Trying to find the best board games for a 10 year old boy? You’ve come to the right place. We’ve put together a list of 14 different options that will keep ten year olds entertained for hours, days, weeks, months or even years to come!
Munchkin Deluxe
Unlike some other roleplaying games that are a little more serious and intense, this great game is sure to reduce everyone to laughter. With tons of fun cards to select when playing, as well as various monsters to try to defeat, this game offers incredible replay value for years of play.
- Great for fans of the Munchkin games, this board game offers up to two hours of play
- Large gameboard is great for extended games and for keeping pieces in place
- Six colored tokens represent the players
- Players can choose to work together or backstab their friends
- Fighting monsters and collecting loot make this game fun and exciting
Qwirkle
As players get better at this game, they learn how to make more complex combinations and rows, allowing them to score more points and slowly take the advantage from their opponents. While not as fast paced as other strategy games, this game requires a lot of planning.
- This is a great strategy game that is ideal for abstract thinkers who can think outside of the box
- 108 wooden tiles have different shapes and colors on them, making it a beautiful game
- Lining the tiles up in groups and rows allows players to score points
- Tactical planning and strategic maneuvers are key to being able to win
- Simple rules are easy to understand, making the game easy to explain
Photosynthesis
Not only is this game a lot of fun, but it is striking. Carefully cultivating trees in the forest helps them to grow the largest that they can, giving players a distinct advantage over their opponents. Players gain points by collecting energy from the sun when their leaves are in full exposure.
- Great strategy game for players who love nature
- Players plant trees and guide them through their lifecycle
- It’s only by knowing how and where to plant trees that players can earn as many points as possible
- Blocking other players from the light will prevent them from earning as many points
- Ever-changing forest and board means that each of the games will be different
Mysterium
No matter what role a player takes on in this game, they are sure to have fun, as it is fully immersive and fast paced. It’s much easier to find the murderer when more players cooperate, although a pair of determined players can win, as well.
- This investigation game requires cooperation, which means that all players will win or lose
- Great for a larger group, and will support up to seven players
- Immersive storyline is great for boys who want to be fully involved in the game
- One player attempts to guide the other players to find the culprit
- Players must investigate their own case, deciding if the clues will help them find the murderer
Catan
The player who is able to reach 10 points before the end of the game is the winner, but each player can take a different path to success. By starting settlements, building roads, and upgrading their settlements to cities, players try to slowly take over the board.
- All players are adventurers who are trying to tame the land and find resources
- Through trading, lucky dice, and cards, players find the resources they need to be successful
- The random mix of the board tiles results in a new game each time
- Players work hard to prevent their opponents from building roads and gaining resources
- Understanding how to gather resources is key to success
Scrabble
This word forming game requires not only skill with spelling and creativity when forming new words, but also requires players to know how to add up their score. Paying attention to the extra bonus spots on the board is key, as this will allow players to improve their score quickly.
- Classic game is great for learning how to spell and improving vocabulary
- Shorter words can easily be spelled, making this a great option for boys who aren’t great spellers
- High-quality components mean that the game will last for a long time
- Different letters have different scores, which means that players need to strongly consider what word will benefit them
- The ever-changing board allows players to play words off of letters already placed
Sequence
Since this game can be played in teams, it’s a great option for adults to play with boys to help them improve their skills. Without communicating, players must form sequences of five cards that they have in their hand.
- Great strategy game to improve STEM skills in boys
- Players can play on their own or work in a team to score sequences off of the board
- A combination of cards and tokens make this game exciting and immersive
- Wild cards make the game even more exciting and can upset the game
- The quiet aspect of the game is great for players who are working on their self-control
Splendor
This simple game is easy to understand, but thanks to the advanced strategy that players must use to win, it is a difficult game to master. The streamlined game collection mechanics make it a great first option for boys looking to play a strategy game.
- Shorter game time is perfect for boys with a shorter attention span
- Includes high-quality components that are attractive
- Each player tries to set up a trade route to seek the goods and jewels found around the world
- By becoming a more powerful merchant, players will be able to improve their trading
- Thanks to the historic detail of this game, it is a great way to further understand merchant and trading history
Raptor
Unlike some two-player games that are a little trite, this game requires strategy and also involves players trying to guess the next moves of their opponent, making each game a challenge. The fun illustrations and components give this game a unique feel.
- Simple, yet dynamic, mechanic makes this game a great option for just two players
- Players can decide to be scientists or dinosaurs
- No matter which team they choose to represent, players must come up with a strategy and tactics for survival
- Randomized terrain ensures that each game is just a bit different each time
- Players can quickly take the upper hand with little warning
Unearth
Teams of delvers explore caverns, mountains, forests, islands, and deserts in an attempt to return these ruins to their former beauty and power. By claiming and improving the ruins, players can take control of the board and win.
- Players place their teams on various ruins to claim them for their own
- By building powerful palaces, players work to restore the beauty of these ruins
- Understanding how to place dice and how to correctly move them for control of the board is key
- Lower rolls allow players to uncover stones, which can be used for rebuilding
- The End of Age card signifies time running out, causing players to work faster to succeed
Azul
While some strategy games are much faster paced, which can make boys feel riled up, this slower paced game is a great alternative. Perfect for between two and four players, it’s a relaxing strategy game that still requires a lot of planning to design the best tile layout and score the most points.
- Tile drafting game isn’t boring, as it requires players to have a strategy of how they will place their tiles for the highest score
- Players earn extra points based on tile placement
- Wasted or unused tiles hurt a player’s overall score
- Bright colors and designs mimic Moorish decorative tiles
- Creating patterns and completing specific sets helps raise a player’s score
Diamonds
Unlike some different card trick-taking games, this game involves a unique component that allows players to still be fully involved in the game, even when they are unable to follow suit. Winners of each trick enjoy a unique suit action, as do players who are unable to follow suit.
- The unique gameplay rewards points when winning or losing tricks
- Art deco styling and fun cards are visually appealing
- Different suites all have different scoring abilities
- Keeping cards safe in the vault ensures that other players won’t be able to steal them
- Cards in the showroom can be stolen, increasing the stress of the game
Tides of Time
It can be tricky for players to learn how to balance building their own empire while also stopping their opponents from succeeding, but this game is a great way to learn how to do this. Learning how to strategize how to handle moves and what steps need to be taken next will allow players to control the game.
- Unique player draft system is great for one-on-one play
- The small deck of 18 cards makes it difficult for players to successfully build their civilizations first
- Players must not only focus on building their civilization, but must also sabotage their opponent
- There are only three rounds of play, after which the best empire will win
- By leaving behind relics of the past, players will have additional help in later rounds
Urbania
While the rules are advanced, the gameplay of this game is fairly basic and easy to understand. By bidding specialists away from other players, players can get the help that they need to win while at the same time undermining their opponents and slowing down their progress.
- Full-color game board and 49 double-sided tiles result in a new game each time
- 110 cards are full color and provide an immersive experience
- Players are urban planners trying to redevelop a neglected city
- It’s only by hiring designers and specialists that players can improve the city
- Players must submit plans and design blueprints before they can start building