The best children's games (Last Update: October 2011):

Rank	Picture	Name	Minimum age	Mechanism(s)	Info
1 (1)		Chicken Cha Cha Cha (UK) Zicke Zacke Hühnerkacke (GE) Jakkiebak Kippekak (NL) Pique-Plume (FR) Distributed by Zoch		Memory	You must steal the feathers of other chickens in order to win. When you find the face down tile showing the same drawing than the one in front of your chicken-pawn, you can move forward. (from BGG) Winner of the 1998 Kinderspiel des Jahres. Winner of the 1998 Deutscher Kinderspielepreis
2 (2)		Wer War's? Distributed by Ravensburger		Deduction Electronic Co-operative play	A thief has stolen the king's ring. The players try together to find the correct chest in which it is hidden. They find help from the animals living in the castle. The players win together if they find the ring before time expires. (from BGG) Winner of the 2008 Kinderspiel des Jahres. Winner of the 2008 Deutscher Kinderspielepreis
3 (3)		Loopin' Louie (GE) Le Fou Volant (FR) Stef Stuntpiloot (NL) Distributed by MB		Action/Dexterity	In Loopin' Louie, a battery-powered motor placed in the center of the table rotates a boom with a little plastic plane. Very silly and very addictive. (from BGG) Winner of the 1994 Kinderspiel des Jahres.
4 (4)		Akaba Distributed by Haba		Action/Dexterity Memory	2-4 players try to blow their flying carpets about the game board and try to be the first to collect all the presents. (from BGG) Winner of the 2005 Deutscher Kinderspielepreis
5 (6)		Das magische Labyrinth Het Magische Labyrint (NL) Distributed by Drei Magier Spiele		Maze Memory	The little magician apprentices have lost some objects in the magic maze. Now, they try to collect them, before the Master notices anything. However, in the maze, the little magicians always bump against invisible walls. So, they have to make their way through the maze by means of a good memory and lots of skill. (from BGG) Winner of the 2009 Kinderspiel des Jahres.
6 (5)		Gesagt, getan! Zo gezegd, zo gedaan! (NL) Distributed by Haba		Educational Mechanic line drawing	Colored magnets are placed on the drawing board. Hints are given, where to draw lines. The children then have to guess the image.(from BGG)
7 (--)		Findevier (GE) Taiga (NL/FR/UK) Distributed by FoxMind, Steffen Spiele		Animals Deduction Memory	The taiga is home to many kinds of animals. Families of red foxes, porcupines, beavers, snowy owls and caribou live there, hidden in nature. Sarah and Jacob, two biologists, are trying to study them and need to take a closer look. Can you help them find the hidden animals? In this memory and deduction game, flip the wooden disks to reveal the animals hidden below. Keep your eyes open and remember well your findings!.(from Foxmind.com)
8 (7)		Curli Kuller Distributed by Selecta		Action/Dexterity Farming	It’s that time again. Just like every year, Farmer Bertram has planted the little seedlings in his field. And he put up the scarecrow to protect his crop from cheeky birds. But he should have thought of the snails. They are already looking forward to the delicious meal. The first to get eight plants with his rolling snail wins the game. The fast-paced rolling game for kids and adults. (from BGG)
9 (10)		Nacht der Magier (GE) Nacht van de tovenaars (NL) Distributed by Drei Magier Spiele		Action/Dexterity Adventure	Nacht der Magier is a new game for 2-4 players, and is played in the dark... It's a game like no other, a strange mix of tactics and poetry, that works even better with adults than with children.(from Bruno Faidutti's website) Winner of the 2006 Deutscher Kinderspielepreis
10 (8)		Tier auf Tier (GE) Dier op Dier (NL) Distributed by Haba		Animals Action/Dexterity	The animals want to show how good they are at making tall pyramids! They must be skillfully careful: Who will position the penguin on top of the crocodile, the sheep on top of the penguin, the serpent on the sheep? The hedgehog wants to stand on top of the pyramid but the height is making him dizzy. (from BGG)
11 (20)		Schätzinsel (GE) Schateiland (NL) Distributed by Haba		Pirates Memory Educational	In front of the island of Pirate Fishbeard lies the ship of some other pirates. They want to steal the gold from Fishbeard. But the slope of the pirates is so unstable that it can fall over. Each player has to remember how heavy the gold boxes are so that they don't make the slope fall over whenever the pirates transport the gold to their ships! Children can learn to add up and substract weights with this game.(from BGG)
12 (11)		Höchst verdächtig (GE) Highly Suspect (UK) Distributed by Haba		Puzzle	In Highly Suspicious 2-4 detectives are chasing the crook who's hiding in the park. The bord is tiltable, and by tilting the board in one direction all detectives and the crook will walk as far to this side as they can, until they hit an obstacle. The goal is to get your detective to land on a square next to the crook, thus catching him. (from BGG) Winner of the 2002 Deutscher Kinderspielepreis
13 (12)		Burgritter (GE) Kasteelridders (NL) Castle Knights (UK) Chevaliers de la tour (FR) Distributed by Haba		Action/Dexterity Co-operative play	All of the players are Knights working together to build three new towers before King Duncan returns home to his castle. Collect three tower cards before King Duncan gets to the castle and you win.(from BGG)
14 (14)		Burg Appenzell (GE) The Castle of Appenzell (UK) Kaas Kasteel (NL) Distributed by Zoch Verlag		Animals Memory Maze	Each player controls colored mice and tries to collect pieces of cheese in Castle Appenzell. The first player with 4 different pieces of cheese wins the game. (from BGG) Winner of the 2007 Deutscher Kinderspielepreis
15 (13)		Manimals (GE) Distributed by Adlung		Animals	Manimals is a beautiful animal game that is also well-suited for learning in the classroom or for use in homes. Through the game, players learn the attributes of animals. Rules for ages +4 and +6. (from BGG)
16 (--)		Das große Tier-Rätsel (GE) Distributed by Ravensburger		Animals Trivia Pattern Recognition	Players try to guess the identities of animals hiding in the picture box. But in addition to that challenge, players need to guess various qualities about the animal in question: What does it eat? Is it faster or slower than a human? How many legs does it have? It is a mammal or reptile? Each animal card has two sets of questions relating to it, and players in the know will score additional points. The first player to circle the score track wins the game. (from BGG)
17 (15)		Giro Galoppo Distributed by Selecta		Animals Racing Memory Bluff	Giro Galoppo is a horse racing game driven by cards for players 6 years and up. (from BGG)
18 (9)		Viva Topo! Kazensnaaiers (NL) Distributed by Selecta		Roll and move	Players attempt to move their mice (pieces) from the start to any of various goals. The further the goal, the more cheese (points) it is worth. But watch out for the cat, who speeds up as the game progresses. (from BGG) Winner of the 2003 Kinderspiel des Jahres.
19 (--)		Die kleinen Zauber Lehrlinge (GE) Magician's Kitchen (UK) De kleine tovenaarsleerlingen (NL) Distributed by Haba		Action / Dexterity Fantasy Marble Game	This game is played on a square board with five objects placed on it: a cauldron in each corner, and a fireplace in the middle. Each player has four magic ingredients (marbles) which have to be delivered to each of the cauldrons. A player that has already delivered all his ingredients must try to light the fire instead by moving the fireball (another marble) to the fireplace. If he succeeds, he wins the game. (from BGG)
20 (16)		Polizei-Alarm Distributed by Haba		Action/Dexterity Dice rolling Secret unit deployment	Polizei-Alarm! is an action/dexterity game for 2-4 players (although only two sides play against each other).One side plays a gang of safe-crackers who try to throw the correct combinations for the safes with some special dice under time-pressure. The other side is the Police, who try to find the the hideout of the gangsters. (from BGG)
21 (17)		Kraken-Alarm (GE) S.O.S. Octopus (FR) Distributed by Kosmos		Animals	With their research ship each player looks to discover animals in the sea. But look out for the big kraken because he will try to entangle your ship in his arms. The game features an innovating tilting mechanism (this is activated when a ship gets caught by the kraken). The player who discovers as much different animals as possible wins the game. (from BGG) Winner of the 2010 Deutscher Kinderspielepreis
22 (18)		Die kleine Hexe (GE) Distributed by Kosmos		Action/Dexterity Memory Co-operative play	Die kleine Hexe is a game based on the childs book by Otfried Preußler (published in English as: The little Witch). The players move the little witch and her raven Abraxas around to help them do her good works. If they succeed within a set number of rounds, all players win (the player who helped most wins a little bit more). Otherwise, all players lose. (from BGG)
23 (19)		Rettet den Märchenschatz! (GE) Red de sprookjesschat (NL) Save the Fairy Tale Treasure! (UK) Distributed by Selecta		Co-operative Play Memory	An evil king has burned all fairy tale books. Only one is left, and its sheets have been shredded and scattered in an enchanted garden. Now the players must hurry and find the matching pieces, and leave the garden with them, before the king returns. The players must find as many tales as possible (preferably all), and leave the garden. If the king finishes his track, and there are still players left in the garden, all players lose.(from BGG)
24 (--)		Da ist der Wurm drin (GE) Distributed by Zoch		Animals Dice Rolling Racing Betting/Wagering	In the dice game 'Da ist der Wurm drin', players want to be the first to have their worm poke its head out of the compost heap at the end of the garden. For a longer game, players can keep their worms going until one stretches its head off the edge of the larger game board.(from BGG) Winner of the 2011 Kinderspiel des Jahres.
25 (21)		Lauras erste Übernachtung Distributed by Amigo		Pattern recognition Role playing	In the game, the children use a shining staff under a dark foil "tent" to find different items - and all they can see are the outlines. Additionally, they move Laura carefully from space to space. This is an innovative game idea in which the children need a good eye and a calm hand.(from BGG)
26 (--)		Geistermühle (GE) Moulin Hanté (FR) Distributed by Drei Magier Spiele		Roll and Move Ghosts	Each player tries to load up three full sacks of flour in his colour and bring them home safely. But watch out! There are ghosts here which will tease and scare you…(from the rulebook)
27 (22)		Lauras Sternenspiel Distributed by Amigo		Set Collection Co-operative Puzzle	Action game in which children are helping Laura to clean up her room just before bedtime. Contains german components (cassette + story)!
28 (23)		Klondike Distributed by Haba		Bluffing Action/Dexterity	Each player on their turn draws three wooden marbles from a bag. The player places the marbles on the riddle - a circular aluminum plate - and tries to "pan" the gold marbles. Other players bet on their results, adding a bluffing element to the game. Winner of the 2001 Kinderspiel des Jahres.
29 (24)		Obstgarten(GE) Boomgaard(NL) Orchard(FR) Distributed by Haba		Memory Dice Co-operative	A cooperative game for two or more players aged 3 and up. Only a quick harvesting of the trees carrying crunchy cherries, juicy apples, sweet pears and marvellous plums prevents the snitching of fruits by the impudent and insatiable raven. All players work together to harvest the fruits.(from BGG)
30 (25)		Affentheater Distributed by Amigo		Animals Dice	The monkeys ate all their bananas and have to find a new banana field. Who is the first to reach it, while hyenas and snakes are on their path? Children's game for 2-5 players.(from BGG)
31 (--)		Zwerg Riese (GE) Giant Dwarf (UK) Op tocht met Gigaroot (NL) Distributed by Haba		Fantasy Hand Management Point to Point Movement	Dwarves want gold. You know that, I know that, everyone knows that. But since their legs are short, walking from location to location to collect gold takes a long time – which is why they don't walk on their own, but instead use a giant for transportation. The only problem is that all the dwarves must share the same giant, which means you can't always get where you want.(from BGG)
32 (26)		Kayanak Distributed by Haba		Collection Dice	Players punch holes through the ice (A4 paper) and fish for various sized steel balls (fish). Large steel balls (big fish) are worth more than small steel balls (small fish). The person with the most points at the end of the game wins.(from BGG) Winner of the 1999 Kinderspiel des Jahres. Winner of the 1999 Deutscher Kinderspielepreis
33 (27)		Go! Gorilla (FR) Hang in There! (UK) Distributed by Hasbro, Goliath		Action / Dexterity Animals Electronic	The board consists of motorized trees with rotating tops. By using your levers, you can raise and lower the treetops, catching your animals and moving them across the jungle and onto the beach. However, you and your opponents can also use the treetops to knock animals off, sending them back to the start. The first player to get five animals to the beach wins. (from BGG)
34 (28)		Voll in Fahrt (GE) Les P'tites Locos (FR) LocoMotion (UK) Distributed by Amigo		Tile Placement Dice Rolling Trains	The full moon lights up the sky as night falls on the yard. The various locomotives get ready to race for the coveted title of world champion. But in this exciting race, caution is needed since the tracks switch quickly, locomotives push one another, and before you know it you end up off the rails. Only one locomotive can enter the destination station, so be sure to get there first! (from BGG)
35 (--)		Husch Husch kleine Hexe (GE) Heksjes-race (NL) Distributed by FX Schmid, Ravensburger		Fantasy Dice Rolling Memory Racing	A children’s game in which five witch tokens in different colors are hidden under witches' hats. On your turn, roll a die and pick up the hat that you think is hiding the witch of the corresponding color. If you are correct, roll the die again and repeat. If you are wrong your turn ends. The sixth side of the die shows an "exchange" symbol. If rolled, the player exchanges two witch hats on the board without revealing the hidden tokens and ends his turn. The first player to move any witch to the last space on the board, Block Mountain, wins the game. (from BGG)
36 (30)		Auf die Schätze fertig los(GE) Treasure, Ready, Go!(UK) Race door de jungle (NL) Distributed by Haba		Memory Action/Dexterity	The object of the game is to obtain the most treasures. Treasures are awarded by completing tasks.Various tasks must be performed before the time runs out; pantomiming animals, matching cards, grabbing for specific animals... Players can push their luck, by completing other tasks. If, however, time runs out, the players lose all of the accumulated treasure cards...(from BGG)
37 (29)		Dschungelschatz (DEU) Jungle Treasure (UK) Schat van de jungle (NL) Distributed by Haba		Action / Dexterity Adventure Memory Pattern Recognition	Wild animal sounds screech out from the jungle, but in order to find the mythical Mayan treasures, the treasure hunters have to cross the jungle. Suddenly an old and long forgotten Mayan temple appears in front of them. Two stone guards stand at its entrance staring the treasure hunters down with a fierce glare. Who will be brave, quick and skillful enough to retrieve the treasures of the jungle? (from BGG)
38 (--)		Zoowaboo(GE) Vlotte Vrienden(NL) Distributed by Selecta		Action/Dexterity Animals Betting	Every year, the animals go on a rafting tour on the wild river, and nobody wants to miss out on the fun. But will there be enough room for all? (from BGG)
39 (--)		Zoff im Hühnerhof(GE) Kot op stelten(NL) Distributed by Haba		: Action/Dexterity Farming Animals	Farmer Fred feeds his chickens early in the morning. With a sweeping gesture, he throws the grains over the fence. With loud cackles and lots of flapping, the chickens lunge for the tidbits. But then the fox appears around the fence.... (from BGG)
40 (--)		Leinen Los! Distributed by Haba		Action/Dexterity Racing	Leinen los! is something different. The object of the game is to push a little wooden ship, following the race track and avoiding the buoys. The winner is the first ship at the end of the track. Each player moves on turn, time limited by a funny chronometer/egg timer. (from BGG) Winner of the 1997 Kinderspiel des Jahres.