Are you looking for the best board games to play with your 5 year old? With so many digital distractions surrounding us, all you want to do is sit down at the table with your preschooler and play some fun board games that will keep your little one occupied! At this age, they might be aging out of the board games you bought for them when they were only toddlers, so what should you get?
In this article, we’ll go over the 15 best board games for 5 year olds – perfect for providing hours of fun but also fostering essential skills like critical thinking, problem-solving, and social interaction!
We also have a post outlining the best card games to play with children.
This post contains partner links for various products.
1. KERPLUNK
- Ker Plunk! is a blast from the past with a cool look and attitude!
- Create a "lattice" of sticks midway through the translucent tube and place the...
- Players take turns removing sticks while trying to prevent the marbles from...
The best board game to develop fine motor skills in your 5 year old is Kerplunk. This classic board game is perfectly designed for preschoolers. And best of all? It’s super fun and simple! The objective of the game is simply to remove sticks from a tube filled with marbles while preventing them from falling. This not only provides a fun challenge but also helps kids improve their hand-eye coordination and concentration. To play, players take turns removing sticks and trying not to let the marbles fall. If they do fall, you’ll have to collect them! The player with the fewest marbles at the end of the game wins!
2. THE FLOOR IS LAVA
- ENDLESS GAMES PRESENTS: The Floor is Lava! is a family board game that promotes...
- ACTIVE FUN: Turn every floor into an exciting “lava jumping” adventure with...
- EVERYONE LEAP: Real entertainment and laugh out loud fun challenges the whole...
One of the best board games to get your 5 year old off the TV and iPad is The Floor Is Lava! A fun twist on your classic game played on furniture, this board game is an exciting and active game that is sure to get everyone’s hearts pumping while having fun. The objective is simple: players imagine that the floor has turned into lava, and they must navigate the room by stepping on colored “safety stones.” Simply, spin the spinner and quickly jump to the correctly colored stone to be safe! At each turn, a safety stone is removed from the game! The winner is the last player standing.
3. YETI IN MY SPAGHETTI
- BOARD GAMES FOR KIDS: The suspense builds as you remove noodle strands from the...
- KIDS GAMES 4-8: Yeti is the star of the show in this kids’ board game. Add it...
- AWARD-WINNING GAME: Yeti in My Spaghetti game for kids 4-6 is oodles of noodly...
A simple but super fun board game for 5 year olds is Yeti in My Spaghetti. This board game encourages critical thinking and fine motor skills development. To play, carefully remove pieces of plastic spaghetti from the bowl without letting the playful yeti character fall in! The player that removes a spaghetti and causes the yeti to topple into the bowl loses the game. This is a fantastic way to introduce your 5 year old to the concept of strategy, turn-taking, and cause-and-effect relationships – all while having plenty of fun.
4. ZINGO BINGO
- Trusted by Families Worldwide - With over 50 million sold, ThinkFun is the...
- Develops critical skills – Perfect for pre-readers and early readers, builds...
- What you get - This is the Amazon exclusive version of the world famous game...
Who doesn’t love a fun game of bingo? Zingo Bingo is the perfect game for 5 year olds that want to start learning some classic games – in an engaging and educational way. With the help of Zingo Bingo, children develop important skills like pattern recognition, memory, and vocabulary building while having a blast. To play, each player receives a Zingo card with images, and a dispenser filled with tiles is placed in the center. When the game begins, players pull tiles from the dispenser and try to match them with images on their cards. The first player to fill their Zingo card yells “Zingo!” and wins!
5. MONOPOLY JUNIOR: SUPER MARIO EDITION
- MONOPOLY JUNIOR GAME FOR KIDS: In this Monopoly Junior board game kids can...
- SUPER MARIO CHARACTERS: Players move around the gameboard as Mario, Peach,...
- GAMING SOUND EFFECTS: Players roll the power-up die to find out if they can...
Monopoly Junior Super Mario Edition is the board game for your Mario-obsessed 5 year old! This board game combines the classic Monopoly gameplay with the beloved Super Mario universe, making it both entertaining and educational. Of course, the game is designed with simplified rules and shorter playtimes, making it more suitable for young children. That means, no playing this version of Monopoly for hours on end! Phew! Monopoly Junior Super Mario Edition teaches kids about basic financial concepts, counting money, and strategic decision-making in a fun and engaging manner. The goal? Buy properties and collect coins!
6. RISK JUNIOR
- INTRO TO THE CLASSIC RISK GAME: The Risk Junior board game is a great way to...
- PIRATE THEME: The Risk Junior game's pirate theme has kids moving their pirate...
- LAUNCH THE DICE: Place, press, launch. To battle another player to claim an...
Do you want to introduce the classic game of Risk to your preschooler? Risk Junior is an excellent game for 5 year olds, as it introduces them to the world of strategy and decision-making in a simplified and kid-friendly manner. A pirate-themed game to keep your young ones entertained, Risk Junior nurtures early cognitive skills and social interaction. To play, children claim an island and its treasures and launch the dice from their pirate ship! As the pirates move onto the different islands, they defend their territory and protect their treasures. The player with the most treasure and islands wins the game!
7. GAME OF LIFE JUNIOR
- The game of life Junior is fun for kids
- Easy to set up and play
- Players perform fun, simple actions
Game of Life Junior is a fantastic game for 5 year olds, offering a simplified and age-appropriate version of the classic Game of Life. It’s a great introduction to basic decision-making and counting skills, all wrapped up in an entertaining and colorful package. Players embark on a journey through an amusement park, making choices about their path, collecting stars, and encountering fun surprises along the way. The game’s straightforward rules and vibrant design capture children’s attention while promoting essential skills like counting, decision-making, and turn-taking. With its engaging theme and accessible gameplay, Game of Life Junior provides a delightful and educational gaming experience for young players and their families.
8. DON’T ROCK THE BOAT
- PIRATE SHIP TOY: Do your kids love pirate toys, boat toys, and penguin toys?...
- BALANCE GAME: Take turns balancing the cute figures on the pirate ship…but...
- EDUCATIONAL GAMES: Add this pirate board game to your set of kindergarten games...
Another fun pirate-themed board game for 5 year olds, Don’t Rock the Boat is a simple but entertaining game to play, along with some awesome pirate pieces. Don’t Rock the Boat features a ship, 10 penguin pirates, an octopus, a crab, a cannon, a captain’s wheel, and even some treasure! This board game encourages fine motor skills and strategic thinking as players take turns placing penguins on a rocking ship without tipping it over. The goal? Keep it balanced! Just like Jenga, the first player to cause the ship to tip and one or more pieces to fall off loses the game.
9. OUTFOXED
- COOPERATIVE WHODUNIT GAME FOR PRESCHOOLERS: Introduce kids ages 4 and up to this...
- CRACK THE CASE: Can you help find out which Fox stole Mrs. Plumpert’s prized...
- WHO, WHAT, WHERE: Clues help you determine what the guilty fox is wearing so you...
If you want to introduce a cooperative board game for your 5 year old, check out Outfoxed! The game’s charming theme involves players working together as detectives to solve the mystery of Mrs. Plumpert’s prized pot pie. It’s an excellent introduction to teamwork and critical thinking. In this game, the players will work hard to gather clues and rule out suspects to find the guilty fox! And, no, unlike most board games, everyone will be working together to catch the culprit before it escapes! With its engaging storyline, adorable characters, and cooperative gameplay, Outfoxed not only entertains but also fosters communication and problem-solving skills in a super fun way!
10. FOUND IT!
- EXCITING SEARCH & FIND GAME: Get ready to play the smartest scavenger hunt no...
- FUN FAMILY GAME: Found it 5 in 1 Mega Pack is the best way to keep your kids...
- WHAT'S INSIDE: This set includes 140 game cards with bonus questions,...
Do you want to play a scavenger hunt? Found It! is the perfect game for 5 year olds who want to play an exciting search-and-find game. You can play Found It! anywhere – at the restaurant, at home, or even at the airport! As a plus, you’ll probably tire out your preschoolers as they run around searching for the objects. In this fun and active game, players explore the world around them as they look for items that match the cards. Examples of cards include “something you add to make your food tastier” and “something that you can write with.”
11. GROCERY GO KARTS
- BUILD & STACK GAME OF SUPERMARKET MAYHEM: Shoppers, start your engines In this...
- 32 CONNECTABLE, COLLECTIBLE GROCERIES: As shoppers zoom around the board, they...
- 4 WOBBLY KART MOVERS (AND LAUNCHERS): Feel a need for speed? Choose from 4...
Grocery Go Karts is one game that will surely get your heart racing and pumping! In this speed game, all players will act as shoppers who need to build and balance their way to the checkout counter! Shoppers zoom around the board with their wobbly grocery karts, collecting items to balance on their karts one by one. Did you make it to the end? Celebrate by pressing the lever and launching all your groceries! This super fun and easy game will be a blast to play with the family, perfect for preschoolers and kids.
12. MARVEL EYE FOUND IT!
- What You Get: Game rules, a giant game board (in 3 pieces), Avengers Dice Tower,...
- Easy to Learn and Play: With clear, step-by-step instructions, The Marvel Eye...
- Characters You Love: Find hundreds of hidden objects as well as heroes like the...
If you’ve got a Marvel fan in your household, one of the best board games for 5 year olds is Marvel Eye Found It! Featuring some of your favorite characters, including The Hulk, Iron Man, Ms. Marvel, and Spiderman, this board game will have preschoolers embarking on an adventure. It’s an ideal blend of entertainment and skill-building, enhancing observation and concentration abilities. To play, players search for hidden heroes, villains, and more on the huge game board. Players must get to New York before Thanos finds all the infinity Stones!
13. GUESS WHO? DISNEY PRINCESS EDITION
- GUESS WHO? GAME WITH DISNEY PRINCESSES: With the Guess Who? Disney Princess...
- 2 SETS OF DISNEY CHARACTERS: Includes 2 double-sided character sheets for 2 sets...
- GUESS THE MYSTERY CHARACTER: Kids take turns asking "yes" or "no" questions to...
Who doesn’t love Guess Who? If your 5 year old is a huge princess fan, get them Guess Who? Disney Princess Edition, which merges the classic Guess Who concept with the enchanting world of Disney princesses. It’s the perfect introduction to deductive reasoning and critical thinking skills. The board game features an array of Disney cards with vibrant illustrations featuring princesses, villains, and even sidekicks. And playing is simple: players take turns asking yes-or-no questions to narrow down the possibilities and guess their opponent’s chosen princess. The first person to guess the opponent’s card wins!
14. CROCODILE DENTIST
- CROC CHOMPING FUN: Kids can have loads of fun playing this easy and simple...
- EASY TO SET UP AND PLAY: Looking for a fun and easy-to-play game for kids? The...
- CHECK THE CROCODILE'S TEETH: The Crocodile Dentist game challenges kids to watch...
Crocodile Dentist is a classic preschool board game for a reason. This fantastic game combines suspenseful fun with a simple idea. Players play dentist and take turns carefully pressing down on the crocodile’s teeth, hoping not to trigger the surprise snap of its jaws. The crocodile will chomp down if it’s too sore. And if you’re caught, you’re out of the game! This not only creates excitement but also helps develop fine motor skills and patience. The game’s primary focus on chance and anticipation makes it easy for young kids to grasp and enjoy.
15. HUNGRY HUNGRY HIPPOS DINO EDITION
- CHOMPING DINOS: It's a fun twist on Hungry Hungry Hippos, the classic marble...
- READY, SET, CHOMP: Kids can enjoy lots of laughs as they watch their dino chomp...
- PLAY A BONUS GAME: Try a game in which players still have their dino chomp on...
Hungry Hungry Hippos, but for dinosaur lovers? Hungry Hungry Hippos Dinos Edition is a fun prehistoric twist on a classic board game for 5 year olds. The game’s colorful dinosaur theme adds an exciting element to the fast-paced gameplay. This game will help develop hand-eye coordination as players race to gobble up as many plastic marbles as possible! To gobble them up, simply press down on the dino’s lever. Whoever gets the most marbles wins the game. If you want to put a fun twist on the game, be the first player to get the pink marble!
Looking for more games to play for your toddler and preschooler? Check out the best board games for 3 year olds and 4 year olds!
- 23 SUPER FUN 4TH OF JULY GAMES - April 23, 2024
- 30 FUN DATE NIGHT GAMES FOR COUPLES - April 18, 2024
- 200+ INSANE “KISS MARRY KILL” QUESTIONS TO ASK - April 16, 2024