then place the remaining cards as draw cards. On your turn, draw a card and then play a card according to your strategy. When one person has no cards to play, the game stops. Add up each player’s meal to determine the winner.
Pros
- Easy to learn and play
- Fun and hilarious ingredient list
- Ideal family board game
- Competitive game
- Extension game available
Cons
- Some might find the ingredient cards inappropriate
"Playing this game with my family has been a laughter-filled experience. The many action cards can be overwhelming initially, especially for younger players. But with some patience, it has gradually become a favorite in my house. Plus, its ability to improve maths skills is a nice touch."
6. Best Fast-Paced Game:Spin Master Games Hedbanz Card Game
Image: Spin Master Games Hedbanz is a family board game that needs continuous guessing and is pretty simple yet interesting to play. The set includes six headbands, thirteen scoring badges, 69 picture cards, three sample question cards, and a timer. Each player wears a headband and picks a card to place on their headband without peeking. Next, ask yes-or-no questions that help you answer within the time. If you guess the card you are wearing, you receive a score badge.
Pros
- Fast-paced game
- Child-friendly content
- Free Hedbanz app to make the game more fun
- Improves critical thinking and deductive reasoning in children
- Adjustable headbands
- Helps children learn how to phrase questions
- May be ideal for speech therapy
Cons
- Limited picture cards
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
The product has garnered more than 13,662 positive reviews on Amazon.
Quick tip7. Best For Team Play:Spontuneous The Song Game
Image: Spontuneous Spontuneous is a song game in which you need not have the talent to sing because the rules are simple, and the tune doesn’t matter. The family board game is best played with four to ten players. Each player writes down their list of trigger words, and then when it’s your turn, you announce the word and flip the timer.
The first person who sings or shouts a minimum of five words from a song containing the trigger word gets a chance to move on the board and reach the finish line. Although the strategy game is recommended for children aged above eight, even younger children will enjoy the game.
Pros
- Simple rules
- Easy to understand and play
- Suitable for family game night
- Allows team play
- Spontaneous cards to add extra fun
Cons
- Young children might be at a disadvantage due to the timer
"I pulled out this game during a family game night, and it was a hit across generations. There was some initial confusion with the rules, but once that was done, the game has since been charming everyone. Even the non-musical folks enjoyed guessing and singing snippets of songs."
8. Best For Fast Play:Sequence Game
Image: Jax The Sequence game comes with a folding game board, 135 playing chips, and two decks of playing cards. This strategy game is easy to play and helps improves focus in children. With a complete guide and game rules, each player needs to have a maximum five-card sequence to win the game. The tried-and-tested Sequence game is suitable for children aged seven and above.
Pros
- Can be played with a group of up to 12 members
- Develops STEM skills at an early age
- Easy to carry while traveling
- Suitable for family game nights
Cons
- Plastic markers may have a chemical odor
- May be smaller than expected
9. Best Educational Game:Hasbro Gaming Scrabble Junior Game
Image: Hasbro This junior version of the classic board game Scrabble is suitable for beginners as they can simply match the letters to complete a word and score. Flip the board, and there is an advanced Scrabble version for them to build their own words. Complete a word to score one point, and score two points by completing a word of the same color as your token. The set includes 105 letter tiles and an instruction guide. This letter-matching game requires two to four players.
Pros
- Educational board game
- Colorful picture clues
- Grows with the child
- Develops vocabulary skills
- Cute and colorful tokens
Cons
- Cardboard tiles may not last long
"Scrabble Junior has helped us play our favorite game with our kids. The board’s 'beginner' and 'advanced' sides have successfully encouraged a love for word-building. While I wish the titles were wooden like the original version, it is still a decent entry point for my young spellers on family game nights."
10. Best For All Ages:Mattel Games Blokus Board Game
Image: Mattel Blokus is a game of strategy with simple rules for seven-year-olds to understand and have fun. The game board for kids comes with 21 tiles of each color and requires two to four players. Every player places their tiles strategically on their turn and tries to place the maximum number of tiles by the end.
It has only one rule—each tile should be in contact with the same colored tiles at the corners. When there is no more option to place the tiles, the strategy game ends, and the player with the minimum tiles wins the game.
Pros
- Fun for adults and kids
- Promotes brain activity
- Durable plastic tiles
Cons
- Box might be flimsy
11. Best For Hand-Eye Coordination:Educational Insights The Sneaky, Snacky Squirrel Game
Image: Educatiol Insights Suitable for preschoolers and toddlers, this creative squirrel game enhances your little ones’ social and emotional skill levels as they spin the spinner and pick a matching acorn using the Squirrel Squeezer to place it in the log. There are 20 colored acorns, one spinner, four logs, and an instruction guide for your child to have a great time while playing this child-friendly game. This fun and engaging matching game for kids improves hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills.
Pros
- Easy to setup
- Easy to learn
- Easy to play
- Vibrant and colorful board game
Cons
- Spinner might seem flimsy to some
- Squeezer might be too hard to squeeze
"Although meant for little ones, this game has charmed everyone in my family, including the adults. Though slightly rough, its spinner does its job well and makes the game more entertaining. It has quickly become a frequently requested addition to game nights."
12. Best Spinner-Powered Fun:Briar patch Pete The Cat Board Game
Image: University Games Pete the Cat board game is inspired by the famous book series and is a simple game for kids aged three years and above. However, due to its attractive design, seven-year-olds can also enjoy it. The set includes 14 cupcakes, 20 birthday presents, a game board with spinner, four game pieces, a cupcake tray, a grumpy toad, and instructions. The game for kids involves getting the missing cupcakes back from the grumpy toad by performing the activities mentioned on the board.
Pros
- Encourages imaginative play
- Fosters cooperation in children
- Develops math and social skills
- Requires no reading
- Cute and colorful cupcakes and illustrations
Cons
- No options for strategizing
13. Best Sea Of Skills Game:Play Monster Don’t Rock The Boat Game
Image: Image: Playmonster Don’t Rock The Boat is a balancing game that requires deep concentration to keep the boat stable. The set includes a boat and 16 pirate pieces that should be placed carefully without rocking the boat. The pirate pieces include ten pirate penguins, octopus, crab, canon, anchor, captain’s wheel, and a treasure chest. The one who fails to balance the boat loses the game.
Pros
- Inbuilt storage space for pirate pieces
- Educational game
- Challenging game
- Made of durable material
Cons
- May not be easy to play
14. Best Quality:Spin Master Games Hedbanz Guessing Card Game
Image: Spin Master Games Hedbanz Picture Guessing board is similar to the sixth game on the list but with a different art style. The six headbands are designed with different themes to make them look fun and interesting. The game rules are the same—each player wears a headband, picks a card from the deck, places it on the headband, and then asks yes-or-no questions to guess the card. The one with the most scoring badges wins the game.
Pros
- Suitable for the whole family to play together
- Fun game
- Helps children in phrasing questions
- Easy to learn and play
- Age-appropriate cards
Cons
- Limited number of cards
15. Best Storytelling:Jumping High Five My First Dragon Adventure Board Game
Image: Jumping High Five Suitable for two to four players, this story-driven gameplay allows your child to be creative and imaginative. You can create an adventurous story while engaging in the detailed board and themed cards. The game plot involves images and numbers from one to ten to help develop your child’s counting skills. It is a race among the players to become the hero and convince the dragon to relight the magical marshmallow fire. This box contains a game board and a wide range of accessories, including four player tokens, four dragon tokens, 52 number and obstacle cards, a ten-sided dice, and 25 item cards.
Pros
- Easy to play
- Easy to learn
- Colorful
- Easy to setup
- High-quality materials
Cons
- Instructions may be difficult for younger children
- May not be well-organized
16. Best Dino-Building: Spin Master Games Jurassic World Stomp N’ Smash Board Game
Image: Spin Master Games The game is a race to build a dinosaur and collect Jurassic tokens to win. It could be played among two to four players. Molding their dinosaur with kinetic sand, your little one will have a lot of fun with this game. Apart from playing with their favorite dinosaurs, your child could make sand art using the sand kit. This family board game includes a horizontal and vertical gameboard, two plastic cups, two dinosaur molds, a T-Rex Dino Stomper, four Dinosaur movers and plastic stands, a bag of sand container with lid, a bag of kinetic sand with 30 cards, a punch sheet with 30 Jurassic tokens, and an instruction sheet.
Pros
- High-quality sand
- Creative
- Easy rules
- Fine motor skills game
Cons
- Play area might get messy
- Might be time-consuming
17. Best For Young Strategists:Days Of Wonder Ticket To Ride First Journey Board Game
Image: Days Of Wonder Ideal for two to six players, this board game has a playtime of 15-30 minutes and features a strategic game wherein players can collect train cards and claim routes on the game’s map to connect cities as displayed on the tickets. The quick game ends when a player completes six tickets to claim the Golden ticket as their prize. This game of strategy is suitable for children of age six or above.
Pros
- Easy to learn and play
- High-quality material
- Playing board is thick and has sturdy folds
- Involves geography
Cons
- Might be difficult for some younger children to understand
- Might be visually confusing
18. Best For Budding Artists:Gatwick Games Doodle Face Game
Image: Gatwick Games Doodle Face game is a drawing game set that comes with drawing pads, face cards, pens, and theme cards. You don’t need to be an artist or wide range of skills to play the game—all you need is the spirit to join in and just doodle. In the game, the players take turns to draw a facial feature each of their friend. The game could quickly become a family favorite as its end result is a funny face that will make everyone laugh out loud.
Pros
- Simple yet creative game
- No competition
- Suitable for different ages to play together
- Interesting theme cards
Cons
- Children’s interest in the game may dwindle after a few sessions
"My family loves to make hilarious caricatures of each other with the help of this drawing game. It's been an engaging game for kids and adults, and the silly drawings had everyone laughing together. Although not the best for formal settings like classrooms, it's been great for family nights."
19. Best For Fun:Think Fun Math Dice Jr Game
Image: Think Fun Math Dice Jr is a simple game that helps improve your child’s ability to add and subtract quickly. The fun challenge game includes a scoring track, a 12-sided die, five six-sided dice, a carry bag, and an instruction sheet. Roll the 12-sided die first for a target number, and then roll the five six-sided dice to score the target number. The more dice combinations you use to get the scoring number, the more moves you can make on the scoreboard. The one who reaches the finish line first wins.
Pros
- Develops critical thinking and math skills
- Enhances problem-solving skills
- Educational game
- Easy to carry and store
- Fast-paced game
Cons
- Game pieces might be flimsy
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
Do not miss out on this product that has earned 8,125 positive reviews on Amazon.
How To Choose The Right Board Game For Seven-Year-Olds?
Here are a few factors to consider when choosing a board game for your seven-year-old.
- Age-appropriateness: Check if the game is suitable for your child. For instance, some parents might not like a game that uses wacky words and phrases, while others might find them hilarious.
- Child’s personality: Keep in mind your child’s personality. Know whether they love a competitive or a cooperative board game.
- Child’s ability: Consider your child’s abilities and skill levels before buying a challenging and strategic game.
- Playgroup: Will your child play the game with the whole family or their buddies? Consider the playgroup’s age range and choose a board game suitable for the entire family or group.
- Fun element: A game is all about fun—it should not be boring and stressful. Choose a game that is fun to play so that your seven-year-old instantly likes it.
- Quality and safety: Consider the quality and safety of the product. The product should be durable enough to last several play sessions and should not harm the child.
- Storage: Choose a board game that is easy to pack and store.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the most family-friendly board game?
A game that is easy to learn and play so that it can be enjoyed by players of any age and accommodates a large number of players is an ideal family-friendly board game.
2. What do kids learn from games?
Children can learn various kinds of skills through playing games, including social and linguistic skills as well as creative abilities. Board games play an important role in helping children develop their mental and cognitive abilities. They encourage your children to think outside the box.
Why Trust MomJunction?
Priti Bose is passionate about reviewing kids’ products, toys, and games, and in this article, she has created a list of the best board games for seven-year-olds. She has carefully analyzed the features of the games and their user reviews to pick age-appropriate products. A buying guide has also been included to help you buy a suitable game. These consumer-tested board games are fun, engaging, and offer cognitive stimulation to your child.
The Bottom Line
Whether it is the scorching summers or the freezing winters, board games have got you covered, as playing board games is a great way to spend fun time indoors and bond with your children. Also, it helps build social skills in children. When picking a board game for a 7-year-old, consider the child’s interest, personality, and ability, the number of players, and the age-appropriateness of the board game. Our best pick is the Catan Junior Game, which introduces children to strategy and resource management while making it adventurous. We also like the Skillmatics Guess in 10 Card Game, which combines fun and education and helps enhance vocabulary and memory skills. You may also try the Ravensburger Labyrinth Board Game, which helps stimulate strategic thinking in dynamic ways, fostering cause-and-effect understanding. Furthermore, when choosing the best board games for 7-year-olds, make sure the game is interesting, and the board is made of durable and safe material.
Infographic: How Do Board Games Benefit 7-Year-Olds?
Besides being an excellent way for children to spend quality time with their friends and family, board games can also be a fun and educational activity for children. So, look at the infographic below to learn some fantastic benefits of playing board games for 7-year-old children. Illustration: Momjunction Design Team
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