Trying to find a board game like Tic Tac Toe? Then you’ve come to the right place. We’ve compiled 13 games that have simple objectives and simple game play.
1. Connect 4
- Two players take turns dropping colored discs into the frame
- Players try to get four discs in a row while at the same time blocking each other from scoring
- Games are relatively short, which is great for children with shorter attention spans and allows for a lot of games to be played in a short period of time
- Turn-based play is great for children who are learning to take turns and to play with a partner
- Bright colors are inviting and fun and sure to inspire children to want to play this fun game
- Thanks to the durable frame and pieces, this is a great game to play with children who may otherwise be hard on games
2. Mancala
- Two players each have a variety of stones in holes on their sides of the board
- On each end of the board there is a larger slot where players try to deposit their stones
- Players scoop stones and drop them, one by one, into the holes around the board
- When players end with a stone in their larger slot they are able to go again
- While players are trying to get the most possible stones in their larger slot, they are also trying to prevent the other player from taking all of their stones
- Because of the turn-based play, no player will get bored when playing this game
- Games don’t take very long to play and are easy to set up
3. Othello
- This classic two-player game includes a game board, 64 reversible discs, and disc holders
- The play is very simple for most players to quickly pick up, but the strategy is very important for players to have the best chance of winning
- Players have to have a strategy of how they will get the most discs of their color on the board
- By surrounding their opponent’s discs they can flip them to their color, which is the best way to take over the board
- As the game progresses and there are fewer spots to put the discs, players have to be able to think and plan ahead for the best chance at flipping the most discs to their color
4. Guess Who
- This classic game for two players requires each player to choose a character and then try to guess which character their opponent chose
- By asking specific questions about the features of the characters on the board, players are able to eliminate the characters that their opponent didn’t choose
- It gets easier to find out who their opponent chose as players continue to narrow down their options
- Players have to be observant about the character that they chose and also be aware of what questions they can ask next
- Understanding which questions to ask will help you to narrow down the available characters that your opponent chose and will help you figure out the answer
- Because there are so many characters to choose from, this game can be played over and over
5. XOBrainer
- This modern game is a great twist on classics and is perfect for two players to enjoy
- Players have to combine elements of Connect 4, Go, and Tic Tac Toe
- As players think two dimensionally to place their pieces, they have to stop their opponents while also trying to get five in a row of a certain shape or color
- While some strategy board games can last for hours, this is a fast-paced game that is a great option for when players are in a hurry
- Components are high quality and stored in pouches in the box so that they don’t get damaged or lost when in storage
- Since players can play off of their opponent’s pieces, this game has an extra element of stress
6. Go
- Two players take turns placing black or white stones on the board
- Players try to wall off sections of the board for themselves while at the same time surrounding their opponent’s stones
- The end of the game only occurs when the board is completely filled or when both players agree to end the game
- While this is not a fast-paced game, it does require a lot of strategy and planning ahead
- Players can easily learn how to play the game in just a few minutes, but strategy takes a lifetime to master
- The games can take awhile to play, so it’s good to choose a time when you have more time to play
7. Checkers
- Each players is in control of a set of red or black pieces
- The goal of the game is to capture all of the opponent’s pieces and be the last one with any on the board
- Players can capture another piece by jumping over it, making it possible to chain together several jumps
- When players reach the other side of the board, they can be “crowned” which allows them to then move backwards and forwards
- Basic rules are easy to understand
- While the game takes a lot of luck at first, gradually players will need to rely more on skill to have a chance to win the game
- Games are generally short and can be played quickly
8. Tenzi
- Everyone who plays Te
nzi gets 10 dice and then has to roll their dice as quickly as possible to try to get the same number on each one - The first person who can get the same number of all dice and then yells “tenzi” wins
- Players have to be able to determine which number is the best option for them to try to get on all dice
- Because all players play at once, this game moves very quickly and doesn’t have a lot of down time
- Great game for beginners and young children to play, as long as they are able to identify the numbers on their dice
- Great game for as few as two people
9. Chutes and Ladders
- Because this game doesn’t require any reading, it is a great game to play with younger children
- Children are able to practice their counting and number recognition as they play the game
- All players are trying to make their way to the top of the board without accidentally landing on a chute and sliding back down to the beginning
- Players spin a spinner and then move that many spaces
- Some players get lucky and end up on a ladder space that allows them to climb up and bypass a number of other spaces that they would have to pass through
- The bright colors on the board are inviting and exciting for younger children
10. Chess
- Two players each have a set of either black or white pieces
- Players take turns moving their pieces, each which have different moves that they can make
- In an attempt to put their opponent’s king in “check mate,” players move their pieces across the board
- It takes a lot of skill to be able to take the opponent’s pieces without having your own pieces taken as well
- While the game has fairly simple rules, it takes a long time to master chess
- There are many different opening moves, and no game will ever be the same
- Because players can continue to improve their ability, this is a game that they can play for a long time
11. Shut the Box
- High-quality components include a solid wood case, see-through lid, 9 number tiles, and 2 wood dice
- Great game for children and for adults
- Players roll the dice and then they have to shut the numbers that can add up to the number on the dice
- When players are unable to shut any boxes to add up to the dice that they have rolled, then their turn is over
- The next player opens up all of the numbers and shuts them in pairs or one at a time
- The player who has the lowest score at the end of everyone’s turn is the winner
- Players have to wait to take turns, but because play goes so quickly, there isn’t a lot of problem with dead down time during the game
12.Memory
- Fun matching game has very little pressure for players, which is great for younger children
- Players take turns turning over a pair of facedown cards as they try to find a pair
- When players find a pair, they get to remove them from the game and keep them for themselves
- The player who has the most pairs at the end of the game is the winner
- Not only do players have to remember which cards haven’t been turned over, but they also need to remember where certain cards are so that they can find pairs
- It’s easy to make this game easier or harder depending on how many pairs of cards you include in the game
13. Turtle Flip
- Perfect game for a pair, but up to six players can play
- While it seems like a regular game of memory, this game has a twist and helps to teach younger players directions and the value of numbers
- Thanks to the fast pace of this game, it will keep the attention of even younger players
- When kids play with parents, they will gain social skills and more confidence
- The rules are very basic and easy to learn, which means that people can start playing right away
- Thanks to the fun illustrations on the cards and the bright colors, this game will appeal to children of all ages
- Players have to try to stay ahead of their opponents for the best chance of winning