Table of Contents

7 Best Games for 4-Year-Olds (2025 Reviews)

best games for three year olds
seen in: national geographic, cnn, travel + leisure, new york times
the guardian, lonely planet, usa today, forbes
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Playing board games with your little one is a great way to spend some quality time together, and it has many benefits for your child. Most games for 4-year-olds are designed to increase their knowledge and skills, all while having a lot of fun.

There are thousands of board games directed at toddlers and preschoolers, so it can be difficult to decide which one to get. I’ve gathered the best games for 4-year-olds, each teaching a different set of skills, so you’re sure to find one that’ll have the whole family laughing and learning together.

Best Games for 4-Year-Olds

  • 1. Hasbro Hi Ho! Cherry-O Board Game

    (Best math game — $)

    Why it’s great: If you’re interested in increasing your little one’s math skills, this game will have them counting, adding, and subtracting as they fill their buckets with pretend fruit. Your child will also be developing hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills as they try to get their cherries in the right places. There is no reading or high-level skills involved, making this perfect for kids ages three to six years old. This is a classic game that’s been around for a long time because it’s so much fun!

    Keep in mind: This one has small pieces, so keep it out of reach of younger siblings and supervise your child while playing.

    Good for: Kids who love counting.

    Hasbro Hi Ho! Cherry-O Board Game

    View on Amazon.com ➜

  • 2. Hasbro Gaming Chutes and Ladders: Peppa Pig Edition

    (Best for short attention spans — $)

    Why it’s great: Chutes and Ladders is another classic game that most kids tend to love. The Peppa Pig version upgrades the theme to something your little one will recognize while keeping all the same basic gameplay you likely remember from your childhood. The game tends to be a quick one, so it’s great for kids with shorter attention spans, and it teaches your child how to take turns, move spaces, and the ups and downs that come with games of luck. The whimsical design makes even bad luck seem fun, taking some of the sting out of losing.

    Keep in mind: The pieces seem a little large for the board, so they’re easy to bump and mistake which space they were on.

    Good for: Kids who need a fast-paced and short game to keep their attention.

    Hasbro Gaming Chutes and Ladders: Peppa Pig Edition

    View on Amazon.com ➜

  • 3. Educational Insights The Sneaky, Snacky Squirrel Game

    (Most educational — $$)

    Why it’s great: This game offers a whole host of new skills and educational information. Your little one will have to recognize colors and numbers and use their fine motor skills to squeeze the squirrel’s hands together. They’ll also learn about how and why animals hibernate and stockpile food for the winter. It’s a fun little game that the whole family can enjoy together. Once you’ve taught your child to play, the game mechanics are simple and easy for little ones to understand and remember.

    Keep in mind: The acorns are small, making them a little easier to lose pieces.

    Good for: Parents who want a game that will get their child learning in multiple ways.

    Educational Insights The Sneaky, Snacky Squirrel Game

    View on Amazon.com ➜

  • 4. Disney Classic Characters Matching Game

    (Best for all ages — $)

    Why it’s great: Matching games are great for kids of all ages! You can easily customize this game to your child’s skill level by using fewer cards or adding more. Your little one will love seeing all their favorite Disney characters as they improve their recognition and memory skills. You can also choose from a variety of different themes if your little one isn’t into classic Disney characters. These skills will help them a lot in life, so they’re a great choice to start working on early in life. It’s a simple and easy game for kids to learn and understand, and they can even play alone if they feel like it.

    Keep in mind: Pricing varies based on the theme you choose.

    Good for: Kids of all ages who need to improve their memory skills.

    Disney Classic Characters Matching Game

    View on Amazon.com ➜

  • 5. Skillmatics Card Game: Found It Indoor Edition

    (Best for active kids — $$)

    Why it’s great: If you’re worried your little one won’t be able to sit still long enough to play a game, Found It might be the perfect solution. Instead of a traditional board game, this one is a search and find game. Each player will draw a card and all players will have to run and find the object described. The first one to shout, “Found it!” wins the card. This exciting scavenger hunt will help your child recognize concepts, shapes, colors, letters, and more, all while running around the house and getting out some energy.

    Keep in mind: There are many different themes, so make sure you know whether you’re getting one that works indoors or outdoors.

    Good for: Kids with a lot of energy.

    Skillmatics Card Game: Found It Indoor Edition

    View on Amazon.com ➜

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  • 6. ThinkFun Zingo Bingo Award Winning Preschool Game

    (Best for preschoolers — $$$)

    Why it’s great: This game turns BINGO into a game that little kids will find fun and exciting. Instead of numbers, your child will be matching pictures. Each picture also has the word underneath, teaching word recognition and reading skills. Up to seven players can play at one time, making it a good choice for larger families. Each board is slightly different, and the cards that come out are completely random, which means you can play over and over again.

    Keep in mind: There are a few different options, so pick the one that’s suited for your child’s skill level.

    Good for: Kids who are ready to start reading and learning sight words.

    ThinkFun Zingo Bingo Award Winning Preschool Game

    View on Amazon.com ➜

  • 7. Hasbro Gaming Don't Break The Ice Disney Frozen 2 Edition

    (Most exciting — $$$)

    Why it’s great: Don’t Break the Ice is a game of both skill and luck. Each player taps out an ice block, but don’t let Elsa fall or you lose! The Frozen theme is the perfect choice to get your little one interested in this classic game, and it’ll take a problem solver to figure out the best way to keep Elsa standing. This one is great for building hand-eye coordination and motor skills, and your child doesn’t need any educational skills, such as reading or recognizing words/shapes/numbers, so it’s a great choice for 4-year-olds.

    Keep in mind: The legs are cardboard, so you’ll have to make sure your little one isn’t hitting the blocks too hard to keep from damaging the game.

    Good for: Little ones who aren’t ready for more complicated games.

    Hasbro Gaming Don't Break The Ice Disney Frozen 2 Edition

    View on Amazon.com ➜

Best Overall

Hasbro Hi Ho! Cherry-O Board Game

The Hasbro Hi Ho! Cherry-O Board Game is our overall top recommendation. It's the highest quality product we have found with the most affordable price making it the best value on our list..

Hasbro Hi Ho! Cherry-O Board Game

View on Amazon.com ➜

FAQs about Games for 4-year-olds

  • 1. Why should I get my 4-year-old a board game?

    Board games give your child the opportunity to improve many different skills, including social skills, focus, gross or fine motor, and more. Plus, they’re a lot of fun. They’re a great way to get the whole family involved and interact together. Your child will have to learn the rules and combine strategy, logic, and creativity to play along.

  • 2. Are 4-year-olds old enough to play board games with siblings or friends?

    It would depend on the age of the siblings, but likely not. Most 4-year-olds will need some help, or at least monitoring, from a parent to play a board game with other kids. Once your child understands the rules of the game, it might be possible, but be prepared for arguments and fighting between kids, especially if your child is competitive.

  • 3. What can my child learn from board games?

    Board games designed for kids at this age focus on memory, colors and shape recognition, numbers and letters, and more. Your child will also learn basic gameplay, teamwork or strategy, and the mechanics involved in different types of games. They’ll also learn how to take turns, reading skills, hand-eye coordination, and whatever information is unique to the game.

  • 4. Should I let my child win when we play board games?

    You can let your child win occasionally when you’re trying to teach them the game and to help boost their confidence, but you definitely shouldn’t do it all the time. It’s important for kids to lose so they can learn about healthy competition and learn how to lose gracefully. Nobody will win at every game they play, so you need to teach them how to handle the disappointment that comes with losing.

  • 5. How do I teach my child not to be a sore loser?

    When your 4-year-old is first learning how to play board games, it’s best to start out with cooperative games to teach them the basic mechanics of gameplay. Many kids this age aren’t mature enough to handle competitive games and losing. If you want to start teaching them to be good losers, explain that nobody can win every time and that it’s fun just to play the game. While you don’t want to let them win, try to keep it a close game, so they feel like they had a chance, giving them hope they’ll win the next one. This gives them time to gradually increase their skills and improve their gameplay.

Conclusion

Toddlers and preschoolers are constantly learning in everything they do. It’s important to find games that are fun but will also help your child grow and increase different skill sets. Any game you play with your child should help improve social skills and interactions and start teaching them how to handle specific rules and instructions.

The games on this list were chosen to provide a wide variety of styles and themes, so you should easily be able to find one that you and your child both love to play together.