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We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page. 56 Non-Electric Toys And Games To Gift Your Kids If You Feel Like You’re Parenting In The Wrong Era These toys and games are here to help you when you've run out of screen-free ways to entertain your kids – dinosaur Magnetiles, Acorn Soup, and Bob Bilby know just what to do. 1. Acorn Soup — this cooperation cooking game is sure to be to your *taste* if you're teaching your kids how to take turns. It also provides risk-free family fun because there's no winner (and thus, no frustrated kiddos at the end). To play, pick an ingredient card and place the correct number of each item inside the pot to make Squirrel's favorite meals. Dinner's served! Number of players: 2–4 Recommended age: 2+ Pieces: 8 recipe cards, 1 wooden spoon, 24 wooden ingredients, instructions, and a parent guide Promising review: "I bought this game to play with my 3-year-old and he enjoys it. It’s great quality and I love that all of the parts can be stored inside of the pot. Great for teaching young children counting and instruction following." —OwlMoon Get it from Amazon for $20.95. 2. Mystic Maze — a family fun 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzle that's gonna reveal a secret "magic trick" when your family is finished. BTW, there are 50 Easter eggs hidden in the intricate design, making this mysterious puzzle a gripping game until the very last piece is in place. Fun fact: This was the most funded puzzle on Kickstarter, raising over $3 million. Promising review: "Just got this puzzle for something to do at home over the holidays. Seriously... I have never seen a puzzle quite like this! It’s very impressive and exceeded my expectations already. The packaging is beautiful inside and out. Everything about it shouts quality. I particularly liked the envelopes inside for the puzzle pieces and mystery. Heavy weight and substantial. The one holding the 1,000 puzzle pieces stays closed with Velcro! How cool! And the secret mystery envelope has a cool string loop tie. Makes you remember you can’t open it until the puzzle is done. The whole vibe of The Mystic Maze is quality and fun, and also looks like a challenging puzzle. Looking forward to getting started on this. Certainly a good stay-home fun activity. Highly recommend!" —Kyle Fletcher Get it from Amazon for $22.99. 3. An open-ended marble run set for inquisitive kids who would love creating a massive marble run all on their own — no rulebook included! Number of players: 1+ Recommended age: 4+ Pieces: 85 "marbulous'' pieces including 25 action ones, 65 glass-marble set Promising review: "My 5- and 3-year-olds (and me) have spent hours building towers and watching marbles clatter down these chutes, steps, gears and spirals, HOURS! And they’re not bored yet! It’s also educational learning the physics of slopes by experience. Plus, it comes with enough marbles so that losing a few doesn’t matter." —Joyce Parker Get it from Amazon for $49.99 (available in three other kit sizes). 4. A Disney character matching game that'll be a hit with families who need a break from screen time...while still getting to hang out with their favorite characters. Number of players: 1+ Recommended age: 3+ Pieces: 72 picture tiles Promising review: "I always loved the Match Game as a kid, and I thought maybe my niece would too. It’s fun to play. The cards are of great quality. Beautiful art. The size is great for toddler hands, too. She loves playing this game. It’s a great addition to any board game or games collection." —Beach Babe 302 Get it from Amazon for $9.99. 5. A game night masterpiece, Escape Room In A Box for families with older kids who need something more exciting than Candy Land if they're gonna be convinced to hang out at home for the night. Amazon This includes three locks and 19 (mental and physical) puzzles you must solve before a mad scientist turns you into werewolves...and you've got *exactly* one hour to do it. You can even connect this to Alexa for a more immersive experience. Promising review: "We loved this game. We did it for my husband's birthday with some friends. We have done a few escape room games, and they were very similar and easy. This was so much better and had great puzzles with different types of challenges. We would highly recommend this game to anyone who likes a good challenge and loves escape room–type games." —Stacey Wilson-Rivera Get it from Amazon for $36.30. 6. A set of five plastic pipes — these can keep your kiddo entertained in the bath long enough that you can actually get them clean. Washing your child without a tantrum will no longer be just a ~pipe~ dream! Amazon Promising review: "Our 18-month-old adores these. His older sisters (five and seven) have also been enjoying them in the tub. They work great and stick really well. The only negative is that we have temper tantrums now because baby boy wants to take a bath all the time. We can't get him out of the tub now!" —JKinSD Get them from Amazon for $16.99 (available in two colors). 7. A 1986 version of Clue, a beloved board game complete with a dark and foreboding mansion, sinister suspects, and hidden weapons sure to be a hit with older kids. Your kids are gonna need to use their powers of deduction to solve the mystery and be the first to identify the killer, the weapon, and the location. Good luck! Amazon Number of players: 3-6 Recommended age: 8+ Pieces: Illustrated mansion board, pewter candlestick, knife, wrench, pipe, and gun, plastic rope, weapon cards, character cards, one case file, and six plastic character pawns. Promising review: "We try to get the family one game every Christmas and we chose this one! This retro edition is so fun. My girls love the mystery of this game, and we enjoy being brought back to our childhood. Great for family night or rainy day!" —GreenChile33 Get it from Amazon for $21.99. 8. A super durable wooden pretend play magnetic cutting set for pint-sized chefs who could spend all day working on their fine motor skills. Chop 'til you drop! This set comes includes 26 items of food including fruits, vegetables, fish, burger, bread, ice cream, steak and more! It also comes with a cutting board, two knives and a storage bucket. Parents, please supervise as some of the smaller pieces might be a choking hazard. Promising review: "I've seen a lot of wooden food cutting sets over the years, but this one is the best by far. First of all, the pieces connect by magnet rather than velcro. The Velcro sets tend to stop sticking once they've been used for a while. This one has well-made and sturdy pieces with some unique pieces like dragon fruit and spring onion. My personal favorite is the grapes, which can be pulled off the vine in groups of two (too big to choke on) and stuck back together. It also comes with a cutting board, two knives, and a little vegetable peeler. My 3-year-old loves this set and has been playing with it over and over. Well worth the money." —Michael Bower Get a set from Amazon for $39.99. 9. A terribly charming toadstool tent sure to be beloved by imaginative kids who prefer pretend play to structured sets and games. If your family has too much energy for your *regular* house, send your little faeries off into the "forest" and have them scavenge for things to fill up their toadstool home. Promising review: "The mushroom playhouse tent added enchantment to my daughter's 4th fairy-themed birthday party! It became the whimsical centerpiece, creating a magical space where imagination soared. The easy setup was a parent's dream. I will be moving it to her bedroom after the party and probably to the backyard during summer. This mushroom tent playhouse is a must-have for fairy-tale tykes! 🍄✨👧🧚♀️" —Gizem Aktan Get it from Amazon for $89.99. 10. A New York City music box for encouraging your best friend's baby to sneak out of the suburbs and come visit you in the city ASAP. You need that sweet baby-scent serotonin! Odin Parker This magical, minimalist music box is made of steel, resin, wood, and iron. It plays "Stars and Stripes Forever" and the tiny ferry rotates around the base while the music plays. Fun fact: Odin Parker is my go-to stop for personal shopping serotonin *and* baby shower gifts, so I know for a fact that these music boxes are even cuter in person! I own an ocean version, and even when it's turned off, I get compliments on how cute it is. Get it from Odin Parker for $100. 11. A basket of emotional support nuggets to remind your child you're always around to give them support (and that you're willing to drive them to get fast food for their feelings when need be). Amazon Promising review: "They are all so soft and great quality. Very fun and good for all ages. Cute and adorable, and durable. I love it, kids will love it." —Brie Get it from Amazon for $14.98 (available in 19 styles). 12. A pair of Wackadoo dice for Bluey fans who jump up and dance every time the intro song turns on. One die has a direction, like "dance," "jump," or "floss," and the other has a selection of critters your child will pretend to be while doing the action. Get ready to see a bunch of flossing kangaroos in your backyard! You can be the sloth. Who lies down. The entire game. Amazon Promising review: "These have provided hours of fun. They are very durable and lots of fun. Gets the kids moving and active." —Kendall & Robyn Nash Get them from Amazon for $9.98. 13. Moody Food — a surprisingly aesthetic game so cute your teenager may love it as much as your toddler! This is designed with six different ways to play, making it a family-friendly find for kids of all ages. Your littles can use it to interpret feelings, your middles will love it as a matching game, and your oldest may be explaining the rules of the hardest levels to YOU. No matter how you play, get ready to gobble these up! Amazon Number of players: 2+ Recommended age: 2-12 Pieces: 36 tile cards Promising review: "We have a 4-year-old and 7-year-old, and I really loved how there were multiple games at various levels. The cards were super cute, and my kids love the illustrations with expressions and creative names. It truly is a game that is family-friendly, especially with young kids. Both had a blast and have asked to play it multiple times since we received it. I also appreciated the quality, they are durable cards which is a HUGE PLUS with littles that get overly excited during games." —JD Get it from Amazon for $18.99. 14. A set of 24 wood building blocks with see-through rainbow acrylic panels — create fun structures and shapes against your window and watch as the sun projects the block colors all around the room! This is the sort of toy that'll bring simple, everyday magic into your playtime routine. Promising review: "Fun educational toy! My 2-year-old daughter has been obsessed with shapes and colors. She loves looking through them, then naming the color and shape. She also loves building with them. They are so beautiful which is a huge plus for me. Oh and I’m pregnant and very sensitive to smells, and did not notice a chemical smell on our set." —Amanda S. Promising review: "Perfect gift for my 2-year-old daughter. She loves building castles for her princesses and asks to play with the blocks all the time. Very smooth edges, durable and safe." —Amazon Customer Get a set from Amazon for $29.96. 15. A toss-and-catch ball set sure to bring back memories of playing with a similar set as a child. Now you can pass on the fun (and the ball) to your kids! The set includes two Velcro paddles, two balls, and a storage bag. Promising review: "My 5-year-old granddaughter loves playing catch with me. She is able to easily develop great eye-hand coordination with this toy. Great for indoors or outdoors." —Barbara Smith Get it from Amazon for $18.99+ (available in nine colors and three kit sizes). 16. A pack of Crayola Globbles (sans sticky residue) that'll cling to the wall and slowly drop down...tricking your kids into being patient after they've thrown these as high up as their little arms can manage. Promising review: "Amazing toys! My 1- and 2-year-old LOVE them! They scream 'sticky balls!' and run around throwing them on the fridge, windows, cabinets, walls, etc. Easy to wash and air-dry, and don't lose their stickiness! My new go-to gift! Love them!" —Rachel Get a pack of six from Amazon for $11.48+ (also available as a 16-pack). 17. A magnetic drawing board sure to give your pint-sized Picasso hours of old-school entertainment. Or you. Promising review: "This product is great. It’s lightweight, easy to handle, and sturdy. It writes and erases easily. My toddler loves it." —Jeff Chen Get it from Amazon for $25.99+ (available in seven colors). 18. A 100-piece set of Picasso Tiles, which reviewers say work with and are comparable to Magnatiles (which is helpful if your tiny architect already has the different brand), because apparently building blocks are now blasé and kids are going wild for these shiny tiles. Promising review: "I wish I had known about these sooner! PicassoTiles are *exactly* like Magna-tiles but way more affordable. We just received the 100 tile set today - an early birthday gift for our soon-to-be-four-year-old. We have two sets of Magna-tiles - one with the grommets (purchased new last year) and one without (purchased second hand [no idea how old they are]). The PicassoTiles are the same weight and size as the MagnaTiles and have the same exact magnets. They do not have metal grommets, but the old MagnaTiles are indestructible, so I know that these will be too. And PicassoTiles are much prettier in my opinion, because they are slightly more translucent and have brighter colors. They integrate into the collection seamlessly. I highly recommend this product. And if you are considering buying any kind of magnetic tile toy for your child, I recommend purchasing as big a set a you can for versatility of play. Our son has played with these all day and night off and on every single day since we bought them last year. After integrating the new PicassoTile set, he hugged his enormous structure and declared them his favorite...twice. A wonderful toy!" —skater mom Get it from Amazon for $39.99. 19. Or a 50-piece set of dinosaur–themed Magnatiles that'll make a rawr-some gift for the pint-sized paleontologist you adore. Amazon See all the Magnatiles Prime Day Deals here! Promising review: "These are a wonderful addition to our Magnatile collection. The little dinosaurs are adorable. The detail and movement on each one is pure perfection and really adds to the character. The dinosaurs are so much fun and really spark the imagination of your little ones." —Lissa Get it from Amazon for $129. 20. A pair of toddler-sized Unicorse and Bob Bilby hand puppets for Bluey fans who watch these two mischievous characters on television and would love to play with them in real life. Promising review: "Our daughter, her cousins, and my husband love playing with Unicourse and Bob Bilby. They look just like the cartoon characters and have given us hours of entertainment." —Naturecrazed Get them from Amazon for $16.99. 21. A magnetic shape-shifting puzzle cube that'll bend your kid's brain as they manipulate it into over 70 different shapes, revealing mesmerizing colors and patterns. It's like instant origami, and I'm INTO IT. Amazon You can also collect all 12 puzzle box designs to connect different magnetic cubes to build even larger structures and sculptures. Promising review: "Fun for older teens. I bought one each for my 16- and 19-year-old son and daughter for Christmas. It made a great stocking stuffer. It was very intriguing and they enjoyed linking them together for new shapes. The boxes were sturdy enough for teens to manipulate without breaking and the magnets are strong. Not sure if younger hands would be too rough. If forced to move in the wrong direction they could break. The designs were beautiful. I plan to buy a few more for a bigger variety of shapes!" —Shellbug99 Get it from Amazon for $27.99 (available in 19 designs). 22. A vibrant stacking toy with a ~spin~ — literally! If you're the kind of parent who buys toys for yourself as much as for your kid...this gorgeous gear set has BOTH your names on it! Amazon, Amazon Promising review: "My 9-month-old loves this toy and likes to spin the disks. Good twist on the stacking toy. If your baby loves to spin gears, this toy does the job." —Pooja Get it from Amazon for $38.95. 23. A Melissa & Doug interactive wooden dashboard — a gift your F1 baby will be able to "drive" all by themselves, without you having to chase after them. It includes a realistic steering wheel, a scrolling GPS, keys, lights and sounds, and a beeping horn. Amazon Promising review: "This thing is awesome! My kids were playing with my husband’s old gaming steering wheel and it ended up breaking apart a week ago. They were pretty upset because they love pretending to drive so I looked to find another one. There were cheaper options than this one but they were just the plain steering wheel, no buttons or gear shift so I decided to give this one a try. My boys loved it so much that I had to sit with them for hours having them take turns playing so they wouldn’t fight over it. I didn’t realize there was a little window that shows the car on the road but my 3-year-old LOVES it! He likes to set the timer on the gas gage and when it goes off he lets me know he’s pulling into the gas station (there’s a little gas station in the window part). Anyway, we loved it so much we bought another one the same afternoon so both boys can drive together." —Brittany Get it from Amazon for $38.49. 24. A Tech Deck Sk8 2-in1 transforming bus, bring this classic toy into your kid's life and dust off your sick (finger) skateboarding skills. This set includes a fingerboard, figure, and collectible mini skateboard. Show your kid how to do some gnarly tricks off the deck, ride up the ramp, and do a frontside lip slide. Maybe let them play with it sometimes, too. Amazon Tech Deck has *so* much great stuff these days. Check out their landing page for even more fun. Promising review: "Very cool updated to include younger fans of the tech deck toys. Characters make it easier for young fingers to control the board." —Amazon Customer Get it from Amazon for $7.32. 25. An activity cube just might be a heaven-sent gift if your family has a busy toddler at home. This delectable dessert-themed 7-in-1 standalone box includes a bead maze, shape sorter, block race, ice cream flip board puzzle, easy bake oven, animal slide rail, and spinning sound wheel. You're gonna be amazed by how long your toddler plays in ONE SPOT once this treat is in your home. Promising review: "This sensory activity cube is a must-have! It’s beautifully designed, durable, and packed with activities that keep my child engaged while boosting motor skills and cognitive development. Every side has something unique to offer, encouraging curiosity and independent play. Highly recommend for anyone looking to buy an educational and fun toy for little ones!" —Thamy Brecak Get it from Amazon for $69.99. 26. A portable ping-pong set to turn your dining room table into *the* place to hang out (even when there isn't a crumb of food around). Amazon Set includes a retractable net, two paddles, three balls, and case. Promising review: "I got this for my son for Christmas. We don’t have a lot of space for a full ping pong table but I have a long dinning table that is perfect. This is easy to assemble and it changes up family game night. Great fun!!" —Heather Gould Get it from Amazon for $39.99+ (available in two styles). 27. The Crew: The Quest for Planet Nine — this'll walk your space rangers through 50 cooperative space missions in a trick-taking format (like Spades) that only gets more difficult as they move along. Spooky! Amazon Number of players: 3–5 Recommended age: 10+ Promising review: "I gave this game to my brother for Christmas, and that night we all stayed up until 4 a.m. playing! Takes a little time to learn, but the instructions walk you through it." —Jackie Get it from Amazon for $14.99. 28. A giant Jenga set to put everyone's stacking skills to the test. This version is 4 FEET, which makes sense, because finding family-friendly games this fun is a tall order. Amazon Promising review: "I purchased this for get togethers with friends and family and this is, and always has been, a party favorite. Good quality as well." —Mark Get it from Amazon for $99.95. 29. A Dyson Ball toy vacuum that'll both sound (and work!) like a pint-sized version of your own favorite vacuum. That's right — this thing even has suction! Thanks to this, your little mimic will actually help out around the house while playing pretend. Did this gift just master parenting?? Amazon There's a storage compartment you can remove that'll hold all the debris your kiddo picks up. When they find out they are ALLOWED to tear paper into tiny pieces and then make that paper disaster? That'll entertain them for ages! Promising review: "Our son is absolutely obsessed with our Dyson (the real one), which is why we purchased this toy Dyson vacuum for his birthday. He's 2 years old, and he is really enjoying having his on 'working' vacuum cleaner!!! He seriously plays with it for hours during the day. Turning it on and off and pushing it through the house just like we use our real vacuum. I would buy this again! It was his favorite gift!" —Amazon Customer Get it from Amazon for $24.99+ (available in three colors). 30. A wooden play fridge with modern design and amenities we *all* want in a refrigerator. This has gold "hardware," a water dispenser, pull-out freezer storage, and several shelves. It's painted in a stylish sage green (a modern kitchen must) and has a charming attention to detail (note the faux temperature sensor on top!). Amazon Love this look? Get the entire home set! Promising review: "This fridge is so cute and was very easy to put together, the instructions are clear and everything is labeled well. The fridge itself is very well made and the perfect addition to the matching kitchen. We love this brand! Can’t wait to get the other products in this line. It's perfection!" —Kelsey Get it from Amazon for $83.59 (matching oven and washer also available). 31. A pack of reusable stickers featuring a fold-out backdrop for designing an exciting snapshot, story, or theatrical scene with stickers that can then be removed and changed as the story goes on. Pro tip: let the grandparents know that gifts made for keeping the kids entertained on flights and road trips *sure do* make trips to visit family a lot easier! WINK. Amazon Promising review: "These are high quality and gorgeous! My 4-year-old son LOVED this. He's obsessed with space right now and this was the perfect space-related item. I love reusable stickers as kids can remove and place them anywhere they want, keeping them occupied for a while. This particular brand is great and the stickers are high-quality, puffy, and feel substantial. It is a great item for on the go — we'll be bringing it with us on all trips!" —A Willis Get it from Amazon for $9.99 (available in four styles). 32. An unreasonably lovely Bouncee bounce house (with a slide!!!), durable enough to use both inside and outside. Rainy days are about to be a *lot* cooler at your house. Go ahead, let your kids bounce off the walls when cooped up indoors. Amazon This includes a bounce house (6'x9'w 5.5'h), an inflator, 4 inflator stakes, 6 house stakes, a patch kit, a storage bag, and an instruction manual. It's intended for children ages 3–6. Bouncee is a family-run small business. Promising review: "We bought this cute little bounce house for our basement so our child would have something to do during the winter. I would highly recommend getting it. One toddler fits really well in there, but you probably could do two and still have a lot of fun and space. It was easy to assemble; you just pull it out of the box, plug it up to the air pump, and away it goes. I also love the cute design, the pastel color and the flowers are very cute and not so harsh on the eyes." —Amazon Customer Get it from Amazon for $379+ (available in two styles and two sizes). 33. A cult favorite Melissa & Doug ice cream counter — it'll be tons of fun to play ice cream shop with your kids, for sure, but they *always* get to be the ice cream maker! When is it gonna be YOUR turn to scoop the ice cream cones?! It looks so fun! The wooden ice cream counter comes with eight ice cream scoops, six toppings, two cones, cup, scooper, tongs, wooden spoon, reusable menu card, and six pretend dollar bills. Promising review: "My newly turned 3-year-old daughter instantly fell in love with this set! She loves seeing how high she can stack the ice cream cones and pretending to serve Mom & Dad her creations. She's been obsessed with climbing things around the house and we *desperately* needed a distraction to get her to stop, and this is working so far — she plays with this thing for HOURS!" —West Family Get it from Amazon for $39.97. 34. An indoor-friendly scavenger hunt game sure to save the day when said day is cold, rainy, dreary, and dull. Rather than coming up with specific objects, this game gives your kids a chance to be extra creative by finding things that are "scratchy," "warm," "fuzzy," and more! Amazon Promising review: "These are a lifesaver for us during the quarantine. My 7-year-old is enjoying challenges that I time, having to find five things to match five cards in five minutes. There are also two games with instructions that are fun. My kiddos are being so creative finding things. My son found a compact mirror and breathed on it to steam it up for 'steamy.' Hooray for igniting thinking skills. Grandma gets involved finding silly things that make the kids crack up. I love the bag they come in and that it’s a compact card game that can be played anywhere." —Jami Lilo Get it from Amazon for $9.99. 35. Sensory "Jelly Blox" with 20 squishable, stackable, and stompable (re: indestructible) blocks that'll be THE toy to get out when your kid is in a...throwing mood. Amazon Promising review: "This is an amazing buy. My sensory-seeking kiddo loves them. They are very durable and of great thickness. Super fun for not only the kids, but I find dad playing with them as a stress relief ball every now and then, too. They are the perfect size for the intended age, and the stickiness is perfect. If they get a little dull, we rinse them off in the sink and let them air dry. We like the translucent color of them to see the items inside very well." —Miss C Get them from Amazon for $19.99. 36. A 7-in-1 climber for kids who start bouncing off the walls five minutes after coming inside from a day at the park. If your family (re: everyone but the parents) has endless energy, this adjustable gym is just the thing you need. Plus? It's pretty. And that matters. Promising review: "This set has been an absolute lifesaver for keeping our toddler active and engaged both indoors and outdoors! The colorful design is even more stunning in person, and it brightens up our playroom while being just as fun to use in the backyard. It's incredibly versatile and sturdy, offering endless ways to play. My son loves climbing, sliding, and even using the ramp as a racetrack for toy cars. The semi-circle doubles as a tunnel and a rocking chair, making it a great sensory tool for little explorers. It’s ideal for developing gross motor skills and sparking creativity. The quality is excellent, and it feels built to last through all the climbing, sliding, and imaginative play our toddler can dream up. Highly recommend for any parent looking for a safe, engaging, and adaptable play solution!" —Clay Sheppard Get it from Amazon for $99.99+ (available in five colors). 37. Waldorf woodland creatures — each open-ended shape is designed with holes that'll easily fit different twigs, stems, petals, and leaves you find while on nature walks with your family. If you wanna spend some more screen-free time outside with your kids but need a little creative direction, creating tiny woodland creatures may be just the thing! Mallory Mower / BuzzFeed, www.amazon.com I bought these for my daughter waaay before she was old enough to care, because I wanted to play with them myself! They're solid, made of high-quality materials (not plastic), and owned by a small business. Now that my kiddo is nearly two, these have become a staple in our diaper bag on days at the park. We'll spend ages looking for special pieces, seeing if they fit, testing out different configurations, and then have a blast with some imagination play (these little critters get up to a lot of mischief!). Whether you're totally into playing fantastical, made-up games with your kids or need clear directions to create a little whimsy, these have got your back. I recommend them to every parent I know (and now, even those I don't – hi from me!). Get it from Amazon for $23.99+ (available in six set colors). 38. A flower-building activity set for your own ~budding~ florist. If the weather outside is dark and gloomy, help your kiddos create a secret garden inside! Promising review: "I bought this flower garden as a gift for my 3-year-old daughter. She absolutely loves it! She has always enjoyed blocks and this is something different that has kept her engaged for hours! We highly recommend this product to others!!" —Ashley Petersen Get the 46-piece set from Amazon for $19.98 (available in four set sizes). 39. Zingo!, which is a new take on Bingo that's gonna be *extra* fun. It's fast-paced, and the toy does all the hard work for you! Just slide it and watch the tiles fall down...here's hoping you get your board covered first! Number of players: 2-7 Recommended age: 4+ Pieces: 1 Zinger tile dispenser, 6 double-sided Zingo cards (for two levels of play), 72 double-sided tiles, and a parent's guide Promising review: "My 4 year old loves Zingo! We play almost every night. Not only is this game fun but it teaches kids patience and to take turns. We love playing this as a family." —Bri Get it from Amazon for $20.93. 40. A shaved sheep plushie for folks who aren't ~sheepish~ about getting their kid the weird "shave the animal" toy they keep asking for. Better than your toddler cutting their own hair with scissors, so we'll take it! Promising review: "I love him. He is so cute and so well-made. He is the perfect size and shape. I named him Banana Peel Son since his wool comes off like a banana peel. Adorable. Would recommend to everyone." —Aerebys Stare Get it from Amazon for $11.99. 41. Yeti in my Spaghetti, a family-friendly game where you have to carefully remove one noodle at a time from a big ol' spaghetti bowl. Be careful! There's a yeti balanced on top of the noodles (naturally), and it does NOT want to fall off. If the yeti falls during your move, you lose! Amazon Number of players: 2+ Recommended age: 4+ Pieces: 1 yeti, 30 noodles, and 1 bowl Promising review: "We purchased this for our 8-year-old, who specifically requested it, and it's so funny to play! Sort of like stacking sticks, you place the spaghetti in the bowl and place the yeti on top. Don't let him fall, though! I love hearing her laugh as the game intensifies! Highly recommend. The product is well worth the price in the quality!" —🌟Belle🌟 Get it from Amazon for $7.99. 42. Pancake Pile-Up! for the tiny chef in your home who would love starting up their own brunch spot. Get your home restaurant-ready by flipping an order card. Once flipped, make the pancake shown as fast as you can, using the spatula to place it on your plate, race back to the starting point somewhere in the room, and hand the plate and spatula to the next player (like a relay race). The team or individual that correctly completes the stack shown on the card wins the round! Number of players: 2-4 Recommended age: 4+ Pieces: 10 plastic pancakes in 5 flavors, 2 plastic patties of butter, 2 plastic plates, 2 plastic spatulas, 10 order cards, and a plastic griddle game board Promising review: "I’m a Preschool teacher and a mom to a 4-year-old and I’ve recommended this game to every parent with young ones! This game is great quality, fun, and teaches so many concepts. Highly recommend" —Chris and Brittany Causey Get it from Amazon for $15.10. 43. A Bluey Scavenger Hunt Game sure to delight families who doggone adore this show. You'll all work together to find the 12 toy tokens *before* bedtime. This game definitely gets out kids' wiggles, because most of the moves require moving — each space on the board explains what you'll do on your turn: act out something silly, find items around your house, or answer questions about Bluey! Get ready to have a ton of Heeler family fun...for real life! Number of players: 2-4 Recommended age: 3+ Pieces: game board, 20 "Find" cards, 10 "Play" cards, 35 toy tokens, and 4 character pawns with bases (newer version has 15 "Find" cards, 15 "Play" cards, 15 "Surprise" cards, 15 "Think" cards, 12 toy tokens, 1 time token, 1 die, 1 sand timer, and 4 3D character pawns: Bluey, Bingo, Bandit, and Chili) Promising review: "My 3-year-old can’t get enough of this game!! He wants to play every day. I also have a 5-year-old that likes to play. It’s easy enough that they can do it on their own and only need help with the questions and reading the cards." —Amber Branson Get it from Amazon for $7.99 (available in two styles). 44. Unicorn Candy Land — a stupendously sweet version of this classic game for little tykes whose favorite animal is, naturally, a unicorn. If you haven't played before (Hello, welcome to Earth, we're glad you're here!), your goal is to get to Candy Land first. You do so by drawing cards that'll tell you what color spot to land on. This game is simple, but it gets intense. This specific board is an Amazon exclusive, where Hasbro also has an updated Classic version and a Disney Princess pick. Number of players: 2-4 Recommended age: 3+ Pieces: 1 pop-up board, 4 unique unicorn pawns, 44 cards, and instructions Promising review: "This is a great game for kids! We got this for my 3-year-old for Christmas and she loves it! She loves the unicorns — she thinks these are so cute. The game is very fun and my girls love the glittery spaces on the board. This was a great gift!" —Emily Lankford Get it from Amazon for $14.44. 45. Pretty Pretty Princess (a game that'll spark the memory of every '90s baby), sure to be loved by families who believe dress up is an essential part of play. This fashion-forward game'll have you and your kids throwing on dozens of accessories at a time while making your way toward the greatest goal, the crown. Here's hoping *you* are the prettiest princess of them all. Amazon Number of players: 2-4 Recommended age: 5+ Pieces: a game board, spinner, four plastic characters, one crown, 21 pieces of plastic jewelry, and illustrated instructions. Promising review: "This is a childhood classic. My daughter loves this game, and if I can be honest, it was one of my favorites growing up also. A classic game." —Lts819 Get it from Amazon for $20.59. 46. A game of Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza because it's perfect for a lowkey afternoon: it's easy to learn, fun to play, fast-paced, and most importantly, full of laughs. Dolphin Hat is a small business whose mission is to create easy-to-learn games that are fun for the whole family! Promising review: "Fun for the whole family! Even my 5-year-old granddaughter learned it with no problem and can win!" —E/A Get it from Dolphin Hat on Amazon for $9.84 (also available in a larger size). 47. Forest Friends, which is a 3D board game that's sure to shake things up during your family game nights! You can play two unique games with this set. First is "Hide and Seek," where players help Mia Mouse guess which hole her animal friends are hiding in. If you guess correctly, you get a wooden star. If not, you shout out what you see, and the other players try to remember that info for their own turn. You can also play "Animal Tracks," where the animal tiles are flipped over to only show their footprints. Then you've gotta figure out which animal that footprint belongs to before your search begins! Amazon 48. Shopping List — this is Orchard Toy's best seller, and with good reason! This pretend play game is such a fun way for your own little shopper to learn how to use a grocery list! Each player gets a cardboard grocery basket and a list. The goal is to get everything on your list into your basket first! Maybe playing this at home entices your kids to be good the next time you're *actually* shopping. A parent can dream, right? Number of players: 2–4 Recommended age: 3+ Pieces: 2 carts, 2 baskets, 3 handwritten lists, 1 tablet list, 25 item cards Promising review: "This is a great family game. Our two sons who are in preschool have wanted to play this every night since we got it. I like how it’s a easy set up and we can either play one round or more depending on how much time we have. The game pieces are well made." —Amazon Customer Get it from Amazon for $10.99. 49. A mini highland cow plush (that can be heated AND cooled!!), because everyone would say "yes" to receiving an actual mini highland cow if they could. I mean, if someone offered me one, I would take it and just...not tell my landlord. It would work! Stranger things have happened! Promising review: "My wife bought me this little guy to help me sleep, not knowing if I would even care for it, but the little guy is adorable and was just what I needed to sleep better. It could be the lavender, but I think it is just how comforting he is to hold against your chest when lying down. I don't think you can go wrong with this guy, but I do suddenly experience guilt when eating burgers...probably just me!" —Bryan Get it from Amazon for $19.99 (available in 19 styles). 50. Richard Scarry's Busytown Seek and Find Adventure for families who consider Scarry's characters childhood canon, this beautifully illustrated game is sure to be a joy. It involves an engaging race to find hidden characters like Father Cat, Sally Cat, and the Pig Family. The board is designed with two levels of play, advancing in difficulty as your kids get older, and it only takes five minutes to learn and 20 minutes to play. Sharing characters from your own childhood with your kids is sure to feel both surreal and so special. Number of players: 2-4 players Recommended age: 3+ Pieces: 40' game board, 50 level 1 Seek and Find cards, 50 level 2 Seek and Find cards, 12 goldbug cards), spinner, bell, 4 character pawns with bases, and instructions Promising review: "My grandson was excited to open this, and at three years of age, he was excited because he knew so many of the toys. This is a perfect present for kids who like cars and trucks." —Sheilah Campbell Get it from Amazon for $20.89. 51. Building Site — if your family loves reading, you're going to want this beginner's board game stat! You start by reading a story that'll engross kiddos in the world they are about to enter — explaining what they'll be building throughout the game. You'll then use the cards and shapes to put together different projects in the tiny city. This is designed for both directional and free play, so get your imagination ready! Amazon Number of players: 4 Recommended age: 2+ Pieces: construction site board, five location boards, safety cone tokens, shape blocks, character block, and dump truck Promising review: "Easy to learn and fun for my 3-year-old!" —Wildheartmamas Get it from Amazon for $29.99 (also available in German). 52. A Dunder Mifflin Polly Pocket bursting with easter eggs and special accessories — fans of The Office are sure to love using these little bits and bops to recreate favorite scenes from the show (at a pint-sized scale). Amazon Promising review: "I'm a vintage Polly Pocket collector as well as a huge pop culture fan, and this is SUCH a fun addition to my collection. It's detailed with tons of fun little Easter eggs and pieces. The packaging is great, and clearly designed to display the set without unboxing it. I love Mattel for making this." —Elle Ayy Get it from Amazon for $20. 53. Here, Fishy, Fishy! — this simple game is gonna have your little fly fisher flying high! To play, place the magnetized fish in the bottom of the seabed (slash storage box) and try catching the fish with the color that corresponds with the card you select. Best wishes, little fishes! Amazon Number of players: 1-4 Recommended age: 2+ Pieces: 1 storage box/board, 1 fishing rod, 6 sea dwellers, 1 sea bottom, 4 collecting boards, 1 die Promising review: "I bought this as a gift for my son’s second birthday. We played it with four kids ages 2–7 and they all loved it. The level of challenge was just right for the younger kids and the game design was engaging enough for the older child. High quality wood prices will last a long time. Simple rules that are easy to follow and help kids develop social skills by taking turn and following game rules. The kids were asking to play again and again!" —Amber Simonton Get it from Amazon for $29.99 (also available in German). 54. Eatz-A-Lotl, a card game for folks who love (even if they can't spell) axolotls! This is a fast-paced but simple matching game featuring an axolotl eating popcorn, pretzels, pizza, Popsicles...and other food that probably doesn't start with the letter P. Probably. Amazon This card game is suitable for kids ages 4+ and works with 2-4 players. Promising review: "This is a super cute and fun game! We love Mudpuppy products and this one was no exception. Super cute game, easy to learn, and fun. My axolotl-loving daughter was so happy to get this as a gift. I would totally buy it again!" —Callie Larson Get it from Amazon for $9.95. 55. Honey Bee Tree, because this game is a fun way to encourage your kids to focus and bee clever! Inside the hive are several sleeping honeybees — your goal is to remove a leaf from the old oak tree without disturbing too many bees. Whoever has the least amount of bees at the end wins! Number of players: 2-4 Recommended age: 3+ Pieces: 1 honey pot, 1 oak tree, 1 flower tray base, 32 leaves, 30 honey bees, and instructions Promising review: "I bought this for my 4-year-old granddaughter and she loves it! It's easy to play and lots of fun. Cute game!" —Amazon Customer Get it from Amazon for $19.99. 56. Slapburger, a card game for kids who have a real appetite for game night! On each turn, a player will lay a card face up in the center of the table; then, everyone slaps cards down to make some primo meal combos, like a SlapBurger card, Double Decker, or Sandwich. The last player holding all the cards wins. Amazon Number of players: 2-6 Recommended age: 4+ Pieces: 52 cards Promising review: "This is a perfect family game. It's a fun card game that is easy to learn. I got it to play with my 4-year-old daughter, and she loves it! It's a perfect gift and compact for traveling purposes." —Zoro Get it from Amazon for $12.99. Why Trust BuzzFeed Shopping? BuzzFeed Shopping is service journalism first: our writers and editors spend all day shopping so you don’t have to, vetting products, fact-checking brand claims, and surfacing what actually helps in real life. We center readers over revenue, recommend products with authenticity (using real experiences, not ad-speak), and reflect our diverse audience, inclusive of a variety of price points, people, and needs. We cut through fake deals, favor useful info over glossy fluff, and recommend both budget and splurge options with context so you can decide what’s right for you — and still have a little fun along the way. Mallory Mower has been a market writer on the BuzzFeed Shopping team since 2017, with a focus on unique, practical products, up-to-date parenting finds, and up-and-coming home decor. During offline and OOO hours, Mallory is roaming the streets of New York, hitting up quirky toddler-friendly stops and then ditching the kid to enjoy some spookier, definitely haunted spots. Reviews in this post have been edited for length and clarity.
