This is part of our series on board games by age. For more info check out our comprehensive guide on picking games for kids here.
As kids get older and progress with their physical and mental development, they’ll need more and more of a challenge to keep them sharp and entertained. Board games cater to the ever-increasing intelligence of children as they grow up pretty well and offer something for everyone at practically any age.
For those around the age of seven or eight, board games start to offer more of a challenge and become a little more complex. They place more emphasis on strategy and start to reward players that think and plan ahead. These games are nowhere near as convoluted as some they may encounter a few years down the road, but they take the lessons kids learned and skills they developed over the last few years and offer something more. They can also be pretty entertaining and add a lot more humor to the mix also.
Top 10 Board Games For 7 Year Olds
Below is a mixture of games kids can start to play from seven years old that we think they’ll enjoy.
Blokus
By: Mattel Games Players: 2-4 Time: 20 Minutes
Less than a minute to learn but hours of fun! Protect your territory by fitting as many pieces on the board as possible while strategically trying to block your opponents.
Blokus is an abstract strategy game that uses transparent, Tetris-like (or polyominos as they are called) colored pieces to cover a segmented game board with 400 squares! The object of the game is to try and fit as many of the 21 pieces each player starts the game with on the board. The catch is that you cannot place a new piece adjacent to your other pieces already on the board, instead, you must place at least one corner touching the corner of another piece.
With each piece being a different shape and size and a game board that provides less and less space each turn, thinking ahead and anticipating your opponents moves is critical in order to secure victory.
Players start by placing their first piece in one corner of the game board and as long as they can continue to place pieces corner to corner, the game goes on until players have used all their pieces or they cannot play anymore and are blocked from doing so.
Scoring is based on how many pieces each player has left. For any pieces left, count how many segments each piece has then subtract that number from zero for a negative score. If a player has used all their pieces they gain fifteen points. They’ll also gain an extra five points if the last piece they played was the one square piece.
Not quite Tetris, not quite dominoes, but one heck of a strategy game! Simple to learn but a challenging experience for kids and adults alike. It doesn’t take long to play a game of Blokus but with it’s addictive game play kids will come back to it again and again.
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Zombie Kidz Evolution
By: Scorpion Masqué Players: 2-4 Time: 15 Minutes
Zomibe Kidz Evolution is a cooperative legacy board game for kids. Players work together to defend their school from a zombie infestation and will need to strategize to keep the rooms clear and lock the gates so no more zombies can enter. Kids will get a kick out of the theme and, since everyone is working together, it’s a great opportunity for them to develop social skills, sharing ideas, and collaborative play.
The unique thing about Zombie Kidz Evolution is that, in the box are a bunch of sealed envelopes with all sorts of surprises, including new challenges and abilities that keep the game fresh and interesting even after a lot of sessions. Players will work to accomplish different objectives in order to progress and earn the chance to open envelopes. It’s a system that is incredibly engaging for kids and was a pleasure to play through with my kids as well.
It is a simple game, and the early stages work well even for young kids, but as you play through it can actually become quite challenging and you will lose a few rounds. It’s really rewarding to watch your kids develop their strategic thinking skills and become better at the game as you play through. Early on I was guiding strategy some, but once they got the hang of it, we were all contributing and all working together toward our goal.
This is an excellent experience, playing through all the envelopes. The individual sessions are enjoyable, but playing the whole campaign together is really what makes this game special and unique from other experiences. Developing as a team and cracking open the envelopes to reveal new surprises every couple sessions is very satisfying and there’s not question why it is considered one of the best games for kids. It’s a challenging adventure that the whole family can enjoy.
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Stuffed Fables
By: Plaid Hat Games Players: 2-4 Time: 60-90 Minutes
Stuffed Fables is a cooperative, story-driven board game where players take on the role of stuffed animals who journey into a dreamscape to protect their sleeping kid from minions and other nefarious characters causing nightmares. The game takes place in a story book that serves as both the instructions and game board. Kids and parents will play through different stories and work together to accomplish various goals and progress through the story.
The characters and stories are extremely engaging and well-written and players will get to choose a character, each with variable player powers, that they’ll play all the way through the campaign. Along the way they’ll collect items and develop new skills and abilities.
At it’s heart it’s a dungeon crawler RPG and all of those elements are here, including moving through a grid, spawning monsters and bosses, and rolling dice to deal damage and perform skill checks, but the rich narrative and aesthetic make this the perfect game for kids and an excellent introduction to other RPGs they might play later on. Meanwhile Kids(and parents) will be sucked into the story and want to keep playing to find out what is next. Each story takes about two hours to play through, which may seem long, but it’s very simple to pause between pages, turning the game into more digestible pieces for younger players.
They’ll roll dice, make choices about what actions to take, strategize as a team about how to solve problems and have a blast imagining themselves in this rich world that speaks to the things they care about and the things they have to conquer. They’ll have opportunities to be brave and take chances. No spoilers here, but it’s a treat to watch your kids as they become more confident as the game goes on.
Dive into this story-driven game with your kids. You won’t regret it.
Read our full review of Stuffed Fables here.
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Ice Cool
By: Brain Games Players: 2-4 Time: 30 Minutes
Ice Cool is an innovative flicking game where players take on the roles of penguins at school right before lunchtime. Filled with fun and excitement, the game’s objective is for the penguins (players) to collect as many fish as possible while navigating through classrooms, hallways, and avoiding the hall monitor.
The unique aspect of Ice Cool lies in its dynamic gameplay and the physical dexterity required to flick the weighted penguin pieces through doorways and around corners of the 3D game board. Each round, one player takes on the role of the hall monitor, whose goal is to catch the other penguins before they snatch up all the fish.
Victory in Ice Cool is achieved through a combination of skillful flicking, strategic planning, and a bit of luck. The game is acclaimed for its engaging mechanics, inventive board design that clips together to form the school, and the adorable penguin figures that add a layer of charm and excitement to this fast-paced chase.
Perfect for family game nights or playing with friends, Ice Cool stands out as a game that is not only simple to understand and play but also provides endless laughter and enjoyment. Its ability to cater to both children and adults alike makes it an excellent addition to any game collection, promising memorable moments and loads of fun.
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Labyrinth
By: Ravensburger Players: 2-4 Time: 20 minutes
Labyrinth is a puzzle-like board game where players must use their wits and plan ahead to succeed. Players navigate through an ever-changing maze and must find the shortest route to reach all their treasures and targets before the others can.
In Labyrinth, players make their way around a maze in an attempt to collect all their treasures. As if navigating a magic labyrinth wasn’t tricky enough, this one changes every turn! The game board is made up of many different dungeon tiles, which are shuffled at the start of each game and placed randomly around the board. Once the board is set up, object cards are shuffled and dealt out evenly to the players. These are kept in a face-down pile, hidden from everyone else.
On a players turn they peek at the card on the top of their pile and will have to try and make their way around the board to claim it. The game comes with an extra dungeon tile that doesn’t originally fit on the board. This tile is inserted into various slots on the board (indicated by arrows) to move a whole column or row one space.
Once this tile is placed, players can move as much as they like around the path they’re on. If a player reaches their treasure, they place the card face up for all players to see. On their next turn, they will have to try and reach the next object on the top of their pile of cards. The next player will have to use the new spare dungeon tile to manipulate the maze and do their best to reach their treasure card.
Players can choose not to move at all if they feel it will benefit them, but if a player is knocked off the edge of the board after the tiles have shifted, they will need to go to the opposite side of the board. The player to collect all of their treasures first is the winner.
It’s a classic game and great for the whole family because it has a short playtime, relies on strategic game play, and with the tiles being shuffled each game and constantly in motion, each session will be different from the last. If the original version doesn’t tickle your fancy, there are versions for plenty of franchises like Pokemon and Harry Potter that play exactly the same.
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Taco VS Burrito
By: Hot Taco Inc Players: 2-4 Time: 20 minutes
A deliciously unpredictable card game with players trying to create weird and wild meals. Just try not to make other players jealous of your creation or draw the attention of the health inspector, otherwise you might lose your lunch.
In Taco Vs Burrito, players draw cards to try and make the craziest concoctions they can before they run out of cards. Players start the game by choosing whether they’re a Taco or Burrito. No, really. This doesn’t impact gameplay but they get a cardholder in the shape of their favorite food (where my burrito bros at?).
Players start the game with five cards and after drawing a card they can take one of two actions on their turn: play an ingredient card or an action card. Each ingredient card has a value associated with it and players will want to use these to try and rack up as many points as they can by the end of the game. Action cards have various effects; some will have a negative point score and reduce the overall score of another players meal, whilst others will directly affect another players action by blocking them from taking a turn.
There’s also game-changing cards that can have a huge impact on the game, like the health inspector that forces you to discard the cards in your meal, or order envy, where two players swap hands and meals with each other. Once there are no cards in the deck and at least one player has none in their hand, the game ends. Everyone totals the score of their meal and the player with the highest point value wins.
Taco Vs Burrito is easy to learn and quick to play. It’s a fun party game and with all the ridiculous food combinations available, everyone is sure to have a laugh serving this up!
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Dragonwood
By: Gamewright Players: 2-4 Time: 20-30 minutes
Dragonwood is a fun card game that combines luck, strategy, and a dash of daring as players venture into a mystical forest filled with fantastical creatures. Players are adventurers, each striving to capture the legendary beasts that dwell within the forest of Dragonwood, including dragons, goblins, and trolls.
Throughout the game, players collect sets of adventurer cards and attempt to capture the creature cards from the center of the table by rolling dice. The strength of the creatures varies, as does the required strategy to capture them. Some might be caught through strength, others with cunning, and a few with a blend of both, compelling players to think critically about how they use their cards.
The game progresses as more creatures are captured and the Dragonwood cards are slowly revealed. Each has its own perilous requirements for capture, offering high rewards but also significant risk. The player who amasses the most victory points from captured creatures and special cards by the end of the game is the winner.
Dragonwood’s appeal lies not just in its strategic depth but also in its ability to engage players in a narrative of bold adventures and mythical conquests. This game is recommended for the whole family and can still be great for younger players. It’s an engaging, strategic experience that weaves together elements of risk-taking and planning. Every game unfolds differently, offering a unique adventure every time the box is opened.
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Hey, That’s My Fish!
By: Fantasy Flight Games Players: 2-4 Time: 20 minutes
Hey, That’s My Fish! is an engaging and family-friendly board game that challenges players to think strategically and plan ahead. The game is set in a whimsical icy world where players control a group of penguins competing to catch as many fish as possible. The game board is composed of hexagonal tiles, each displaying one, two, or three fish on them.
At the start of the game, tiles are laid out to form the Antarctic sea and players place their penguin figurines on any of the hexagonal ice tiles. The gameplay involves players moving their penguins in straight lines across the board, collecting fish tiles as they go. The challenge comes from the fact that once a penguin moves off a tile, that tile is removed, creating gaps in the ice and potentially isolating sections of the board. Players must be cautious not to cut off their own penguins from the larger areas of the board and, simultaneously, attempt to trap their opponents’ penguins on isolated ice floes.
The game requires a mix of tactical decision-making, foresight, and occasionally, a bit of risk-taking, as players vie to collect the most fish. The game ends once no penguin can move to another tile. At this point, players tally the fish icons from the tiles they’ve collected. The player with the most fish is declared the winner.
Hey, That’s My Fish! offers fast-paced game play that is simple to understand but can quickly become competitive, making it an excellent choice for family game nights or casual play sessions with friends. Its compact size also makes it perfect for travel, ensuring that you can take the fun with you wherever you go.
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Exploding Kittens
By: Exploding Kittens Players: 2-5 Time: up to 15 minutes
A fun party game for anyone into kittens, explosions, laser beams, and the occasional goat. Players must do their best in this Russian roulette-style game to avoid drawing an exploding kitten as the winner is the one who doesn’t explode!
In Exploding Kittens, players take it in turns to draw from a deck of cards hoping not to draw an Exploding Kitten. If a player does and cannot defuse it, they blow up and are out of the game. The last player standing is the winner. Each player starts the game with a hand of seven cards, one of which is always a defuse card. The Exploding Kittens are added to the deck once everyone has their hands ready, the number of which is one less the number of players.
Players on their turn will either play a card (or cards) from their hand or pass. Regardless of whether a card is played, a new card is always drawn from the deck at the end of each turn. If however, a player has a ‘skip’ or ‘attack’ card they don’t have to. Once an Exploding Kitten is drawn, if that player has a defuse card they play it to avoid being blown up and eliminated from the game. The Kitten is then placed back into the deck (out in the open or in secret) and play continues.
If they don’t have a defuse card, then they are out of the game, the Kitten is removed, and play continues until there is one player left. There are plenty of different kinds of cards in the game that impact play and knowing when and how to use them strategically is the key to victory. Certain cards will let players look at the top of the deck, shuffle it, cancel an action, or skip a turn. Using these in combination with each other effectively can make a big difference in winning or losing.
Exploding Kittens is a fun and exciting card game that’s super simple to learn and highly enjoyable. With wacky and silly cards aplenty, it makes for an entertaining experience for everyone, but kids especially will enjoy the crazy artwork. Definitely a game where the more players the better, so you’ll want to involve the entire family. There’s even an expansion that allows up to 10 people to play at once!
Read our full review of Exploding Kittens here.
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Block Happy
By: Self-Published Players: 2-5 Time: 30 minutes
A game that plays with your emotions. Literally. Let your emotions take over as you play with 75 different character cards. Turn negatives into positives and seize your happiness in order to win.
Block Happy is a unique strategy game and is the definition of emotional. The game is played with cards that are all comically illustrated to represent many different emotions and the goal is to be the player that collects all seven happiness cards. Each card has different effects that impact gameplay and allow players to steal or block players from stealing cards from each other.
At the start of the game, each player receives seven emotion cards and a happiness card. The remaining happiness cards are shuffled into the deck and placed face down. Players will then take turns playing cards, following the directions on it, and drawing another card. If a player draws a happiness card they must make it known to other players, so there will always be a target on the player in the lead.
Players will need to use their cards strategically and try to utilise the best cards for the right situation. Some will allow players to take happiness from others, cause players to miss a go, or grant players a look at the top 3 cards in the deck. There are a few cards that will block players from taking an action too, so keeping one of these aside for an emergency is always a good idea!
There’s not much more to it than that…players will continue to play, draw and steal cards until one has all seven happiness cards and becomes the winner.
Block Happy is as simple as ‘play a card, draw a card’ which makes it easy to get into and is appealing for younger players or those who don’t like overly complicated rules. There’s still a depth of strategy involved however with each card having a different effect on game play, so choosing cards wisely is essential. All of this combined with the charming artwork on the cards makes this a great card game for all!
Conclusion: Pick Up Some New Kids Games
Board and card games offer endless hours of entertainment, whether you’re playing with friends or family. With a wide range of options to choose from, there’s something for everyone regardless of age or skill level. From fast-paced party games like Exploding Kittens to strategic gems like Hey, That’s My Fish!, these games are perfect for bringing people together and creating memorable experiences. So next time you’re looking for a fun and exciting activity, consider pulling out one of our favorite games for younger players and get ready to have a blast!
FAQ: Game Play, etc
Q: How many people can play Exploding Kittens?
A: Exploding Kittens can be played by 2-5 players, but with an expansion pack, up to 10 players can join the fun.
Q: What is the ideal age for playing Block Happy?
A: Block Happy is suitable for players aged 7 and up, making it a great choice for families and a great fit on our list of board games for 7 year olds.
Q: Do these games require batteries or any electronic devices?
A: No, all the games mentioned are traditional card or board games and do not require batteries or electronic devices.
Q: Can Exploding Kittens or Block Happy be played in teams?
A: While primarily designed for individual play, players can adapt rules for team play if they wish, especially to accommodate larger groups.
Q: How long does a typical game of Block Happy take?
A: A game of Block Happy usually takes about 30 minutes, but this can vary depending on the number of players and the pace of play.
Q: Where can I purchase these board games for 7 year olds?
A: These games are available at most major retailers, both in physical stores and online, as well as on the official websites of the games.