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Family strategy board game recommendations

13 replies

Purpleturtle45 · 11/12/2025 17:07

Hello,

Posting for traffic, sorry!

Looking for a family strategy game to get my kids for Christmas, youngest is 10. Favourites are Catan, Ticket to Ride and Rummikub!

Thanks so much!

OP posts:
unlimiteddilutingjuice · 11/12/2025 17:09

Root is good of your kids are ready for a step up in difficulty.
Or Evolution. That's a very firm favorite in our house

Gsyllama · 11/12/2025 17:12

Do you want to play cooperatively (against the game) or competitively? What do they like?

Check out Heat (excellent racing game), Pandemic (or the lighter Forbidden Island) (cooperative, very strategic)
Small World (cartoony fun) ,
Oceans (pretty gentle game really, with mild "I attack you" elements)

Purpleturtle45 · 11/12/2025 17:15

I should have mentioned there are 5 of us so a game up to 4 players is no good.

OP posts:
Purpleturtle45 · 11/12/2025 17:16

unlimiteddilutingjuice · 11/12/2025 17:09

Root is good of your kids are ready for a step up in difficulty.
Or Evolution. That's a very firm favorite in our house

I like the look of Evolution! The Root of Good looks like if might be too hard for the 10 year old.

OP posts:
RunningNananananananananana · 11/12/2025 17:19

Forest Shuffle?

everythingthelighttouches · 11/12/2025 17:21

Settlers of Catan is a classic

Burntt · 11/12/2025 17:22

Carcassonne
agricolia

TheNoonBell · 11/12/2025 17:23

Purpleturtle45 · 11/12/2025 17:07

Hello,

Posting for traffic, sorry!

Looking for a family strategy game to get my kids for Christmas, youngest is 10. Favourites are Catan, Ticket to Ride and Rummikub!

Thanks so much!

Not that strategic but very addictive, Century Spice Road

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/209685/century-spice-road

Century: Spice Road

Grow and trade spices and use them to gain estate.

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/209685/century-spice-road

PurpleThistle7 · 11/12/2025 17:25

We have a few versions of ticket to ride - they play quite differently. Also just got a new version of catan (Dawn of humankind) and it’s great if you like that sort of game. Forbidden island, kodama, and splendour have worked well for us (haven’t googled if they can all be played with 5 though, just saw that)

OneLilacHare · 11/12/2025 17:30

Another vote for Carcassonne

Alicorn1707 · 11/12/2025 17:36

This is a great site for ideas @Purpleturtle45

Codenames is fun

Belmondo · 11/12/2025 18:34

In the Catan vein, my kids actually prefer Survive: Escape from Atlantis, but annoyingly it's max 4 players (as is Kingdomino, also fun and quick).

They also like Colt Express (2-6), which is strategic but I'd say a bit quicker.

I think Carcassone is max 5.

Zatu Games is a great site - it's a shop in Norwich which sells loads online, with lots of reviews. It's often cheaper than Amazon, and has a loyalty scheme.

Sushi Go Party is good for groups, but it's strategic in a different way rather than world-building. Fun design though, and fine for an 8yr old.

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