Best Board Games for Tweens

This is part of our series on board games by age. check out our full guide for more recommendations.

What do you call the age before teenage years when the term “children” feels a bit too young? While “preadolescence” is the official term, it’s more commonly known as the tween years. This is the time when kids want more independence but still need some parental help. It’s also the perfect age for board games as their brains are starting to strategize, think several moves ahead and consider creative options when playing with real opponents. The best board games for tweens will vary depending on their individual tastes but we have a bunch for you to choose from.

OK Play

By: Big Potato Games

Players: 2-4

Time: 5-15 minutes

Get five in a row to win with OK Play

OK Play (formerly Cinko Linko) is great for tweens for several reasons. The components are plastic so they can withstand any clumsiness – drops, spills etc. The whole game can be clipped to a bag so you can pull it out to play anywhere. And it’s easy to explain by saying “it’s like Connect 4!”

Each player takes a stack of tiles and the goal is to get five in a row to win. Once you’ve placed one tile down the next player will place one down on a joining side of it but unlike Connect 4 it can be in any direction as long as it’s not diagonal. The game continues until someone gets five of their colour in a row. But what if you run out of tiles before that happens? Well then you can take a tile you’ve already placed and put it somewhere new. As long as it doesn’t leave another tile disconnected this can be a real game changer. That’s it!

It’s simplicity and portability can’t be overstated but both give it the chance to be played by tweens with their friends and with family. Its simplicity and portability make it perfect for playing around the dinner table, providing a fun activity for family gatherings. Add to that it’s durability means it will last the test of time and it’s a guarantee it will be a favorite.

Catapult Feud

By: Vesuvius Media

Players: 2

Time: 20-30 minutes

The war for the floor has begun again in this tween friendly board game!

Dexterity games are perfect for this age group as they focus less on knowledge or reading skills and more on completing tasks. Catapult Feud is a great example of this with its simple yet fun premise of launching projectiles across the table. Where you place your castle and troops can make all the difference.

In Catapult Feud two players or teams take turns building their castles and positioning their troops using the provided bricks. The goal is to stack them up for protection while following the rules to keep the game fair and manageable. As the game unfolds players take turns using the catapult to launch balls at each other’s castles. As pieces are knocked over they are removed from the board making the game simpler as it goes on. Action cards allow players to do special moves and timing them can make a big difference in the game. The winner is the first player to knock over all the opposing troops, making it a fun and engaging strategy game for tweens.

This game is a mix of skill and luck so players can improve but fun over precision. This means everyone has an equal chance of winning so it’s great for tweens who can play on their own and enjoy the thrill of well aimed shots!

Spots

By: CMYK

Players: 1-4

Time: 25-30 minutes

If your tween likes dogs or dice this is a must have board game.

While there aren’t many games for this age group that use dice, Spots is a great one. Unlike games like Snakes and Ladders or Monopoly where you roll dice and move tokens around the board, with Spots you roll to assign your dogs their spots. If your tween likes dogs or likes rolling dice this game will be a winner.

Each turn you have six different ways to roll your dice. For example you might roll three dice, or one die and roll it as many times as you like. Or you might roll eight dice and have to choose one number to place or bury all matching dice and discard the rest. Once you’ve made your choice if you roll a number that corresponds to a spot on one of your dog cards you can place it there. Sounds simple but if you can’t place any you might use treats to reroll or put the excess dice in the yard. But be careful if you get seven dice in the yard you’re out of the game. So while you might be hoping for a specific number to complete your dog is it worth the risk of elimination? This push your luck dynamic keeps players coming back for more.

Spots is a great game with cute and fun dogs and dice rolling. The strategic decisions on how and when to take risks for the perfect roll will have tweens hooked! Spots is not only a great game for tweens but also one of the best games for teens, offering a fun and engaging experience for older kids as well.

A Game of Cat & Mouth

By: Exploding Kittens

Players: 2

Pinball meets Exploding Kittens in tween favorite, A Game of Cat & Mouth

A Game of Cat & Mouth is surprisingly elegant and is an underrated gem especially for tweens. The game combines pinball and Milk Can Toss with a magnetically held paw to flick, white balls for teeth, a black ball for the nose and a cat shaped plastic divider. No wonder it’s from the creators of the popular card game Exploding Kittens.

To play A Game of Cat & Mouth simply flick your yellow balls with the paw to knock the white or black balls off their perch in the middle. The black nose is the hardest target; knock it out and you win. Aiming for the four white balls for the teeth is easier but to win you must make sure your opponent has all four on their side. Once one is knocked out they can quickly return it to your side if they’re precise enough!

In the end it’s simple: once set up and the first ball flicked players will know what to do. This is a great board game for tweens who’s attention span may wander with long instructions. Its fast-paced and interactive nature makes it an excellent party game, perfect for gatherings and social events. Visually striking and fun A Game of Cat & Mouth is just plain fun.

Isle of Cats

By: City of Games

Players: 1-4

“I love cats” or Isle of Cats?

Isle of Cats is like a board game version of Tetris but with a cat theme. In this game you are on a rescue mission to save as many cats as possible from the evil Lord Vesh. Your goal is to keep cat families together and fit as many cats as possible onto your boat. Each cat tile is a Tetris peice shaped tile adding a puzzle element to the game.

The game is colorful and competitive. Each player has their own board representing their boat where they collect cats and each player has their own objectives to earn extra points. In each round four cats are drawn and players must choose from these to add to their boards. It’s like a puzzle game like Patchwork but with unique twists. Players must cover rat tiles to avoid losing points and you can interact with each other—snagging a tile to block an opponent’s perfect score is a popular strategy among players. And there’s treasure to collect! For those who love the game, there are also expansion packs available that add new challenges and increase the replayability.

By the end of the game each player will feel a sense of pride from the strategic placements on their boats and the joy of rescuing cats from an evil force. With its cute theme the game encourages thoughtful planning and placement, it’s a joy to play.

Love Letter Card Game

By: Z-Man Games

Players: 2-4

Don’t be fooled by the pretty packaging, this is a real race!

Love Letter is a classic game that consists of a deck of cards and a few tokens in a pouch. This game has spawned many themed versions including a Star Wars edition which will appeal to tweens who aren’t thinking about romance. The original game has eligible young men trying to win the heart of the Princess of Tempest who has locked herself in a palace. Players use other players to deliver their letters all while racing to be the first to get her attention.

Despite its simplicity with only a handful of cards compared to other games Love Letter is full of deduction, luck and a bit of risk. Each player starts with one card and must draw and play a card on their turn. The goal is to have the highest card at the end of the round to get a favor token. Collect a certain number of these tokens depending on the number of players and you win. Each card has a unique ability; draw a Priest card and you can peek at your opponents’ hands, draw a King card and you can swap hands with another player. This creates constant interaction and strategic thinking. In some variations, players can form two teams, adding a cooperative element to the game and increasing the strategic depth.

For tweens Love Letter’s name may suggest a romantic theme but the game is really about racing to the finish and clever card play. Learning to play takes less than a minute and the pouch is portable.

For more card games check out our list of 10 card games like UNO.

Timeline

By: Zygomatic

Players: 2-6

Let your tweens play and learn something at the same time through one game!

Looking for a game that’s fun, educational and fair for all ages? Enter Timeline! The goal is simple: clear your hand of cards by placing events in the correct order on the timeline. But here’s the catch—history can be weird. For example which came first the microscope or the watch? And where do glasses fit in?

To play start with a card in the middle and decide if your card belongs before or after that event then place it accordingly. Flip the card to reveal the year; if you’re correct it stays in place. If not it goes into the discard pile and you draw a new one. As more cards are laid down the challenge gets harder and you need to think carefully to fit them in the timeline. Even if you’re a history buff you might find some surprises—so everyone is on equal footing.

For those who enjoy creative challenges, Timeline can be paired with drawing games like Pictionary to create a fun and educational game night.

Timeline has different versions so you can choose from historical events, inventions or even a cooperative version instead of the competitive one. Whatever your choice it’s a great way to learn while having fun!

Stomp the Plank

By: Ravensburger

Players: 2-4

Push your luck but don’t fall in!

Stomp the Plank is a fun game featuring elephant pirates on a treasure hunt. It appeals to both tweens and seasoned gamers so it’s a hit for all ages.

The game starts with magnetic planks laid out on the board, each player has their elephant pirate on the ship side. On your turn you’ll draw cards and the objective is to collect six different cards on your board. For every unique card you get you add weights to your opponents boards and then draw more cards in a race to be the first to reach the goal. But if you draw a card you already have you must walk the plank! That means move one step closer to the water. It seems harmless at first but if another player adds weights to your plank it could be the end of your run.

Stomp the Plank is a game that the whole family can enjoy, providing fun and excitement for players of all ages.

It’s beautifully designed and super fun and teaches tweens the art of pushing their luck and waiting for the perfect moment to strike. With the added dexterity of placing weights it has everything you could want in a game—all of which can be explained in under a minute and play.…

Check out our full review of Stomp the Plank here.

Spot It (Dobble)

By: Zygomatic

Players: 2-8

Spot the matches in Dobble to clear your hand the fastest.

Spot It, known as Dobble in the UK, is a game that captivates players of all ages but is especially good for tweens. At this age they can match quickly and everyone is a valid player. And if you know the game of Snap, Spot It is easy to understand and explain so anyone can join in.

In the game each player gets a hand of circular cards with various images—cheese, trees, turtles, candles, ice cubes, ladybugs and many more. Each card has eight random images and players must scan their cards against the one in the middle to find a match. When they spot one they declare it and place their card on top. It sounds simple enough but with each new card played the search for a match starts again and it’s thrilling especially if someone beats you to it by seconds! Distractions are a luxury you can’t afford as the goal is to clear your hand as fast as possible.

For those who enjoy card games, Spot It can be a great introduction to more complex deck building games, offering a fun and engaging experience.

While this is the standard version of Spot It, many won’t realize that the small instruction booklet has alternative ways to play so there’s more for everyone to find a way they like. And there are many themed versions of Spot It from Disney and Marvel to DC and Super Mario so there’s always one that matches a tween’s interests.