Good Strategy Games and Puzzles for Kids                                                                                                                                                       Go Back

(Links are for informational purposes only and do not indicate any endorsement. References to Necker's and Perfect Toy stores are for local students.)

The listings below are in order of current favorites with my elementary gifted students, from most favorite at the top to enjoyed but not as popular at the bottom.

Many of the games or puzzles by Binary Arts/ThinkFun are terrific.  Necker’s is a great source for these.  The website is http://www.thinkfun.com/. 

Of interest -- Scott Kim, is an artist and puzzlemaster who uses mathematics in his work and has designed puzzles and games including a couple for BinaryArts/ThinkFun.  His webiste is www.scottkim.com.

Othello

Go – Official Rules for Go

 TipOver (Neckers & Perfect Toy)

Zigzag

Blokus (geometric strategy):  Regular (for 4 players) and Travel (for 2 players.  Goes more quickly.  Smaller more compact board, so good for classroom tables.)

Mancala – Necker’s toy store has a beautiful oak playing board and pieces.  Less expensive versions are available at most toy stores. 
A free homemade version can be created with an egg carton and a small bowl at either end, using beans for pieces.

Rush Hour Traffic Jam, Jr. (ThinkFun) – grid puzzle

Mastermind  (4 pegs version)
    There is also...
    Advanced Mastermind (5 pegs version)
    and a kids version (4 pegs, but fewer options)

Muggins (great arithmetic skills practice for varied levels)

Subtrax (ThinkFun) – a peg jumping puzzle.

GridWorks (ThinkFun) – a logic puzzle in a book/magnets format.

Square by Square (ThinkFun) – a tangrams style puzzle

Morris – a jumping peg game

Tangoes (Rex) – tangrams

Pentago (Perfect Toy)

The card game “Set”.  This is a great visual pattern matching game.  It can be taught as young as 6 or 7 at least, can be played cooperatively if preferred, and is a lot of fun.  It’s great for all ages.  This is available at Necker’s.  The website is http://www.setgame.com/set/.

  Mako E. Haruta
                                                                                           Associate Professor of Mathematics
                                                                                           Department of Mathematics
                                                                                           University of Hartford
                                                                                           West Hartford, Connecticut
                                                                                           haruta@hartford.edu
                                                                                            (860)768-5261
                                                                                            (860)768-5244 fax