Best Strategy Board Games for Tweens (8-12 years)

“Life is more fun if you play games.”

― Roald Dahl, My Uncle Oswald

Board games are a fun way to learn about life, strategy and many other skills. More importantly they are a great way to spend some enjoyable time together as a family. Most board games are interesting for both the children and the adults and therefore help you bond with your children. Engaging children in board games also helps keep them away from screens and engaging them in a constructive way.

These games are also perfect gift ideas for boys or girls who are over 8 years old.

We usually play a game on weekends and on common holidays. It has become our family game time and we all look forward to it. It has become a wonderful bonding time for us. The choice of game is usually dependent on our son but we try to get him to play different games on different days, so no one gets bored of one.

Here are some games that we enjoy playing together:

1. Catan

A strategy game, which makes its way into most ‘best games’ list. We bought Catan some months ago and loved it.

It is a civilization game which revolves around settling, trading and making roads and cities by using the resources that you have or can trade.

Benefits:

It is a great game to learn strategizing, planning and some part of business. It helps in developing critical thinking skills.

Link to buy:

Amazon India: https://amzn.to/3Ap0p6g

2. Monopoly

This is a classic game which can be played by tweens, teens and adults. A Junior Monopoly is available for younger children but it is very basic in concepts. For 8 years and above, I would recommend the classic version.

Benefits:

It is a game about business, economics and trading. It helps children understand some business concepts like monopoly and its impact, the concept of assets, mortgaging assets, or buying properties and monetising them.

Link to buy:

Amazon India: https://amzn.to/3TdnUYF

3. Scrabble

Another classic game that is extremely fun, especially if your child is a reader. Very often, they come up with words that they have recently read and may stump you with their increasing vocabulary. It is a great way to keep them noticing new words that they encounter.

Benefits:

It is a perfect game for building vocabulary, spelling and language skills. It ensures that children notice all new words that they read. They also end up learning words that others use in the game.

When we play, we make it a point for everyone to know the meaning of the word that we are making. We consult the online dictionary to check the meanings when in doubt.

Link to Buy:

Amazon India: https://amzn.to/3R5CNKI

4. Scotland Yard

An amazing strategy game that we bought very recently. It needs a minimum of 3 players to play, but so far we are having a lot of fun with it. It is game of thief and detective where the detectives try to catch the thief on the streets of London. The rules are simple and the game very enjoyable.

The thief has to ensure that he/she is at a location where the detectives cannot catch him/her in the next turn and the detectives have to continually make educated guesses on where the thief could be.

Benefits:

It makes you think strategically and plan ahead. It’s a little complicated game where one has to look at various scenarios, unlike games of chance where some decisions are taken for you. Definitely recommended.

Link to Buy:

Amazon India: https://amzn.to/3Ct8Y2L

Also Read: Games to Increase Focus and Concentration

5. Sequence

Sequence is a simple, yet interesting game that can be played and enjoyed by children as well as adults. The objective of the game is simply to score most points by creating a “sequence” on the board. This however requires a lot of thinking and planning to place your chips on the board in such a manner as to get the five in a row. It can be played by two people or in teams.

Benefits:

It requires thinking, planning and predicting. It challenges the children. Might be best for 10 year olds and above.

Link to Buy:

Amazon India: https://amzn.to/3RbP3Jw

Also Read: Creativity building games that can be played anywhere

6. Othello

The game in its present form has been around since 1970s and has taken up the title of a classic game. It is a strategy game which can be played by 2 people. The recommended age is 8 plus years and I agree with it.

The game is simple. There are 64 identical discs that are black on one side and white on the other. Each player takes one colour. You place your disc, your colour up, flanking the other player’s. All the discs trapped between your colour discs are flipped upside down. When no more moves are possible, the player with maximum upturned discs wins.

The younger players generally end up making short term benefit plays. They however learn the importance of longer-term play and planning as they play more often. 

Benefits:

It requires strategy, critical thinking and playing for longer term gains.

Link to Buy:

Amazon India: https://amzn.to/3wtubFV

7. Blokus

This is also a strategy game. The rules are simple to understand but the play requires thinking. It is a game of 2-4 players. The rules are simple. Each player takes turns placing their 21 pieces on the board, each piece played must touch another piece of the same colour, but only at the corners.

Benefit:

It improves logical thinking and strategic thinking. It becomes more challenging if played with 3 or 4 players, rather than with just 2.

Link to Buy:

Amazon India: https://amzn.to/3pKntYo

8. Game of Life

The Game of Life is a great game to understand the impact of decisions in life. You can choose various paths, taking college education vs job, get married, start a family. A one time assembly is required, after which it is easy to play.

It takes a long time to play and is more fun with three or more people, though it can be played with two.

Benefits: It gives a perspective on how our life decisions can impact our life in future. Good for growing kids.

Link to Buy:

Amazon India: https://amzn.to/3ck154V

Check out other fun creativity and brain development games for kids

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