Board game for a 9 year old.

[Owlmoonstar]

Any recommendations please?

Preferably nothing that's long winded and hard to get the hang of.

Some simple classics. Something I can play with my son that won't require too much brainwork 🤣

He's asked for some board games on his Xmas list.

Some of these modern board games are just such a faff. Especially the character monopoly versions.

Which ones are a favourite in your house?

Kingdomino - we played it endlessly (and tirelessly) when my kids were 9 & 11. It's really replayable, but really simple. Doesn't take long to play.

We also got/ get a lot of mileage out of Labyrinth

If you're up for something with a bit more set-up, we got Catan recently and we all loved that (kids now 10 & 12). Again, really replayable, but more involved in terms of strategy and length of play

Carcasonne - looks complicated but isn’t at all, and is satisfying because it does involve some strategy rather than just luck.

There's a set of card games called "Fluxx" where you just do what the cards say - so you don't have to learn a whole set of rules, how to win depends on what card you pull and what it says, how many cards you draw each turn will depend on what the card you pull says, so every time you play it's a bit different but it's very straightforward. There are lots of different themed versions, my family has a Marvel version and a Star Trek one but equally there are zombies and cats and the periodic table and Winne the Pooh versions!

https://www.reddit.com/r/boardgames/comments/ghzol2/has_anyone_played_fluxx/

Our boys that age enjoyed monopoly and cluedo junior (less faff that some of the other versions!)

this year we are going for herd mentality

Splendour comes to mind

King of Tokyo
Labyrinth
Catan
Carcassonne
Zombie Kidz
Azul
Cockroach Poker
Dixit
Monopoly Deal
The Game of Life
Mycelia
Pandemic

Splendor (2-4 people) or Jaipur (2 people) which is very similar but perhaps the easier of the two.

If it's mainly for you two - backgammon

We like Ticket to Ride First Journey, which is suitable for younger than 9, and I think a 9 year old could probably get the hang of the normal Ticket to Ride.

If it is just two of you who can be persuaded to play:
Othello (somewhere else calls it Reversi)
Nine Mens Morris
Dominos
Backgammon
Mastermind (now called code-breaking game per some of the Amazon listings).

These are all under £20.

Thankyou for the suggestions. I will look into them.

Game of life was one that caught my eye. I've seen the labyrinth one a few times too. Definitely going to look into Cluedo junior. The original one intimidates me! It looks really complicated.

We like Labyrinth. Cluedo is not particularly complicated.

We like telestrations but it needs 4 players.

we got given settlers of catan but couldn’t figure out how to play it so it has sat unused .

we have bought articulate kids this year, hoping that’s a hit.

Cluedo isn't particularly complicated! You just need to keep track of the information you are given as you move around the board making guesses. Junior Cluedo is rated for 5+ so I'd worry it might be a bit basic for older kids. I can see a recent review said "My nearly 9-year old is starting to find it a bit simple but it’s just the right level for the 6 year old."

Ticket to Ride is a good one for adults or kids.

We also like one called Hogwarts Battle, which is a Co-operative game, so all players play together to defeat Voldemort. Our kids (10&8) enjoy it.

Alternatively, could you get him a session at a board game cafe, and then he could try lots of games?

Cluedo junior was just right at that age we found, sure once you play it a few times and they get the hang of it then becomes easier but that’s the same with any board game

I agree! The design of the box somehow makes it look less child friendly, but it’s great with kids!

Ticket To Ride has been mentioned and it’s great for this age. I saw the junior mentioned but by 9, I think that would be dull. The European map is more interesting than the IS map.

Dominion used to be popular with children I nannied but requires certain reading comprehension (secretly reading cards so can’t be helped) so I would only recommend for a bright 9 year old.

Cluedo is actually really simple. I used to play the normal version at 6. Again, a junior might be boring for a 9 year old.

Labyrinth
easy rules but tactical

Catan is a lot of fun! I agree that the set up can be a bit hard to get your head round, but the play itself is actually quite simple. This video is just over 8 minutes:

I played a lot of this as a nanny. One of the children was neurodivergent and could not cope with the robber so we did not play with it. Instead if you rolled a 7, you had to do a silly dance. It also made the game quicker!!!

At that age we enjoyed, and still play, Labyrinth, Ingenious and Blokus.

Rummikub
Azul
Sushi Go

are favourites here and suitable for that age.

If he‘s into football, we‘re having a lot of fun with the 2-player Game of Two Halves.

Yahtzee is a classic.

Another vote for Labyrinth.

Definitely don’t but cluedo junior for a 9 year old! The rules for cluedo look complicated on the face of it but once you start playing it’s actually straightforward

Oh really! Maybe I'll see if there are some YouTube videos showing an overview of the game.