Playing games with kids can be one of the most enjoyable aspects of the hobby. I’ve recently started introducing my nieces and nephews to board games, and here are a few that have been big hits with us!

Karuba Junior: An exciting cooperative game where the goal is to find the hidden treasure before the pirates land on the island! On each turn, players flip over a new tile and place it on the growing network of jungle paths. But watch out—some tiles feature tigers that scare off your adventurers, and others show pirates advancing closer to the island. The game is suitable for 1-4 players, takes about 10 minutes to play, and is perfect for children aged 4 and up.

My First Orchard: This cooperative game from Haba has a completely different theme. Here, the goal is to protect the cherries from a hungry raven! The game combines memory with deduction—roll the die, flip a tile, and hope for the luck to pick cherries from the tree. But be careful, because if you reveal the raven, it gets one step closer to its fruity feast. The game is designed for 1-4 players, takes about 10 minutes to play, and is recommended for kids aged 3 to 6.

Mr. Wolf: A cooperative game from Blue Orange that can be described as an active memory game. The goal is to protect the farm animals from the sneaky wolf. Each round, players place animals in the correct barn, but the wolf is lurking in the meadow and can appear at any time! You’ll need to remember where the wolf is hiding and which animals are in which barn. The game ends when all the barns are filled, but beware—if you place duplicates or the wrong animals in a barn, the animals won’t sleep well that night. The game is for 1-4 players and is recommended for children aged 4 to 10.