40 Fun Board Games For Teens That Teach Social Skills and Strategy

Do you have those evenings where you want to do something – and not watch TV either – but have no idea what it is you can do? Why not implement a family game night? In our house, we do family movie night once a week and also family game night once a week. It’s worked out to be a perfect way to bond other than through homeschooling. And as my kids get older, they tend to want to be on the screens more or in their rooms more. So when it’s family movie night, we pull out board games for teens since they’re getting to be about that age now! Here are some of our faves so far!

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Best Games Teenagers Love

Board games are a great way to get teenagers interacting and having fun together with all family members. Even if it weren’t for family game night, like maybe if it’s for a birthday party or a sleepover or just for some quality family time any day of the week, board games provide endless hours of entertainment for teens as well as the whole family.

But not all board games are worth bragging about and good for large groups. Chances are you’ve come into a few you didn’t really like either. That’s where this list of fun board games come in.

Classical Board Games

Believe it or not, popular board games for teenagers include classics such as Monopoly (a classic board game) and Scrabble (perfect for younger kids and older kids alike) as well as more modern, new games like Settlers of Catan (a good game!), Ticket to Ride (a popular game) and Pandemic. These games challenge them to think creatively, strategically, and encourage critical thinking.

Board Games For Teens

A few board games specifically designed for their age group are Age of War or The Resistance. These board games provide teens with an intense and engaging game play. They even have board games that challenge them to become better problem-solvers, like Pandemic Legacy or Gloomhaven.

Party Board Games

If you are looking for party game, consider these board games for teens such as Codenames, Throw Throw Burrito, Wits and Wagers, or Exploding Kittens (or Unstable Unicorns). These board games have turned any dull night or party around in no time! And they’re also great for teaching teens how to think outside the box. Or refreshen your own wits!

List of 40 Fun Board Games For Teenagers

On with the list! The reason you came here in the first place!

These board games are sure to make your next family game night, sleepover or birthday bash a hit.

1. Monopoly: This classic game (and award-winning game) is still around for a reason with a game board of properties and hotels!

2. Scrabble: A great game that encourages teens to use their problem-solving skills

3. The Resistance: A board game specifically designed for teenagers, this board game has them working together to uncover the identity of a hidden traitor.

4. Catan: This board game encourages board game players to build settlements, roads and villages on a board filled with hexagonal tiles.

5. Munchkin: This board game has teens competing against each other in an attempt to complete a dungeon before their opponents do.

6. Ticket to Ride: Teens race against one another in this fast-paced game by collecting cards of various types of train cars that will get them from point A to point B on the board as quickly as possible.

7. Carcassonne: Players strategically construct cities, roads, and monasteries in this board game while trying to gain possession of the most points by the end of it all!

8. Labyrinth: Players try to navigate their pieces through a board full of twists, turns, and traps in order to find the most treasures at the end.

9. Pandemic: This board game pits teens against a deadly virus that they must work together to contain before it’s too late!

10. Splendor: In this board game, players compete by collecting gemstones and trading them in for points. The player with the most points wins!

11. Codenames: Teams have to use clues from their teammate in order to identify the correct words hidden on a board filled with double-sided cards.

12. Small World: Players battle against one another using fantasy creatures such as trolls and wizards while competing for control over the board.

13. Forbidden Island: This board game is perfect for teenagers as they move their pieces around an island that’s slowly sinking!

14. Sushi Go!: In this cooperative game, players must strategically choose which sushi cards to keep in order to score the most points.

15. Qwirkle: Players must match tiles together by color and shape in order to gain the most points by the end of the board game.

16. Passtally: This board game has teens completing a virtual obstacle course with each player having their own unique path to follow on the board.

17. Dixit: Players try to guess which picture was chosen by another player while competing against one another for points.

18. The Settlers of Catan: Teens must build and develop settlements with resources that are randomly generated on the board in order to gain victory points.

19. Mindware Q-Bitz Pattern Matching Fun Board Games for Family Game Night: Players must match square tiles with the same pattern in order to create the most matching squares.

20. 7 Wonders: One of the board games for teenagers, players battle it out by collecting resources and constructing buildings in order to become the most powerful civilization!

21. Tsuro: Players place tiles on a board in an attempt to extend their pathways and stay ahead of their opponents’ moves!

22. Boggle: This board game has players searching through a board full of dice with letters on them in order to form words and gain points.

23. Exploding Kittens: This board game has teens using a deck of cards in order to try and avoid the exploding kitten card that will end the game for them!

24. Pandemic Legacy: With each board game session, players’ decisions shape the board for future games as well.

25. For Sale: Players strategize and bargain their way to victory by buying, selling, and trading properties on a board filled with money and houses.

26. Agricola: This board game is perfect for teens who love farming as they must build fences, plant crops, hire workers all while competing against others for points!

27. The Guild of Merchant Explorers Board Game: This board game has players collecting gems and trading them for points in order to win the board game.

28. Sheriff of Nottingham: Teens take turns playing as merchants and sheriffs while trying to pass goods through checkpoints based on how truthful they are in this board game!

29. Gloomhaven: This board game is perfect for teenagers who are looking for a complex board game that involves lots of problem-solving and strategy.

30. Magic Maze: Players must work together using a limited amount of time in order to maneuver their pieces through an ever-changing board before it’s too late!

31. Onitama: In this board game, teens compete against each other by strategically moving their pieces around a board filled with cards.

32. Diamonsters: This board game requires players to battle it out by trying to collect the most diamonds on their board at the end of each round.

33. Betrayal at House on the Hill: Teams must explore a haunted house in this board game while trying to survive by discovering its secrets and finding items to help them along the way.

34. Jungle Speed: Players must sharpen their reflexes in this board game as they compete against each other to be the first one to grab a totem from an ever-changing board.

35. Love Letter: Teens try to deliver messages of love by using strategy and deduction skills in order to gain points and win the board game!

36. King of Tokyo: Players take on giant monsters in this board game by using dice and cards in order to score the most victory points.

37. Taboo: For this board game, players try to get their team to guess words while they must avoid certain “taboo” words in the process.

38. Forbidden Desert: In this board game, players work together to fly a steam-powered vehicle through the desert while trying to escape from a lost city before it’s too late!

39. Hanabi: Teens must work together to construct a beautiful fireworks display in this board game by giving each other hints and clues.

40. Wits and Wagers: Players must know the answers to a variety of questions in this fun game while placing bets on other players’ answers to gather more points and win! It’s the perfect game for strategy and analysis!

With so many board games available for teens, they can have fun while sharpening their skills and competing against each other with these best board games for teens.

Once you’ve settled on a board game for your teens, be sure to check out the game rules! Some are strategy games and others are just some of our favorite games. And don’t forget to make refreshments and snacks to keep everyone going throughout the evening!

Don’t just settle for one game, get a few of the board games for teenagers on this list to try out with them!

Why Are Board Games So Important?

Playing board games are the best way for teenagers to connect with family members and make lasting memories. If you’ve noticed, teens seem to be more closed off the older they get and the more clarity they gain in life. Even if you and your kids/teens are super close, like I am with mine, I bet you still wish you could connect and bond with them even more. Board games are so good for that! For laughing and cutting loose, and really seeing how they’re developing too – all while getting in some good conversation! I absolutely adore playing games with my own teens/tweens/preschooler!

With board games, teens can take risks and explore their competitive side in a safe, supervised environment. Plus, the entire family can play these games as well, all the way from the tiny babe to the oldest grandma. Most of the games on this list are a lot of fun family games and strategy board games that are perfect for a family with teens or tweens to help build that quality time together.

Board games also offer valuable lessons in sportsmanship as well as important social skills such as communication and collaboration. On top of that, board games encourage problem solving skills and abstract thinking, which are essential skills for future success. Something every teen could practice more of (and us too as parents), amiright?

With this list of games, there’s something in each one that every teen will like. And board games can also serve as a perfect gift for these young adults, along with decks of cards.

Many are our favorite board games and when we played, they ended up being the best thing for my kids and for the family! Just a simple game will work for bonding time, and these board games are so much better than all that screen time. Girl. Choose board games that fit interests or skill level because this allows teens to have a great time every time and they won’t be grumbling about how babyish or boring it is.

So get ready to roll the dice and move your pieces whether it’s family game night, a much-needed bonding sesh, or pulling out the boards on a whim!

40 Fun Board Games For Teens That Teach Social Skills and Strategy

Whether you’re looking for a board game for your teen’s next gathering or the best games that are high quality just for family time, board games will bring loads of fun and entertainment for your family. With so many board games for teenagers available, you’re guaranteed to find something that your teenager will enjoy! You could even utlilize some of these board games in a homeschool lesson!