Playing board games is our great passion. We started playing games with our children at an early age. My parents are also enthusiastic board game players and have always brought back new treasures. I would like to continue this tradition and have compiled a list of our favorite games for children aged 5 and up. The games have, of course, been played and tested by us:
Board games for children aged 5 and up
Schloss Schlotterstein (Ghost Castle)
Today is the spooky exam for the little ghost at Schloss Schlotterstein. Help him become the best spooky ghost in the class. The ghost has to scare the castle residents, but they are scattered all over the castle.
This game was awarded Best Children's Game in 2003, and in my opinion, rightly so. It is really well-made and gives children many ways to play it. And quite incidentally, various skills are encouraged.
Sequence of play
After assembling the castle, the children each have to draw a start card and pick up the magnetic wand. Now draw a card with castle residents and off you go. Once the castle resident is found, the ghost must get to them as quickly as possible and scare them. Then the next card is drawn until the hourglass runs out of sand.
Learning objective
- Careful observation
- Eye-hand coordination
- Memory
- Team spirit
Variations
There are several variations for this game:
- Group haunting: The children try to find and scare a set number of castle residents within a certain time.
- 7 in one go: one child must find 7 castle residents within a certain time.
Age
- from 5 years
Players
- 1-6 players
Buying tip
Unfortunately, this game is no longer available new very often. But take a look at Amazon
The Mousetrap
The mouse really wants to get to the cheese, but there are several traps on the way that it can step into. This game is based on the character from 'Die Sendung mit der Maus' and is very lovingly illustrated.
Sequence of play
The game pieces are placed at the start on the game board and players take turns rolling the dice. Now the mice move the number of points and have to be careful not to fall into a hole. If this happens, they have to climb out by rolling the dice. Depending on the number rolled, this can turn out better or worse. The winner is the mouse that reaches the cheese at the finish line first.
Learning objective
- Understanding numbers
- Social behavior
Age
- from 5 years
Players
- 2 – 4 players
Buying tip
This game is still available on Amazon
The Fly Trap
Who can save their flies from the spider's web? The spider always swings around threateningly and sometimes catches a fly.
Sequence of play
The players try to get their little flies from the spider web to the finish line. But when the spider is rolled, the player gets to swing the spider, and everyone trembles to see if the spider spares them.
Learning objective
- learning tactics
- Social behavior
Age
- from 5 years
Players
- 2 – 4 players
Buying tip
Unfortunately, this game is hardly available to buy anymore, maybe still on Amazon
The Monster Trap
The monsters are on the loose in the villa and must be captured. The three-dimensional game board is really great.
Sequence of play
The players draw a card and must move the monster on the card into the basement as quickly as possible. By pushing, the monster is moved through the corridors and lands in the monster trap.
Learning objective
- Skill game
- Social behavior and team play
- Speed
Age
- ages 6 and up
Players
- 2 – 4 players
Buying tip
This game is available on Amazon
Spinderella
The 2015 Children's Game of the Year is a completely new, three-dimensional game system. Here, play takes place on several levels.
Sequence of play
The forest ants have to run through the forest courses to get food, but Spinderella and her brothers are already waiting in the trees to stop the ants. If the spider is rolled, you can try to fish any ant off the board.
Learning objective
- Skill game
- Action game
Age
- ages 6 and up
Players
- 2 – 4 players
Buying tip
This game is available in toy stores or on Amazon
Sagaland
Who can find all the items being searched for?
Sequence of play
The players roam through the forest and try to find the items being searched for. Whoever knows where something is located must hurry to the castle and lift the correct tree. Is it the right item?
Learning objective
- learning tactics
- Social behavior
- Memory
Age
- ages 6 and up
Players
- 2 – 6 players
Buying tip
This game is available on Amazon
The Enchanted Tower
This game was the 2013 Children's Game of the Year and is really well-made. Here, the princess must be found, but watch out for the evil wizard.
Sequence of play
At the beginning, the princess must be 'locked up' and the key is hidden by the wizard. Now Robin has to find the princess by rolling the dice, but the wizard can also always move along. Robin wins if he can free the princess before the wizard.
Learning objective
- Memory
- Concentration
Age
- from 5 years
Players
- 2-4 players
Buying tip
This game can be bought in toy stores or on Amazon
Monkey Alarm
Fun for all ages. Skill is required here; how do I make sure as few monkeys as possible fall down?
Sequence of play
Here, the sticks must be pulled slowly out of the palm tree, but be careful! Are the monkeys shifted or slipping? It is important that as few monkeys as possible fall down on your turn!
Learning objective
- Skill
Age
- from 5 years
Players
- 2-4 players
Buying tip
This game can be bought in toy stores or on Amazon
Kakerlakak (Buggaloop)
A scurrying cockroach on the game board is actually a highlight for the little ones. A really funny game that my children play again and again.
Sequence of play
The battery-operated cockroach should be lured into the hideout. You roll the dice and, depending on the symbol shown, you can turn the cutlery. Depending on the result, the cockroach can make its way through the labyrinth to your hideout, or not.
Learning objective
- Reaction game
Age
- from 5 years
Players
- 2-4 players
Buying tip
This game can be bought in toy stores or on Amazon
Dobble – Card game
Great game for children; here, the observation skills of the children (and the parents!) are trained. You have to find 2 identical symbols as quickly as possible and collect cards.
Sequence of play
Each of the 55 cards always has 8 different symbols on it, and there is always at least 1 matching symbol between any 2 cards. Whoever has collected the most cards is the winner.
Learning objective
- Speed
- Reaction game
- Strengthen observation skills
Age
- ages 6 and up
Players
- 2-8 players
Buying tip
This game can be bought in toy stores or on Amazon
Elfer Raus – Card game
Entertaining game for discarding cards, but not only that; tactics are required here. How can I block other players and still win with an 11?
Sequence of play
The players try to discard their hand cards as quickly as possible. The red eleven starts, and now further cards can be placed in the correct order.
Learning objective
- Tactics
- Understanding numbers
- Strengthen observation skills
Variations
There are 13 (!) variations of this game. Tip: Try 'Schlafmütze' – it's one of our favorite games!
Age
- ages 7 and up
Players
- 2-6 players
Buying tip
This game can be bought in toy stores or on Amazon
Blokus
Due to the countless game combinations, this tile-laying game never gets boring.
Sequence of play
In this game, every player must place as many pieces as possible on the game board, but that is not so easy because you can only place the pieces with a direct connection via a corner. And then there are the opponents who also want to win.
Learning objective
- Strategy game
Age
- ages 7 and up
Players
- 2-4 players
Buying tip
This game can be bought in toy stores or on Amazon
Ringo Flamingo
An exciting ring toss game that provides action and fun. Incidentally, the little ones train their dexterity.
Sequence of play
The players must throw as many lifebuoys as possible onto the necks of the flamingos. Each flamingo neck gives one point, each crocodile neck gives a minus point.
Learning objective
- Skill
- Concentration
- Counting
Age
- from 5 years
Players
- 2-4 players
Buying tip
This game can be bought in toy stores or on Amazon
Catan Junior
A must for Settlers fans. Since we didn't want to wait until our children could play Settlers, we bought Catan Junior! Great for the whole family.
Sequence of play
In this game, resources are traded and exchanged; with a certain combination of resources, ships or settlements can be built. The goal is to build all your ships and settlements.
Learning objective
- Skill
- Strategy game
- Concentration
- Memory
Age
- from 5 years
Players
- 2-4 players
Buying tip
This game can be bought in toy stores or on Amazon
Shopping games
One of my favorite games as a child and now also my children's. Shopping with a shopping list; whoever gets everything first wins.
Sequence of play
The players receive a shopping list and must purchase the products in the store using dice, including paying money.
Variations
On the back is a second supermarket without dice. Here, the players can simply scurry around the board, practice conversations, and buy products.
Learning objective
- Concentration
- Memory
- handling money
Age
- from 5 years
Players
- 2-8 players
Buying tip
Unfortunately, this exact game is hardly available anymore, but there are plenty of such games in toy stores, at discounters, or on Amazon
Rabbatz
An action game and not for the faint of heart. You try to get your colored balls to the finish line, but the path can be full of holes and you start all over again.
Sequence of play
The balls must be brought to the finish line, but watch out, the seemingly safe place can be gone with just a turn, and an opponent can send you back to the start.
Learning objective
- Action game
- Social behavior
Age
- from 7 years
Players
- 2 – 4 players
Buying tip
This game might still be available on Amazon
Nimmersatt (Hungry Caterpillar)
A lovely game for the whole family. Here, small pinecones must be collected by squirrels, but that is not so easy because the other squirrels are also collecting and sometimes even steal the pinecones from the wheelbarrow.
Sequence of play
Squirrels collect small pinecones and must bring them home safely. You roll the dice here; on fields with pinecones, the respective amount of pinecones may be placed in the wheelbarrow. But watch out, if you meet another squirrel, it may be that it can take pinecones away from you. The winner is whoever has their home full of pinecones first.
Learning objective
- Strategy game
- Concentration
- Memory
Age
- from 5 years
Players
- 2-4 players
Buying tip
Unfortunately, this game is hardly available anymore; if so, perhaps in toy stores, at discounters, or on Amazon
Coco Crazy
Monkey gangs are hiding in the six coconuts – which gang is in which nut? Here, you roll the dice, search, and swap with all kinds of tricks.
Sequence of play
The goal is to find the right hidden monkeys in the nuts. Here you have to remember exactly where which colored monkeys are hidden.
Learning objective
- Concentration
- Memory
Age
- ages 7 and up
Players
- 2-8 players
Buying tip
This game can be bought in toy stores or on Amazon
Peppino
Here, a clown must be put together correctly. Using cards, the players must quickly replicate their own clown.
Sequence of play
The players receive a card and must build exactly this clown. Using symbols and colors, the clown is assembled; the winner is whoever puts the head on first.
Learning objective
- Concentration
- Memory
- Color recognition
- Symbol recognition
Age
- from 5 years
Players
- 2-4 players
Buying tip
Unfortunately, this game is also hardly available to buy anymore, perhaps second-hand on Amazon
Flizz und Miez
A board game especially for little racing drivers who like to play with cars. I have to admit, it's not quite my thing, but we really wanted to get our son into board games, and that's when my mom discovered this game.
Sequence of play
There are different roles for the players here: sometimes you are a cat, sometimes a race director, sometimes a racing driver. The players must prove their skill and bring the racing drivers to the finish line.
Learning objective
- Concentration
- Skill
- Creativity
- trains quick perception
Age
- from 5 years
Players
- 2-4 players
Buying tip
Unfortunately, this game is also hardly available to buy anymore, perhaps second-hand on Amazon
Mäusefieber (Mouse Fever)
An exciting cheese hunt begins here. The players must collect as much cheese as possible. Can also be played well alone.
Sequence of play
The players must bring the cheese (the dice) into their burrow with their mice, which are equipped with magnets. The mice are moved using a rod, which is also magnetic.
Learning objective
- Skill game
- Action game
Age
- from 5 years
Players
- 1- 2 players
Buying tip
This game is hardly available to buy anymore, perhaps second-hand or on Amazon
Krakenalarm (Kraken Attack)
With the research ship, the players set off in search of sea creatures. But the cheeky octopus Kuno is also romping around in the sea, which can cause the ship to tip over.
Sequence of play
The players must collect as many sea creatures as possible with their ship. But when the octopus strikes, it can happen that the ship tips over.
Learning objective
- Memory game
- Memory
Age
- from 5 years
Players
- 2-4 players
Buying tip
This game can be bought in toy stores or on Amazon
Tetris Duell
Finally a game for 2 people. This fast-paced game is based on the well-known online game Tetris and won't let you go.
Sequence of play
The player whose turn it is must drop the Tetrimino shown on the LCD display into the matrix. Points are awarded if the Tetrimino touches game pieces of the same color or even completes the row. If there is a gap, you get minus points. Our set has 2 different game variations.
Learning objective
- Strategy game
Age
- ages 6 and up
Players
- 2 players
Buying tip
This game can be found in toy stores or on Amazon
Extra buying tip:
I don't necessarily recommend buying the games new. Browse flea markets or online on platforms for second-hand items (e.g., willhaben.at or ebay.at). On Amazon there are also always second-hand versions. But definitely have photos of the games sent to you, or ask if the game is complete. Unfortunately, it has already happened to me that 1 card was missing and the game was then even unusable.
For a while, I was at flea markets very often and always found it really nice when parents or even the children themselves sold their games and gave many tips and information about them. That's how I got some really great games that we play or have played really often.
Anyone who wants to can also visit game festivals or game fairs and test games in advance. In Gänserndorf, a game festival takes place regularly.
takes place regularly.
Do you also have games that should be mentioned here? Then I would be very happy about an email or a comment.
Photos by Sabine, meinhaushalt.at
