12 Math Board Games to Make Learning Fun

Have you wondered how you can make learning more fun for your young ones and liven up family game nights with some math? We are here to help you. We have created a list of math board games for all ages, and they are fun to play even for parents and caregivers. If you’re unsure that you will enjoy a game and don’t want to buy it right away, you can always borrow it from our Little Free Math Library. With that said, we present to you our tutor-approved math board games! We’ve also included links to read more and purchase the games (toggle on the name of each game).

Tiny Polka Dot

• Age: 3+
• Skills: Numbers and Counting

We all were challenged when we tried introducing younger kids to learning, but what if I told you that it’s possible to make young kids love learning? The recipe is simple, make it into a game! Math for Love made it easier for parents by creating Tiny Polka Dot, a game that will help kids learn numbers and counting. The box contains cards with numbers and various dots that have to be matched. The game can be tricky and requires great concentration, it will keep your kids on their toes!

Multiplication Board

• Age: 3+
• Skills: Addition and Multiplication 

If you want to start teaching kids addition and multiplication at a young age Wooden Multiplication board is perfect for you! The game consists of a wooden multiplication board, game cards, and task cards. Wooden blocks with numbers will also benefit kinesthetic learners, allowing them to engage with numbers physically. However, the game is not limited by given rules, kids can exercise their imagination and logic by creating their own games. 

Race to Planet X

• Age: 5+
• Skills: Addition and Subtraction

Are your kids going through a space phase? Then they will be happy to learn math with the Race to Planet X! The game exercises addition and subtraction and brings kids on a space journey. By creating equivalent number sentences, you will move along the board toward planet X. However, it’s not so simple! Your opponent will try to steal your fuel (number cards). You must pay attention and defend your spaceship to beat your opponent in the race to planet X. But be careful of asteroids on your path, as they will send you back.  

Dino Math Tracks

• Age: 5+
• Skills: Addition and Subtraction

Dino Math Tracks is an excellent game for kids who dream of becoming paleontologists one day. It’s not only interesting for kids fascinated by dinosaurs, but fun word problems also teach them place values, counting, and addition. Four different lanes correspond to four place values creating a path to Forgotten Falls. Each player tries to beat the opponents’ dinosaurs to finish by solving math questions. Challenge your family and friends to an exciting dino race and see whose dinosaur is the fastest!

Absolute Zero

• Age: 8+
• Skills: Addition and Subtraction

Going on a trip and don’t want to bring a massive board game with you (but still want to do some fun math with kids)? No worries, we got you covered. Absolute zero is a game that is a size of a deck of cards. Add and subtract numbers to create a value of zero. Cards also include instructions to play three different games. Make your family trip fun and educational with Absolute Zero.

tri-FACTa

• Age: 8+
• Skills: Multiplication and Division

Train multiplication and division skills with this competitive math game. Find a way to connect three number cards using either multiplication or division before your opponents. Don’t forget to pay attention, otherwise, other players will get a shortcut to winning. Make learning multiplication facts fun with this little challenge.

Mathological Liar

• Age: 8+
• Skills: Addition, subtraction, multiplication, division

Do your kids like detective stories and want to try their hands at being one themselves? Then Mathological Liar is a perfect game for young Sherlocks. It not only develops deductive skills, but also builds addition and multiplication skills. Look for inconsistencies in witnesses’ statements and find a liar. Prepare your deerstalker and dive into solving mysteries with your family.

 Three Sticks

• Age: 8+
• Skills: Geometry

Geometry develops spatial thinking skills, but it might be a little bit difficult for kids to understand it when first encountered. The best way to learn geometry is by physically doing it, and Three Sticks is the game to get the job done! Build geometrical shapes one stick at a time and earn points for each shape you complete. Engage creativity and logical thinking to prevent your opponents from finishing their shapes while still getting yours done! 

Multiplication and Division Bingo 

• Age: 9+
• Skills: Multiplication and division

Who hasn’t played bingo during a family night? But not many people played bingo with a little twist: multiplication and division facts are called out instead of numbers. Attention and quick mental math are required to cover all the correct numbers. Go ahead and challenge your family members to a fun round of bingo.

Proof!

• Age: 9+
• Skills: Addition, subtraction, multiplication, division

Many science fields require confidence to prove the results of one’s work. Build your kids’ confidence and ability to present and explain their thought with Proof! Use the cards you’re dealt and mental math skills to make a math equation using fundamental math operations. Don’t forget to prove your equation and solution to other players.

Orbital Velocity

• Age: 10+
• Skills: Addition, subtraction, multiplication, division

Become a rocket scientist and bring the exploration of space to another level with Orbital Velocity. Using the cards and math operations, try to achieve target velocity to get the satellite to an orbit, but be careful, don’t accelerate too much! Play against each other, or team up and challenge the other team to an exciting race to the space. Let the best scientist win.

Prime Climb

• Age: 10+
• Skills: Multiplication, division, and prime numbers

Not only Prime Climb trains mental math and fundamental math operations, but it also introduces prime numbers. Try to beat your partner to finish using different number operations to end up on number 101. But you can’t jump over 101, be careful and climb your way up strategically! The color-coded numbers will also make it easier for players who don’t have confidence in their multiplication skills, so the whole family can participate.

This blog post was written by Masha Klymenko. Masha is a recent graduate of Mount Holyoke College with a major in Physics and a minor in Mathematics. She’s an international student from Ukraine who came to the United States 4 years ago. Before that, she visited her family in the States every summer and attended Camp Howe, first as a camper and later as a counselor in training. Previously, she worked with kids ages 3-7 in Kyiv, teaching English to kids who moved to the capital because of the war. She makes sure to be fun and friendly and to create a safe space for all kids interested in sciences!

Want more math ideas? Check out this list of math games you can play with a deck of cards, this list of math games for outside, and our original list of math games for the whole family.