21 Best Board Games for 12 Year Olds For Family Game Night

A fast-paced and quirky party game, Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza challenges players to quickly slap the table when they spot a matching word or symbol with the card they just played.

With amusing and catchy cues like "Taco," "Cat," "Goat," "Cheese," and "Pizza," the game keeps everyone on their toes, creating a fun and chaotic atmosphere for all ages.

This is one of the best word games for kids.

Combining card game strategy with dodgeball-like action, Throw Throw Burrito introduces a hilarious and energetic experience.

Players collect cards to build sets while keeping an eye out for potential burrito battles where foam burritos are thrown, adding an element of physical activity to the gameplay.

This makes an excellent gift for 12 year old girls.

A cooperative board game designed for younger players, Zombie Kidz Evolution evolves over multiple plays as players unlock new content and missions.

The game involves working together to protect the school from a zombie invasion, introducing a dynamic narrative and character development that evolves with each playthrough.

The classic board game, The Game of Life, simulates the journey of life, from choosing a career path and starting a family to navigating various life events.

Players make decisions, face challenges, and accumulate wealth in their pursuit of a successful and fulfilling life, making it a timeless and family-friendly board game.

Spoof, the hilarious bluffing board game, is a fantastic addition to family game nights, offering endless laughter and conversation.

Younger players can team up with adults for a delightful gaming experience.

Ideal for groups of 4-8 players with a 30-minute playtime, Spoof is perfect for holidays, vacations, and any gathering of friends and family, encouraging creativity and strategic bluffing as players create fake answers to entertaining trivia.

This game not only provides the best party games for adults and family but also makes an excellent gift for 12 year old boys.

A spin-off from the popular "What Do You Meme?" series, "Grounded for Life" adds a hilarious twist to family dynamics by featuring meme-worthy scenarios related to parenting and everyday life.

Players use caption cards to create humorous combinations, making it a perfect party game for those who enjoy meme culture.

Check out our favorite joke books that will keep the kids laughing.

Exploding Kittens is a funny fast-paced game that combines strategy and luck.

Players draw cards from a deck, trying to avoid the "Exploding Kitten" card, which eliminates them from the game unless they have a countermeasure card.

With its quirky art and simple rules, it's a popular choice for casual and party gaming.

Trekking Through History is a game of strategy that combines adventure and history as players lead expeditions to explore famous landmarks.

With an educational element, players must manage resources and make decisions to successfully complete journeys, making it an engaging choice for those who enjoy history-themed tabletop games.

For more information about Trekking through History check out our detailed review.

Splendor is a strategic card game that combines elements of resource management and engine-building.

Players act as Renaissance-era merchants, collecting gemstones and developing their economic engines to purchase valuable developments and attract influential nobles.

With simple rules and deep strategy, it's a widely acclaimed game suitable for both casual and serious gamers.

Pay Day is a classic game that simulates the financial ups and downs of a month.

Players navigate through days of the week, encountering financial events and opportunities.

The goal is to manage expenses, save money, and accumulate wealth, creating a family-friendly experience that provides insights into budgeting and financial planning.

This is one of the best money board games

Pandemic is a cooperative game where players work together as members of a disease control team, striving to prevent global outbreaks and find cures for four deadly diseases.

With a compelling theme and collaborative gameplay, "Pandemic" challenges players to strategize and coordinate their efforts, making it a popular choice for those who enjoy intense and cooperative tabletop experiences.

This is a great board game for 12 year olds, check out our Pandemic board game review for more information.

Ticket to Ride is a popular board game where players collect train cards to claim railway routes connecting cities across North America, Europe, and other regions.

Combining strategic planning and a touch of luck, players aim to complete destination tickets and build the longest continuous routes, making it an accessible and engaging game for both casual and experienced players.

Check out our detailed Ticket to Ride review for more details on why we love it.

In Carcassonne, players take turns drawing and placing tiles to construct a landscape with cities, roads, and fields.

They then deploy their follower pieces as knights, thieves, monks, or farmers to score points based on completed features.

With its simple mechanics and strategic depth, "Carcassonne" is a tile-laying classic that appeals to a wide range of players.

Carry on reading our Carcassonne review for even more reasons to buy it.

King of Tokyo is a fast-paced dice-rolling game where players take on the roles of monstrous creatures vying for control of Tokyo.

With a combination of strategy and luck, players roll dice to attack opponents, gain energy, and score points, while also deciding when to enter or leave Tokyo. It's a dynamic and entertaining game that encourages player interaction and tactical decision-making.

Azul is a visually stunning tile-drafting and pattern-building game where players compete to create the most aesthetically pleasing mosaic.

By strategically selecting and placing colored tiles, players aim to complete rows and patterns on their individual player boards.

With its elegant design and engaging gameplay, Azul has gained widespread acclaim as a modern classic.

Spy Alley is a strategic board game of deception and deduction, where players take on the roles of international spies trying to complete their missions.

Players move around the board, collecting items, and attempting to guess the identities of their opponents while keeping their own identity secret.

With its blend of strategy and social interaction, Spy Alley offers a unique and intriguing gaming experience.

Double Ditto is a party game that challenges players to write down responses to a variety of prompts and then try to match those responses with other players.

The more matches, the better!

This creates a fun and interactive experience, making it an entertaining choice for gatherings and game nights.

Related: Free printable memory games

The Settlers of Catan, is a classic strategy game where players compete to settle an island by trading and collecting resources.

With elements of negotiation and resource management, "Catan" is widely regarded as a gateway game for those new to the world of modern board gaming.

Labyrinth is a family-friendly board game where players move through a shifting maze in search of treasures.

The unique aspect of the game is the shifting maze board, where players can change the layout of the paths, adding a strategic and dynamic element to the gameplay.

Brain Games Kids offers an engaging and entertaining board game experience that puts both the minds and bodies of players to the test.

Adapted from the Emmy-nominated National Geographic Channel TV series, Brain Games, this game involves team-based competition to assess logic, language, vision, and physical coordination.

Featuring 128 challenge cards across three categories – Puzzling Pictures, Brain Benders, and Body Language – players strive to reach the finish space in a thrilling race to victory.

Related: Best puzzle books for kids

Trekking The National Parks is a board game that combines elements of strategy and education.

Players take on the role of hikers visiting national parks, collecting park cards and aiming to complete specific sets of cards.

The game celebrates the beauty of national parks while offering an enjoyable and competitive gaming experience.