The Best "Parents' Choice Awards๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ" winners and nominees 2026

Looking for a good game that won or was nominated for the Parents' Choice Awards? Then we have just the thing for you: A list of the best Parents' Choice Awards winners and games that were on the nomination list.

What is the Parents' Choice Awards?

The "Parents' Choice Awards" is an award for dice, card & board games. The award originates from ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธUSA, was created in 2012 and is voted by a jury.

The Parents' Choice Awards are the oldest non-profit program in the USA. However, the Parents' Choice Awards program recognizes not only games for children, but also: books, toys, music and stories, magazines, software, video games, television, and websites. Parents' Choice Foundation panels of educators, scientists, performing artists, librarians, parents and, yes, the children themselves, identify the best products for children of different ages, backgrounds, abilities and interests.

Parents' Choice Awards Categories

The Parents' Choice Awards honor the following categories each year:

  • Parents' Choice Awards
  • Fun Stuff Award

For more info, visit the official Parents' Choice Awards homepage or the Wikipedia contribution of Parents' Choice Awards.

Other game awards from around the world.

There are many more game awards from around the world, you can find a list at the bottom of this page.

List of best Parents' Choice Awards winners & nominees 2026:

This list was last updated on June 29, 2026. There's also a print version for this list .
  1. Telestrations

    Telestrations

    Telestrations is a light-hearted and entertaining party game that blends drawing and word-guessing in a hilarious and often unpredictable way. The game is based on the classic concept of "telephone" but adds a visual twist.

    All details & rating
    4โ€“8 30 min 12+ Immediately playable
  2. Dixit

    Dixit

    Dixit is a beautifully imaginative and simple card game that emphasizes creativity and interpretation. Each turn, a player becomes the storyteller, selecting a card from their hand and giving a sentence or phrase inspired by the cardโ€™s image. The other players then choose cards from their hands that they feel best match the storyteller's sentence.

    All details & rating
    3โ€“6 30 min 8+ Immediately playable
    + 1 โ‚ฌ above the best price
    28 โ‚ฌ at Amazon*
  3. Sushi Go!

    Sushi Go!

    Sushi Go! is a dynamic, fast-paced card game set in a sushi restaurant. Players aim to grab the best sushi combinations as they come around. It's all about strategy, from picking the perfect sushi rolls to collecting sashimi sets. Boost your scores with wasabi-flavored nigiri, and don't forget to load up on pudding by the end!

    All details & rating
    2โ€“5 15 min 8+ Immediately playable
  4. Lost Cities

    Lost Cities

    Lost Cities is a two-player card game focused on building profitable archaeological expeditions. Part of the Kosmos two-player series, it features a deck with cards ranked 2โ€“10 in various colors, including a new sixth color added in 2019. The game also employs "handshake" cards as multipliers for scoring.

    All details & rating
    2 30 min 10+ Immediately playable
  5. Cahoots card game

    Cahoots card game

    Cahoots is a cooperative card game where players work together to meet a series of challenging goals. Each player must strategically contribute to four communal piles by matching either the color or the number of the cards. Communication about the contents of one's hand is not allowed, adding a layer of challenge as players must intuitively cooperate to meet the objectives.

    All details & rating
    1โ€“4 20 min 10+ Immediately playable
    Video reviews 1
  6. Qwixx

    Qwixx

    Qwixx is a fast-paced and engaging dice game that involves all players actively, regardless of whose turn it is. It combines simple mechanics with a need for strategic decision-making, making it a fun and interactive game for all involved.

    All details & rating
    2โ€“5 15 min 8+ Immediately playable
  7. ICECOOL

    ICECOOL

    ICECOOL is an energetic and playful flicking game set in a penguin school, where players assume the roles of rascally penguins trying to snatch fish and the vigilant Hall Monitor trying to maintain order.

    All details & rating
    2โ€“4 30 min 6+ Immediately playable
  8. Imagine

    Imagine

    Imagine is a creative and engaging party game that challenges players to guess over a thousand different items from various categories using 61 unique transparent cards. These cards can be combined by placing them next to each other or by layering them on top of one another to create representations of the items to be guessed. The key rule is that players must convey these concepts silently, relying solely on their ability to manipulate and combine the cards to express their ideas.

    All details & rating
    3โ€“8 20 min 12+ Immediately playable
  9. Drop It

    Drop It

    Drop It is a dynamic and visually engaging board game that challenges players to strategically drop geometric shapes into a vertical game board. The objective is to score points by positioning these shapes to touch higher levels and special locations on the board. However, players must be careful as the pieces can bounce unpredictably, and scoring is nullified if a piece touches another of the same shape or color.

    All details & rating
    2โ€“4 30 min 8+ Immediately playable
    + 6 โ‚ฌ above the best price
    18 โ‚ฌ at Amazon*
  10. Sushi Roll

    Sushi Roll

    Sushi Roll is a delightful dice game that transforms the beloved card game Sushi Go! into a dynamic, dice-rolling feast. Players dive into the world of sushi-making with this engaging, family-friendly game that uses dice to represent various sushi ingredients, combining strategy with luck.

    All details & rating
    2โ€“5 20 min 8+ Immediately playable
    Video reviews 1
  11. Wits & Wagers Party

    Wits & Wagers Party

    A simplified version of the award-winning party game features 250 of the best questions from the out-of-print expansion pack. These questions are chosen for their ease and entertainment, making it an ideal choice for non-gamers and family play. Players write down their guesses, arrange them on the table, and place bets on which guess they believe is closest to the correct answer.

    All details & rating
    4โ€“18 25 min 8+ Immediately playable
  12. Happy Salmon

    Happy Salmon

    Happy Salmon is a delightfully simple and frenetic card game that promises loads of laughter and fast-paced fun. With no turns and rapid-fire gameplay, it's perfect for parties and family gatherings.

    All details & rating
    3โ€“8 2 min 6+ Immediately playable
  13. Spot it!

    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.

    All details & rating
    2โ€“8 15 min 6+ Immediately playable
  14. Word Slam

    Word Slam

    Players split into two teams and compete simultaneously in a communication game. In each round, one player from each team attempts to get their teammates to guess a hidden word or phrase using only the 105 explanation cards provided. Speaking and acting is strictly prohibited; players must rely solely on the cards, each featuring a single word. The team with the most points at the end wins.

    All details & rating
    3โ€“99 45 min 12+ Immediately playable
    Video reviews 1
  15. Animal Upon Animal: Balancing Bridge

    Animal Upon Animal: Balancing Bridge

    Players stack animals in this exciting game for 2-4 participants aged 5 to 99. Flamingos, giraffes, panthers, bats, and iguanas embark on an adventurous journey across a shaky hanging bridge. Each player has three secret stacking tasks involving specific animals, and the first to complete these tasks skillfully wins the game.

    All details & rating
    2โ€“4 15 min 5+ Immediately playable
  16. Jungle Speed

    Jungle Speed

    Jungle Speed is a lively and fast-paced game that tests players' observation skills and quick reflexes. It's a game filled with excitement and often leads to bursts of laughter due to its frantic and fun nature.

    All details & rating
    2โ€“10 10 min 7+ Immediately playable
  17. Abandon All Artichokes

    Abandon All Artichokes

    Abandon All Artichokes is a delightful and quirky card game that brings a fresh twist to the typical deck-building genre. With its unique theme centered around gardening and specifically getting rid of artichokes, this game offers a light-hearted and engaging experience suitable for a wide range of players.

    All details & rating
    2โ€“4 20 min 10+ Immediately playable
    + 6 โ‚ฌ above the best price
    10 โ‚ฌ at Amazon*
  18. Bring Your Own Book

    Bring Your Own Book

    Your favorite old book is now your new favorite game! Players take turns drawing prompts from a deck and then race to find the best phrase in their own book that fits the prompt. Each player searches for matching text, and when one finds it, they announce it and the round continues until a winner is chosen based on the submissions. The game continues until a player collects the required number of cards to win.

    All details & rating
    3โ€“8 20 min 12+ Immediately playable
  19. Ingenious

    Ingenious

    Ingenious, also known as Einfach Genial, is a strategic tile-placement game that challenges players to think tactically about color scoring. It's a game that balances individual progress with the need to perform well across different areas.

    All details & rating
    1โ€“4 30โ€“45 min 8+ Easy to learn
  20. Doodle Quest

    Doodle Quest

    Dive into the deep blue sea, where players find fish to eat, treasures to discover, and divers to rescue! In the line-drawing game, players study challenging quest cards and then attempt to replicate the depicted paths on their separate transparent doodle sheets. After completing their drawings, they overlay them on the quest card to check for matches, with bonus points available for visiting starfish.

    All details & rating
    1โ€“4 15 min 6+ Immediately playable
  21. Butterfly Garden

    Butterfly Garden

    Indigo is a captivating tile-laying game that combines strategy with a touch of competition, as players maneuver to guide precious gemstones to their goals. This game, reminiscent of classics like Metro, Tsuro, and Linie 1, challenges players to construct pathways on a shared board, where the twist lies in moving gems towards objectives for points, rather than simply building the longest route.

    All details & rating
    2โ€“4 30 min 8+ Immediately playable
  22. Dimension

    Dimension

    Players lay out six task cards each round, which specify how the colored balls should be stacked both on top of and beside each other. Quick puzzle-solving is essential, but the winner will be the one who completes the most challenging tasks.

    All details & rating
    1โ€“4 30 min 8+ Immediately playable
    + 61 โ‚ฌ above the best price
    73 โ‚ฌ at Amazon*
  23. Beasts of Balance

    Beasts of Balance

    Players build a tower of beautifully crafted animal artifacts on their tabletop and help them evolve in a connected digital world. The goal is to create a fabulous world by strategically nurturing and developing creatures while performing skill-based wonders, all before the tower collapses. The game incorporates unique technology that recognizes the pieces and connects to devices via Bluetooth for an interactive experience.

    All details & rating
    1โ€“5 15โ€“30 min 7+ Immediately playable
    Video reviews 1
  24. Go Nuts for Donuts

    Go Nuts for Donuts

    Go Nuts for Donuts is an engaging and fast-paced card game that combines elements of strategy and luck, making it an excellent choice for family game nights. The game's premise is simple yet captivating, as players vie to collect the most delicious array of donuts for points, all while trying to outwit their opponents to secure their chosen treats.

    All details & rating
    2โ€“6 20 min 8+ Immediately playable
  25. Imhotep

    Imhotep

    Imhotep invites players into the ancient world of Egypt, where they compete as builders trying to leave their mark on history by constructing notable monuments.

    All details & rating
    2โ€“4 40 min 10+ Easy to learn
  26. BraveRats

    BraveRats

    BraveRats is a simple and quick simultaneous action selection game for two players, played with cards. Each player has a hand of eight cards numbered from 0 to 7, with each card possessing a unique power. Players reveal their selected card simultaneously, with the highest card winning the round; the game continues until one player has won four rounds.

    All details & rating
    2 15 min 8+ Immediately playable
  27. Punto

    Punto

    Players strive to form a row of four or five cards while facing placement restrictions. The game features four decks, each containing 18 cards with values from 1 to 9. Players create a 6x6 grid, placing cards either next to existing ones or on top of them, as long as the top card has a higher point value. The first to achieve a row of four or five cards in their color wins the round and removes the highest card to start a new round. The player who wins two rounds first takes the game. In a two-player game, players combine their stacks but can only form rows of one color. In a three-player game, each player randomly receives six cards of an unused color to use as blockers.

    All details & rating
    2โ€“4 20 min 7+ Immediately playable
    At its lowest price in a month
    5 โ‚ฌ at Amazon*
  28. Ubongo

    Ubongo

    Ubongo is a fast-paced, puzzle-solving board game where players race against time and each other to complete individual puzzles and collect precious gems.

    All details & rating
    1โ€“4 25 min 8+ Immediately playable
  29. Okiya

    Okiya

    Players arrange game pieces to gain the favor of the emperor in Okiya, also known as Niya. They can also block opponents from placing their tokens in the imperial garden to show more control.

    All details & rating
    2 10 min 7+ Immediately playable
  30. Bananagrams

    Bananagrams

    Bananagrams is a lively, quick-paced word game that stands out for its simplicity and portability. It comes in a unique, banana-shaped fabric pouch, making it an excellent choice for on-the-go fun without the need for pencils, paper, or a board.

    All details & rating
    1โ€“8 15 min 7+ Immediately playable
    + 4 โ‚ฌ above the best price
    16 โ‚ฌ at Amazon*

Frequently asked questions

Which game ranks first on this list?

Telestrations currently tops our list. The ranking is derived from player community ratings and is recalculated continuously.

How many players do the games on this list support?

Most games on this list support 2 to 4 players. The exact player count is listed with each game.

What age are these games suitable for?

Publisher age recommendations on this list start at 5 years. Each game carries its own age rating.

How long does a game take?

A typical game takes about 20 minutes. Each game's playing time is listed individually.

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