Math Board Games - Which do really help?

Two of the most sought after skills that parents and educators want games to develop is math skills and social skills. This shows two things for me.

Firstly, they are familiar with the characteristics of games and board games, understanding that there are solutions in these areas.

Secondly, we can easily identify issues related to these aspects. And to all this, the fun factor of playing adds up; it doesn't take an expert to know that learning is more enjoyable through play.

In the past ten years, during the more than a hundred lectures, workshops, and training sessions I've had the privilege to conduct, I don't recall a single instance where mathematics didn't come up as a highlighted developmental area.

Of course, each case is unique, but in this article, I aim to compile my most important responses, primarily focusing on the titles of specific games.

What board game helps with math?

Based on my experience there can be two different responses to this based on what the people mean:

Which answer you need will be something only you will know, so in this article, I aim to cater to both directions.

In general, whether you are a teacher or a parent, you certainly know your children better than I do. Some prefer knowing that they are learning because focus is important to them, but we also know many children who need learning to be hidden as the mere fact of having to perform blocks them. I also cannot know whether you are looking for math games because something is challenging, or because something is going well. Catching up and talent development can both be excellent goals.

Let's start with so-called edutainment games, where education is more emphasized. Then, we'll take a look into the world of modern board games. What won't be covered are the classic abstract smart games like Chess or Go, as they quite clearly have a beneficial impact on numerous mathematical areas and are frequently discussed.

Educational math board games

You will find three types of games here:

• Games that can be played and made with few tools. While they might not be as colorful and fragrant as boxed board games, they do offer developmental goals for children.
• Games that you probably know but might not come to mind when thinking about mathematical development.
• Board games created specifically for direct mathematical development.

Modern Board games that impact math skills

These games are not explicitly "math games," but they all involve mathematical thinking and strategy to some degree:

Ricochet Robots

Spatial programming puzzle

The goal is to move a specific robot to its destination in as few steps as possible. The robots cannot stop anywhere, only by hitting walls or each other, and their steps can only be counted mentally.

Tools

Game board, robot pieces, walls

Age

8-99

Players

1-99 players

Time

15-45 min

Skills Developed

Spatial awareness, logical reasoning, coordination and planning, mathematical thinking, working memory, programming

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Schnapp den Sack

Quick counting and grabbing game

The goal is to quickly grab the bag when the right quantity is visible on the table. By flipping new cards, you can find solutions where a new card covers an old one, creating the correct quantity.

Tools

Cards, bag

Age

4-8

Players

2-6 players

Time

10-20 min

Skills Developed

Addition, strategic thinking, number sorting and comparison, counting and comparison

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Patchwork

Patchwork is a two-player game that merges the calming art of quilting with strategic gameplay, an interesting dichotomy that sets it apart.

Two players take turns selecting and placing fabric patches on their personal board, trying to cover as much space as possible while managing their supply of buttons (the in-game currency). Time is also a factor, as each patch takes a certain amount of time to sew. The game ends when both players reach the end of the time board, and the player with the most buttons after penalties wins.

Tools

1 time board, 2 player boards, 33 fabric patches, 5 special patches, 1 neutral token, 50 button tokens, and a rulebook.

Age

8-99

Players

2 players

Time

15-30 min

Skills Developed

The game enhances spatial reasoning, resource management, strategic planning, and decision-making, as players must efficiently fit patches onto their board while managing their button economy.

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Qwirkle

Take it or leave it? That’s all there is to it—yet every decision makes you sweat.

Players take turns placing tiles in a shared grid, matching either colors or shapes in a row or column. The more tiles placed in a sequence, the higher the score. A Qwirkle (a full set of six matching tiles) earns bonus points. The player with the highest score at the end wins.

Tools

108 wooden tiles featuring six different shapes in six different colors.

Age

6-99

Players

2-4 players

Time

45 min

Skills Developed

This game enhances pattern recognition, strategic thinking, spatial awareness, and planning skills, as players must carefully place tiles to maximize their points.

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A possible journey

With the listed games, I have a lot of good experiences, but there are surely other excellent choices as well. If you've gone through the above list, it's possible that something on your shelf also came to mind, which could be good for developing mathematical skills.

With a bit of exaggeration, every board game involves some level of math. If nothing else, you need to add up the points. The key is to try out many things and pay attention because if a particular direction works with the kids, that's the path to follow.

Have a great journey! And most importantly: have fun playing!