Top 10 Games for Teens

Somewhere between childhood and adulthood, are teenagers. If you’ve spent much time with one, you know that teens are less likely to play board games with their parents. They tend to prefer playing with their friends instead. And although some will love a deep dive into a theme, they more often want games that are light and a little silly.

We’ve got a few games to recommend for teenagers that emphasize that social aspect. They are all easy to teach to newcomers, and encourage talking and being silly together.

Looking for games that skew younger? Check out our lists for younger children:

• Top 10 Games for Kids 7-10
• Top 10 Games for 6 Year Olds
• Top 10 Games for 5 Year Olds
• Top 10 Games for 4 Year Olds
• Top 10 Games for 3 Year Olds

1. Pick and Pass, Mix and Match: Sushi Go Party!

Sushi Go! is the king of cute food games, and highly recommended in our community.

We recommend the original Sushi Go! for kids, but teens will love the customization available to them in the larger Sushi Go Party. Whether you have just two players or a group of eight, you can mix and match all kinds of foods for different effects before starting the game.

Find Sushi Go Party! on Amazon.

2. Friendly Arguments: Green Team Wins

For party games, this one is a winner, just like it says on the box. Green Team Wins is the most requested game by teenage visitors to our house.

In Green Team Wins, teens will try to stay on the “green team” by answering questions to match up with the most people at the table. This may sound a bit like Apples to Apples, but there’s no judge in this game, so arguments should stay good-natured and silly. (Is the graham cracker, the chocolate, or the marshmallow the most important part of a s’more?)

Check out our review of Green Team Wins or buy it on Amazon.

3. It’s the End of the World as We Know it: Doomlings

Who knew the end of the world could be so funny? In Doomlings, players must shepherd their little flock of dot-creatures through various disasters, giving them traits and abilities to survive better than the other players’ groups.

It’s cute, easy to learn, and surprisingly strategic – with a hefty dose of luck. Games take only about half an hour and the deck is large enough that you won’t see a lot of the same cards over repeated plays. Additional expansion packs can add even more variety.

Watch our review of Doomlings and find the game on Amazon.

4. Dice Battles: Dice Throne

Sometimes you just want to beat up on your friends. This dice-rolling battle pits one player against another, taking chances and using special powers to take your opponent(s) down.

The illustrations and even the dice in this game are gorgeous and thematic, sure to pull in any teenager. And the dice-rolling means that there’s a lot of luck, making this more friendly to newcomers than our other favorite dueling games.

With numerous different options including a massive Marvel set, there’s sure to be a character that appeals to your teen’s interests. The combinations are endless!

Read our review of Dice Throne, and peruse the versions available on Amazon.

5. Survival of the Fastest: Get Bit!

This cute game hides a mean underbelly.

Every round, try to play cards that are higher than other players – without tying – so you can avoid being the last swimmer in line. Why? Because the last swimmer gets bitten by the shark and has to remove a limb – you literally pop them off your swimmer figure!

Up to seven players can enjoy this game of trying to outlast your buddies – and our kids always argue over who gets to be the shark.

Watch our review or buy Get Bit! on Amazon.

6. Cooperate: Zombie Teenz Evolution

It’s great to have some cooperative games on hand, where players work together for a common goal. Zombie Teenz Evolution is a slightly more challenging sequel to Zombie Kidz Evolution, which we recommend for kids.

Instead of simply defending your school from the zombie horde, now you have to collect ingredients for an “antidote” – while still holding the zombies at bay. Win games and complete missions to unlock new characters, events, and challenges.

And just like Zombie Kidz Evolution, you’re always moving forward and unlocking more content, even when you lose. And it’s still playable even after you’ve “finished” by completing all the missions.

Find Zombie Teenz Evolution on Amazon.

7. Chucking Dice: Strike

It’s not always the complicated games that are the most fun to play. Enter the arena and Strike!

You’ll be trying to keep as many of your dice as you can. Chuck dice into the bowl-shaped arena and hope some match. If they don’t, maybe throw another one in there to see if you can knock something over, or match something that’s there. Keep the matching ones and toss out the X’s. The last player to run out of dice wins!

Read this review from One Board Family, or find Strike on Amazon.

8. Get Up and Move: Throw Throw Burrito

All of our children insisted this had to be on the list. Throw Throw Burrito is best described as “Dutch Blitz plus dodgeball”. Yes, you will be throwing (and dodging!) foam burritos; so this is best played in an area without fragile items to knock over.

Every player simultaneously draws cards from their left and discards to their right, trying to make matching trios to score points. Whenever a player makes a trio of special battle cards, other players are forced into an impromptu dodgeball fight. Whoever gets hit first takes a “bruise”, worth negative points. When the “bruises” run out, tally up the card points and find out who is the burrito champion.

Find Throw Throw Burrito on Amazon, or try the sequel: Throw Throw Avocado.

9. Cute but Mean: boop

It’s adorable cats and kittens! But these felines are constantly bouncing each other off the bed.

In this two-player game, try to line up three of your own color in a row. Kittens grow into cats, who can only be bounced by other cats (not kittens). Strategize to get your own cats lined up, without getting booped out of the way!

The cuteness of boop (even a quilted game board!) takes the edge off its cutthroat nature, and gives teens an outlet to be “mean” that shouldn’t lead to hard feelings.

Watch our review of boop or find boop on Amazon.

10. Something Completely Different: Sneaky Cards

Sneaky Cards are perfect for a kid who struggles to connect with others, or is unwilling to sit down for a traditional game. Because Sneaky Cards aren’t exactly a “game”. Instead, each card contains a specific challenge. Each deck – and each card – are trackable on the SneakyCards.com website, showing you the journey each card takes around the world, or just around your neighborhood.

Sneaky Cards give teens tools to connect with friends and strangers in every day life. We found this to be a wonderful way to gently push our teens to get out of their comfort zone and interact with people, when they’re too shy to do it organically. Challenges are small but build confidence through specific tasks – while also encouraging players to show kindness and be goofy with their friends.

Read our review of Sneaky Cards 2 (written during the pandemic), and find both Sneaky Cards decks on Amazon.

Looking for More?

This only scratches the surface. Check out our yearly holiday gift guides for more inspiration.

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