The best educational board, card & dice games 👩‍🎓 2026

Looking for a really good game where children learn something 👩‍🎓? We have picked out the best educational games and made sure that they are fun despite all the learning.

What are educational games?

Educational games are specifically designed to teach people about a certain topic, expand concepts, strengthen development, understand a historical event or culture, or help them learn a skill while they play.

So educational games promote general knowledge in a fun and easy way.

Special list of environmental & nature learning games

We have created an extra list of educational games that are about nature and the environment: The Best Environment & Nature Learning Games.

list of the best educational games 2026 👩‍🎓

This list was last updated on June 4, 2026. There's also a print version for this list .
  1. Wingspan: European Expansion

    The Wingspan: European Expansion broadens the horizons of the original Wingspan game, introducing a captivating array of European birds, each with unique abilities that enhance gameplay and player interaction.

    Nominated for 2 awards and won 2.

    More details for Wingspan: European Expansion
    • 👥 1 - 5 Players
    • ⏱️ 40 - 70 Minutes
    • 🧒 10+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn
  2. Forest Shuffle: Alpine (Expansion)

    New cards are added to the base game to bring even more variety to your gaming tables. Players aim to attract the most valuable species to their forest, with some cards being removed from play based on the number of players. This first expansion introduces 36 new multifunctional cards, including two new tree species, along with some changes to the base game rules.

    Nominated for 1 award.

    More details for Forest Shuffle: Alpine (Expansion)
    • 👥 2 - 5 Players
    • ⏱️ 60 Minutes
    • 🧒 10+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn
  3. Trekking Through History

    Players embark on a three-day journey through human history, traveling through time to experience significant moments from the past. Each day represents a round in which players choose historical events to spend hours on, gaining advantages like ticking off points on their itinerary and collecting time crystals to manipulate the space-time continuum in future turns. Points are also earned for visiting events in chronological order, and the player with the most points after three rounds wins.

    Nominated for 3 awards and won 1.

    More details for Trekking Through History
    • 👥 1 - 4 Players
    • ⏱️ 30 - 60 Minutes
    • 🧒 10+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn
  4. Looking for a really good game for toddlers? We have compared the best games for children up to 4 years and picked out the top25.

    The best games for toddlers →
  5. Timeline: Events

    Timeline: Events is an engaging card game that challenges players' knowledge of historical events. The game is straightforward yet captivating, requiring players to correctly place cards in chronological order based on the events they depict.

    More details for Timeline: Events
    • 👥 2 - 8 Players
    • ⏱️ 15 Minutes
    • 🧒 8+ years old
    • 🧩 Immediately playable
  6. Spot it!

    Spot it!, also known as Dobble, is a fast-paced, fun-filled pattern recognition game. It's a simple yet engaging game where players race to find matching symbols between two cards.

    Nominated for 6 awards and won 2.

    More details for Spot it!
    • 👥 2 - 8 Players
    • ⏱️ 15 Minutes
    • 🧒 6+ years old
    • 🧩 Immediately playable
  7. Fauna

    Fauna is a captivating educational board game that invites 2-6 players to explore the animal kingdom. Each round, players are presented with a single animal, identified only by name and picture, and they must guess various aspects of its biology such as weight, length, height, tail length, and notably, the geographic regions where the animal resides. The game incorporates a strategic element where players place their tokens on a large map or on scales to indicate their guesses. Once a player places their token on a particular area or measurement, no one else can choose the same spot for that round, adding a competitive twist to the guessing game. Accuracy is rewarded with points, and even near misses can earn a player some credit, but incorrect guesses result in tokens being temporarily removed from play. The game proceeds through several rounds, each featuring a new animal, until a player reaches the predetermined score to win, typically after 8-12 rounds.

    Nominated for 11 awards and won 3.

    ⭐️ Nominated for Kinderspiel des Jahres 2009

    ⭐️ Nominated for Spiel des Jahres 2009

    More details for Fauna
    • 👥 2 - 6 Players
    • ⏱️ 45 - 60 Minutes
    • 🧒 8+ years old
    • 🧩 Immediately playable
  8. First Orchard

    A classic fruit orchard designed for young children. The rules are tailored to their age, and the game pieces are specifically made for small hands. The beautiful wooden pieces are also great for free play and help develop motor skills.

    More details for First Orchard
    • 👥 1 - 4 Players
    • ⏱️ 10 Minutes
    • 🧒 2+ years old
    • 🧩 Immediately playable
  9. In the Footsteps of Darwin

    Twenty years after his journey around the world, Charles Darwin writes about the origin of species and seeks new information about animal life, especially from unexplored continents. Young, adventurous naturalists board the Beagle to assist him in completing his famous work. Players study animals, conduct surveys, publish findings, and develop theories, aiming to score more points than their competitors and demonstrate their significant contributions to Darwin's research.

    Nominated for 5 awards and won 2.

    ⭐️ Nominated for Spiel des Jahres 2024

    More details for In the Footsteps of Darwin
    • 👥 2 - 5 Players
    • ⏱️ 20 - 30 Minutes
    • 🧒 8+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn
  10. Taco Back Goat Cheese Pizza

    • 👥 2 - 8 Players
    • ⏱️ 10 Minutes
    • 🧒 8+ years old
    • 🧩 Immediately playable
  11. Anno Domini: Seefahrer & Flieger

    This edition of the card game features sailors and aviators. Each set includes 336 cards, each with a description of a historical event on one side and the year it occurred on the other. Players receive nine cards and aim to arrange them in chronological order, while bluffing and challenging others' placements. The first player to discard all their cards wins, making it a fun and surprising experience for everyone involved.

    More details for Anno Domini: Seefahrer & Flieger
    • 👥 2 - 8 Players
    • ⏱️ 45 Minutes
    • 🧒 10+ years old
    • 🧩 Immediately playable
  12. Looking for an educational game that is about the environment and nature 🌲🦌? Then we have just the thing - a list of 30 best environment & nature learning games 2026.

    The best environmental & nature learning games 🌲🦌 →
  13. Der HeidelBÄR: Wilde Wasser Edition

    A new edition of "Der HeidelBÄR" dives into the ocean. Players must use the names of sea creatures to get the other players to guess which "bear" they are referring to.

    More details for Der HeidelBÄR: Wilde Wasser Edition
    • 👥 3 - 6 Players
    • ⏱️ 20 Minutes
    • 🧒 10+ years old
    • 🧩 Immediately playable
  14. Detective Charlie

    Strange events occur on Mysterville Island, and Charlie Holmes needs your help to solve the case! Interrogate witnesses, analyze evidence, and return to the train station in time for tea.

    Nominated for 4 awards and won 1.

    More details for Detective Charlie
    • 👥 1 - 5 Players
    • ⏱️ 25 Minutes
    • 🧒 7+ years old
    • 🧩 Immediately playable
  15. Funemployed

    Funemployed is a card-based party game where players compete to land jobs. They apply for real positions like astronaut, lawyer, or priest while claiming absurd qualifications, such as being able to talk to pandas. Players must creatively present their qualifications in a role-playing manner, aiming to convince others that they are the best fit for the job.

    More details for Funemployed
    • 👥 3 - 20 Players
    • ⏱️ 30 Minutes
    • 🧒 13+ years old
    • 🧩 Immediately playable
  16. Cardline: Animals

    Kardlinie: Tiere is a card game played with approximately 100 cards, featuring various animals along with their names and classes. Players decide whether to compare the length, weight, or lifespan of the animals before the game begins. Each player places a number of face-down animal cards on the table, and the game proceeds with players taking turns to lay down cards in numerical order based on the chosen attribute, aiming to be the first to play all their cards correctly.

    Nominated for 3 awards and won 1.

    More details for Cardline: Animals
    • 👥 2 - 8 Players
    • ⏱️ 15 Minutes
    • 🧒 7+ years old
    • 🧩 Immediately playable
  17. Finspan

    • 👥 1 - 5 Players
    • ⏱️ 45 - 60 Minutes
    • 🧒 10+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn
  18. Morels

    Morels takes players on a serene yet strategic journey through old-growth woods, where collecting and cooking mushrooms is the key to success. This two-player card game cleverly combines the charm of foraging with tactical decision-making, making every trip into the forest an engaging and thoughtful experience.

    Nominated for 4 awards and won 1.

    More details for Morels
    • 👥 2 Players
    • ⏱️ 30 Minutes
    • 🧒 10+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn
  19. Timeline: Classic

    Timeline: Classic is a card game played with 55 cards. Unlike other versions that focus on specific themes, this edition includes multiple topics in a compact package. Players take turns placing cards depicting inventions, revealing the year on one side, and must arrange them chronologically; the first to successfully play all their cards wins.

    More details for Timeline: Classic
    • 👥 2 - 6 Players
    • ⏱️ 15 Minutes
    • 🧒 8+ years old
    • 🧩 Immediately playable
  20. Roll & Play

    Roll & Play is the first game specifically designed for toddlers. Players simply roll a large plush die and choose a corresponding activity card to perform a fun task, such as making a happy face or mooing like a cow. This game helps children shine, promotes healthy development, and celebrates their successes, all while gently introducing play patterns and rules in a joyful experience. The main objective for players is to complete the activity cards.

    More details for Roll & Play
    • 👥 2 Players
    • ⏱️ 5 Minutes
    • 🧒 1+ years old
    • 🧩 Immediately playable
  21. Spot On

    Get ready to travel across Germany from west to east and north to south without packing your bags. Using clue cards, players estimate the locations of cities, determine which has the most or least inhabitants, and identify their positions relative to each other. Points are collected for correct guesses, helping to improve geographical knowledge along the way.

    More details for Spot On
    • 👥 2 - 4 Players
    • ⏱️ 30 Minutes
    • 🧒 10+ years old
    • 🧩 Immediately playable
  22. Ecosystem

    Players select cards and take turns placing them in their individual ecosystems. Each player's area consists of up to twenty cards from eleven different types. Scoring happens based on strategic placements, such as placing bears next to bees and trout, while the largest stream at the game's end earns additional points. Diversification is key to maximizing your score!

    Nominated for 1 award.

    More details for Ecosystem
    • 👥 2 - 6 Players
    • ⏱️ 15 - 20 Minutes
    • 🧒 10+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn
  23. Rory's Story Cubes: Voyages

    Roll the dice and start your story with "Once upon a time..." using the first symbol to grab attention while linking all nine images. There are no wrong answers; the aim is to let the images spark your imagination.

    More details for Rory's Story Cubes: Voyages
    • 👥 1 - 12 Players
    • ⏱️ 20 Minutes
    • 🧒 8+ years old
    • 🧩 Immediately playable
  24. My Very First Games: To Market!

    Players have a shopping list of four items they want to buy. They must figure out where to buy bread and cheese, how much socks cost, and if strawberries are still available. The dice determines their next shopping stop, and kids can creatively engage with the game materials to explore various role-playing scenarios related to shopping.

    More details for My Very First Games: To Market!
    • 👥 1 - 4 Players
    • 🧒 2+ years old
    • 🧩 Immediately playable
  25. Manimals: Europa 1

    Manimals is a beautifully designed animal game that is great for learning in the classroom or at home. Players discover the characteristics of various animals, with a focus on European species. The game features engaging scenarios, like observing sea lions and uncovering hidden ducks, prompting players to showcase their animal knowledge.

    💰 26% cheaper on Amazon than at other retailers

    More details for Manimals: Europa 1
    • 👥 2 - 6 Players
    • ⏱️ 15 Minutes
    • 🧒 6+ years old
    • 🧩 Immediately playable
  26. Message in a Bottle

    • 👥 2 - 6 Players
    • ⏱️ 10 - 15 Minutes
    • 🧒 8+ years old
    • 🧩 Immediately playable
  27. Terra

    Terra is a trivia-based party game that marries the thrill of geographical discovery with the fun of educated guessing. A spiritual successor to Friedemann's FAUNA, this game shifts the focus from animals to a wide array of geographic information, challenging players to approximate answers to questions about landmarks, historical events, and natural wonders. With a dual-sided board featuring both Metric and Imperial measurements and 300 diverse topics across oversized cards, Terra invites players to venture guesses on everything from the length of the Golden Gate Bridge to the number of sculptures on Easter Island.

    More details for Terra
    • 👥 2 - 6 Players
    • ⏱️ 45 Minutes
    • 🧒 10+ years old
    • 🧩 Immediately playable
  28. Mein erstes Mitmach-Spiel

    Roll the colorful dice and move the little mouse across the board. Colorful cars challenge players to imitate animals, dance in a circle, and make funny faces. For these activities, players earn pieces to build a tent for the mouse, promoting social skills, rhythm, language, motor skills, and rule-based play.

    More details for Mein erstes Mitmach-Spiel
    • 👥 2 - 3 Players
    • ⏱️ 10 Minutes
    • 🧒 2+ years old
    • 🧩 Immediately playable
  29. Mapominoes: Asia & Australasia

    MAPOMINOES takes you to the edge of the world with its geography card game variant featuring Asia and Australia. This fun, portable game is easy to learn, educational, and addictive, making it a perfect gift for anyone interested in geography or travel.

    More details for Mapominoes: Asia & Australasia
    • 👥 2 - 5 Players
    • ⏱️ 30 Minutes
    • 🧒 8+ years old
    • 🧩 Immediately playable
  30. 10 Days in Europe

    Explore Europe in this exciting travel game where finding the right path is key to success. Players strategically exchange cards to create a continuous route through land, water, or air. The first to meet the travel requirements with all ten game pieces wins.

    Nominated for 3 awards.

    ⭐️ Nominated for Kinderspiel des Jahres 2003

    More details for 10 Days in Europe
    • 👥 2 - 4 Players
    • ⏱️ 20 - 30 Minutes
    • 🧒 10+ years old
    • 🧩 Immediately playable

    Video reviews for 10 Days in Europe

    • YouTube Review for the game "10 Days in Europe" by BoardGameGeek
      Video
  31. The Color Monster

    Players work together to help a monster understand its emotions. They take turns rolling a die to move the monster on the board. When the monster lands on a space with an emotion token, the player picks it up and tries to find the corresponding glass from the hidden options. To keep a token, players must share a memory related to that emotion. The game can end in defeat if the monster gets too confused, but they win by successfully sorting all the emotions into the correct glasses.

    Nominated for 2 awards.

    More details for The Color Monster
    • 👥 2 - 5 Players
    • ⏱️ 25 Minutes
    • 🧒 3+ years old
    • 🧩 Immediately playable
  32. Spot it! 1,2,3

    Dobble Kids offers a simplified version of the original game, making it accessible for younger players. Each card features six different animals of varying sizes, with exactly one animal shared between any two cards. Players take turns revealing cards and claiming them by identifying the common animal, aiming to collect the most cards when the deck is exhausted.

    Nominated for 4 awards and won 1.

    ⭐️ Nominated for Kinderspiel des Jahres 2014

    More details for Spot it! 1,2,3
    • 👥 2 - 6 Players
    • ⏱️ 15 Minutes
    • 🧒 4+ years old
    • 🧩 Immediately playable
  33. In this exciting list we have picked out the best guessing quiz & knowledge games ❓ 2026 for you from hundreds of card & board games.

    The best trivia/knowledge board, card & dice games ❓ →

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