Are you looking for online family board games to have a fun time with your family and friends? If yes, this blog is for you! In this blog, we will discuss the best board games for your family that you can play and enjoy quality time with your loved ones!
Board games have been a part of our lives for centuries. With the evolution of technologies, these games have made their way to the digital world where you can play these games without geographical restrictions anytime and anywhere. Just install, connect with your family, and start playing! With several games available out there, it is quite difficult to choose the best family board games. We have made your search easier by including the top ones in this blog.
So, just stick to the end with us and you will surely find the most suitable game to have fun with your family.
Table of Contents
What Makes a Family Board Game the Best?
Since there are a lot of online family board games available out there in the market, choosing one is not an easy task. Let us tell you that a perfect different types of board game for families—whether it’s strategy-based, trivia, cooperative, word games, or classic games—includes the following things that you must always look out for
List of the Top Online Board Games for Family in 2025
Below is the table that provides a short summary of each game including its key features, main objective, and why the game is fun.
Game Name
Game Type
No. of Players
Key Features
Main Objective
Why It Is Fun
Cribbage
Card Game
2-4
Pegboard, card counting, strategy
Be the first to score 121 points
Combines luck of the draw with strategic card play
Backgammon
Board Game
2
Dice rolling, movement strategy, capturing pieces
Move all your pieces from the board before the opponent
Combines chance and strategy for engaging gameplay
Zombie Dice
Dice Game
2+
Thematic zombie apocalypse
Collect brains while avoiding getting shot three times
Quick, thematic, and full of suspense
Dungeons & Dragons
RPG
2+(best:4+)
Storytelling, collaborative gameplay, character creation
Complete quests and overcome challenges as a group
Immersive storytelling and endless creative possibilities
Monopoly
Board Game
2-8
Buying properties, trading, money management
Be the richest player or bankrupt your opponents
Iconic and competitive with opportunities for negotiation
Scrabble Online
Word Game (Online)
2+
Vocabulary building, tile placement, strategy
Score points by creating high-value words
Educational and fun with real-time or asynchronous play
Bingo Online
Online board game
2+
Simple rules, random number calling
Complete a row, column, or diagonal on your card
Easy to play and socially engaging
Ludo
Board Game
2-4
Dice rolling, race mechanics, blocking opponents
Be the first to move all pieces to the home base
Simple, family-friendly, and nostalgic
Guess Who
Deduction Game
2
Character elimination, questioning
Guess the opponent’s character before they guess yours
Quick rounds and encourage strategic questioning
Chess
Strategy Game
2
Abstract strategy, no luck element
Checkmate your opponent’s king
Deep strategic depth and infinite replayability
Ticket to Ride
Board Game
2-5
Route building, set collection, geographic themes
Build train routes to score the most points
Easy to learn but offers satisfying strategic decisions
Codenames
Word Association
4-8+
Clue-giving, word association, teamwork
Identify all your team’s words based on clues before the opponents
Encourages teamwork and creativity
Now let’s know the list of the best board games for families that you should try once to have a fun time with your loved ones while enjoying the game.
1. Cribbage
Cribbage is a classic card game that combines elements of luck and strategy, making it a fantastic board game for families. The objective is to be the first player to score 121 points through skillful card combinations and pegging on a distinctively designed Cribbage board. Its blend of simple rules and strategic depth allows for players of all ages to enjoy, fostering family bonding and friendly competition. Additionally, the game can be enjoyed online, offering the same engaging experience.
Pros
Cons
Automatically handles complex scoring and pegging.
Limited social interaction compared to in-person.
Quick matchmaking allows for finding opponents easily.
Some online platforms may have poor user interfaces.
Offers tutorials and aids for beginners.
2. Backgammon
Backgammon is another excellent board game for families, offering a fun way to engage in strategic thinking and decision-making. The goal is to move all your checkers around and off the board before your opponent does, using dice rolls to dictate moves. This game is not only entertaining but also educational, helping younger players develop logical thinking and probability skills. For those who prefer digital convenience, Backgammon is available online, providing families with an easy way to enjoy this classic game.
Pros
Cons
Easily find opponents of varying skill levels.
Lack of physical dice rolling may reduce immersion.
Play multiple matches quickly without setup time.
Internet connection issues can disrupt games.
Often includes customizable boards and themes.
3. Zombie Dice
Zombie Dice is one of the top-rated family board games which consists of Zombies and brains as the main element of the gameplay. In this game, you are a zombie and your main objective is to collect 13 brains before your opponent does. It features 13 custom dice that are victims and you need to eat their brains while avoiding the blast of shotguns.
With each turn, you take three dice from the box and roll them. A brain symbol is equivalent to one point at the end of the round. It is both a skill and strategy-based game that offers users an exciting and immersive gameplay experience.
Pros
Cons
Quick and simple to play on digital platforms.
Minimal interaction with other players online.
Keeps track of scores automatically.
Thematic immersion may be reduced digitally.
Accessible for casual gamers with a low learning curve.
4. Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is one of the fun family board games featuring an adventurous and spooky environment or storyline full of dragons and other horrified creatures. The main objective is to survive and battle against the monsters alone or with your friends or family whom you invite to play with you.
You will be given guns, and powerful gear to battle against the horrified monsters with ease. This not only helps you sustain or win but also augments your experience like no other.
Pros
Cons
Virtual tools make complex rules easier to manage.
Requires time to learn digital tools or platforms.
Enables remote play with friends or new players.
It may lack the tactile, personal feel of the in-person play.
Access to extensive resources like digital maps.
5. Monopoly
Monopoly is an economic-theme-based classic board game for families and friends that motivates players to build more and more properties of their own. The main objective of the players is to make others go bankrupt. It consists of lands and properties that players can buy by rolling the dice. Here, you need to build establishments and own as many blocks as you can to beat the competition.
Whenever any player lands on your owned block or property, he/she needs to pay rent. Moreover, there are regulations that you need to follow when landing on community blocks. The best thing about this board game type is that it offers players a chance to play in the most competitive environment wherein every player is fighting to become rich.
Pros
Cons
Automatic banking and rule enforcement speed up play.
Can lack the same negotiation dynamic as in-person.
Numerous themed and customizable versions are available.
Potential for connection issues during long games.
Play with friends or random players worldwide.
6. Scrabble Online
Scrabble is an online word-making game that tests users’ vocabulary and word-making skills. Due to offering amazing gameplay with exciting features and functions, it has become a fav for many players. Here, players have to make the trickiest and longest words. All you need to do is find out the suitable letters and connect them to make real words. There are different modes available like single-player, multiplayer-online, and play with a computer.
Being a popular family board game, its main objective is to make more and more valuable words on the blocks that let you earn more points. In the end, whoever makes more points based on the words made by them will win the game.
Pros
Cons
Automatic scoring and dictionary checking.
Some platforms may allow unfair use of word aids.
Play asynchronously at your convenience.
Limited face-to-face social engagement.
Competitive and educational experience.
7. Bingo Online
Bingo is a number-based game that has been enjoyed among family and friends for generations. The main objective is to scratch numbers present on your bingo card before your opponent does. Well, that depends on your luck what type of bingo card you get, and what types of numbers the bingo caller is calling out.
Different types of bingo games are becoming popular these days and are targeting global players located in different parts of the world. Some of the most common types are 30-ball bingo, 75-ball bingo, 90-ball bingo, and 80-ball bingo.
Pros
Cons
Fast-paced and accessible for all skill levels.
Minimal strategy, which may bore some players.
Social features like chat can add a community feel.
Reliant on internet stability for seamless play.
Engaging themes and variations in digital versions.
How can we forget Ludo when we talk about the best family board games of all time? Much has been discussed about this game in our previous blogs, its popularity surged during the mid-2020s when everybody was at home, making it a fun game to play with families and friends. The aim is to successfully place all the tokens in the home center before the others.
Due to its simple gameplay, this game is enjoyed among all players even among those who don’t have any skill level. Just start rolling the dice and take over the opponent’s pawn.
Pros
Cons
Matches are quick and easy to set up.
Heavy reliance on luck may deter strategic players.
Social features like chat or emotes enhance interaction.
May lack the nostalgia of the physical game.
Accessible on various devices, including mobile.
9. Guess Who
Guess Who allows users to create a private room to invite others to play. It is one of the best family board games where users pick a character after which they must choose a predefined set of questions suitable for their gameplay. When another player responds to the question, the program automatically removes the options. At the end of the gameplay, the program names a winner and assigns his score.
One of the most prominent con is that this game seems to be more enjoyable at offline gatherings. However, being an online game, players can play anytime anywhere.
Pros
Cons
Matches are fast-paced and easy to play online.
Reduced physical interaction makes it less engaging.
AI opponents are available for solo practice.
Limited character sets may lead to repetition.
Good for kids and family-friendly play.
10. Chess Online
Chess is an ultimate two-player board game that you can play with your family and friends. This game is fun but demands in-depth strategic decisions for defeating the opponent. Here the aim is to checkmate the opponent’s king. Checkmate is a situation when the opposite king is directly threatened to change his position. If there is no option left the opponent loses the game.
Even as a strategic game, you can enjoy this game with your family members as it allows you to make your mind active and concentrate on every move.
Pros
Cons
Easily find opponents at any skill level.
Lack of face-to-face interaction may reduce enjoyment.
Analysis tools help improve gameplay.
Online timers may add pressure for casual players.
A global community with tournaments and leaderboards.
11. Ticket to Ride
It is a strategy board game where players are required to collect train cards so they can claim railway routes on the map. In this family board game, points are scored by completing specific destination tickets and building the longest continuous routes. It combines strategy, planning, and a bit of luck which makes it quite engaging for people of all ages. The different editions of this game feature maps of various countries and regions.
Pros
Cons
Quick setup with automated scoring.
May lack the tactile appeal of the physical game.
Play against friends or random players globally.
Expansions may require additional purchases.
Visually appealing and retains thematic elements.
12. Codenames
A word-based game that is playable between two or more players. Here, teams compete to identify their secret agents based on clues given by a spymaster. Clues must connect multiple words on the board while avoiding those of the opposing team or the dreaded “assassin.”
This game can be enjoyed at family gatherings or parties due to its nature of being fast-paced and creative which collectively provides a fun-filled gaming experience.
Pros
Cons
Great for remote play with friends or family.
Requires a group to fully enjoy.
Easy to set up and learn, even online.
Word associations can be challenging for non-native speakers.
Offers team-based play with fun communication.
Final Words
From Cribbage’s peg boarding to Ludo’s fast-action to Codenames’s word association, each game is unique on its own with different gameplay. Only one thing is common, which is the fun-filled entertainment that you can enjoy with your family. If you haven’t tried any one of these, we recommend you play this game with your family members.
You can also become a gaming enterprise owner by creating any of these popular family board games by just sharing your game idea with a leading board game development agency.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What are the top board games for families to play online?
Ans. Zombie Dice, Dungeons & Dragons, Monopoly, Scrabble Online, Bingo Online, and Guess Who are among the top family board games to play online.
Q2. How much does it cost to develop a family board game app?
Ans. The development cost of an online family board game varies from $5,000 to $7,000 with basic features and functions, and sometimes it may go up to $10,000 according to your game idea and business plan. To know the exact development cost, share your board game idea with BR Softech.
Q3. How to create a board game for family and friends?
Ans. You need to partner with a board game agency to develop a family board game.
Q4. How long does it take to develop a family board game app?
Ans. It usually takes around three to four months to build a family board game application.
Q5. What features should I include in a family board game app?
Ans. Features like multiplayer mode, simple user interface, immersive sounds, and more are a must that you should include in a family board game app.
I am Nitin Garg, founder of BR Softech PVT LTD - an award-winning mobile game development company known for its excellence in the gaming domain. We have a team of 180+ exceptional professionals & we have a satisfied clientele of 2.7k+ globally. Driven by an entrepreneurial spirit, I aim to elevate BR Softech to a billion-dollar company.