Buying guide
Best Games for Grandparents and Grandchildren
The best games for grandparents and grandchildren let the youngest and oldest at the table play on equal terms: rules that fit in a sentence, short turns and a little luck so nobody is stuck at the bottom. These six all carry our Grandparents & Grandchildren tag, and between them they cover word games, tile games, a two-player classic and a quick dice game.
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Quick picks
| Our pick | Game | Why we like it | From | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Rummikub | Easy to pick up, played in the open, and the rearranging keeps adults interested too. | £7.32 | View deal |
| Best for two | Guess Who? | A short head-to-head that suits one grandparent and one grandchild. | £7.33 | View deal |
| Best for little ones | Dominoes | A matching rule that takes seconds to explain, with plenty of room for house rules. | £15.99 | View deal |
| Best for word lovers | Scrabble | Word-building that rewards vocabulary and still feels fresh after many games. | £10.99 | View deal |
| Best for a level playing field | Labyrinth | The maze shifts every turn, so spatial thinking matters more than reading or knowledge. | £14.99 | View deal |
| Best quick dice game | Qwixx | Everyone plays on every roll, and a game is over in around 15 minutes. | £9.95 | View deal |
1 OF 6
Rummikub Best overall
Be first to play every tile on your rack by forming runs and groups of numbers. Setup takes a minute and everyone can follow the action, because the tiles are played in the open.
What works
- The rules click quickly
- Everyone can follow the action
- Rearranging the table adds a puzzle for adults
Not so good
- Rearranging can lead to long pauses
- Best with two to four players
2 OF 6
Guess Who? Best for two
Each player secretly picks a face, then asks yes-or-no questions to work out the other’s choice first. The rules fit into a sentence, so even young children can join in after one practice round.
What works
- The rules fit into a sentence
- Short games that are easy to replay
- Built for two players
Not so good
- More predictable once players learn to halve the board
- Only suits two players
3 OF 6
Dominoes Best for little ones
Match one end of a tile to an open end on the table and be first to play all your tiles. This set comes with four racks that keep each player’s tiles upright and out of sight.
What works
- The matching rule takes seconds to explain
- Quick rounds, so it is easy to play several
- Easy to carry to family visits
Not so good
- The basic game is simple matching
- Tactical players may want a harder variant
4 OF 6
Scrabble Best for word lovers
Score points by forming words on a 15 by 15 grid of letter tiles, using the premium squares to boost your score. You can choose how competitive to be, from relaxed word-building to serious point-hunting.
What works
- You choose how competitive to be
- Even short words score points
- Free printable score sheets on its game page
Not so good
- A game can drag if players take long over each turn
- Agree on a dictionary before you start
5 OF 6
Labyrinth Best for a level playing field
Slide the spare path tile into the maze to open new routes, then move your piece to collect treasures. Children can play with adults on near-equal terms, because spatial thinking matters more than reading or knowledge.
What works
- The idea is easy: move the maze, then move yourself
- A different board every game
- Livelier as more players change the maze
Not so good
- A thoughtful player can slow the pace
- Best with two to four players
6 OF 6
Qwixx Best quick dice game
Six dice are rolled each turn and everyone crosses off numbers in four coloured rows. Every cross is a small gamble, because any number you skip is gone for good.
What works
- Everyone plays on every roll
- Around 15 minutes a game
- Free printable score sheets on its game page
Not so good
- Little interaction between players
- Involves some adding up
The six games side by side
| Game | Play time | Game type | Best for | From | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rummikub | 15–30 mins | Strategy | Mixed ages around one table | £7.32 | View deal |
| Guess Who? | 15–30 mins | Memory | A grandparent and grandchild | £7.33 | View deal |
| Dominoes | Under 15 mins | Strategy | The youngest players | £15.99 | View deal |
| Scrabble | 30–60 mins | Word | Word lovers of any age | £10.99 | View deal |
| Labyrinth | 15–30 mins | Strategy | Children and adults on equal terms | £14.99 | View deal |
| Qwixx | Under 15 mins | Luck | Quick, competitive rounds | £9.95 | View deal |
Questions
What is the best game for grandparents and grandchildren?
Rummikub is our all-rounder: it is easy to pick up, played in the open and has a puzzle element that keeps adults interested. For a one-to-one game, choose Guess Who?.
Which games suit very young grandchildren?
Dominoes has the simplest rule here: match one end of a tile to an open end on the table. Guess Who? also works once children have had one practice round. Check the age range on each game page before you buy.
Which games work with just two people?
Guess Who? is built for two, and Rummikub, Scrabble, Dominoes, Labyrinth and Qwixx all work with two players. Check each game page for the full player range.
Which games do not depend on reading or general knowledge?
Labyrinth and Dominoes rely on spatial thinking and matching rather than reading or general knowledge, so children and adults can play on near-equal terms.
Are these good gifts?
Yes, all six are marked as gift ideas on our site. See our gifts for grandparents and grandchildren for more, or the full list of games for grandparents and grandchildren.