Geography board games are some of my family’s favorite learning tools. Playing educational board games is a fun way to engage kids in learning. Fun is essential when you’re teaching ADHD learners. Today, let’s review some favorite games and puzzles focused on different countries, US geography, famous landmarks, and more.
This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I may earn a nominal fee from qualifying purchases. Thank you for your support. See my disclosure policy for more info.
Best Geography Board Games
These are some of the best geography board games to help you and your children learn about the United States, world geography, and more. Even more, games are a great way to get the whole family together!
1. GEOCards USA
GEOCards, USA is a deck of fifty stunning game flash cards, one for each US state. Both sides of each of the state cards are bright and colorful and are laminated beautifully.
Game Contents
Card side one:
- Name of the state
- An outline of the state
- Fun facts:
- state nickname,
- population,
- and total land area
Card side Two:
- Close-up of the state in its geographic location
- (including surrounding states)
- Each capital city listed at the top
Game Play of GeoCards USA
GeoCards USA is a deck of cards that can be used in any of five card games focused on the 50 great states and capitals. Depending on the game, they can be played independently or in small groups of up to four players.
Five Games to Play with GeoCards USA
Solitaire:
- Have your child use the game cards to play this independent classic game in your homeschool social studies time.
- Practice learning the capital cities or states and earn one point per correct answer.
Name the Capital:
- 1-4 Players
- Place the stack of cards state-side up
- The youngest player goes first to identify the capital city
- Correct: Keep the card
- Incorrect: Next player can “steal”
War:
- Deal cards
- Flip cards at once
- The player with the highest population wins the hand
- Modify using any number of variables
Borders:
- Players start with a deck of 5 cards
- Each turn, they pull a card from the draw pile to find a bordering state
- This is a great game to help your child or students to learn not just the state names and state capitals but to develop a real understanding of locations.
20 Questions:
- This is one of those perfect games for older and younger players.
- You can easily modify the levels of play to meet the needs of each learner based on specific questions.
Ultimately, GEOCards USA is a versatile educational game that can be played with younger children and older players. The quality of the game materials is superb. I highly recommend adding this card game to your game closet or classroom.
2. Scrambled States of America
Scrambled States of America is one of our favorite geography games for many reasons. It’s a great and interactive way to learn interesting facts about each of the United States.
The game contains:
- State Cards
- Two Types of Challenge Cards:
- Scambled
- Go the Distance
- Game board maps
Skills Targeted in the Scrambled States of America
Scrambled States of America is a fun game that strengthens US geography knowledge as well as other essential thinking skills. These include:
- Executive functioning
- Phonological Awareness
- Counting
- Alphabet
- Colors
- Consonants vs Vowels
- Visual Discrimination
Modify the game by removing cards that aren’t a good fit for younger players.
Game Play of Scrambled States of America
- Each player gets 5 cards and a board game map
- The first player flips a challenge card from the shared central deck.
- Players compete to match one of their cards to challenge on the displayed challenge card.
- For example, find a state that…
- Touches the Pacific Ocean
- The state capital has seven letters
- Find a state that has 4 syllables
- Touches the Atlantic Ocean
- For example, find a state that…
- Players compete to match one of their cards to challenge on the displayed challenge card.
Modifying Geography Board Games
Additionally, if your child has executive function challenges associated with ADHD and Autism, you can modify the Scrambled States of America in several ways.
- Remove the competitive aspect by taking turns trying to find a match.
- Work together and make the game cooperative to solve challenges.
In the end, when you focus on the learning objective, you can modify any game to make the experience enjoyable. After all, learning that’s enjoyable is much more effective.
For more ideas related to using games to support executive functioning, check out Best ADHD Games for Kids and Adults to Improve Executive Function.
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3. Sequence States and Capitals
Sequence States and Capitals is a new twist on the original Sequence Game. We’ve been playing Sequence for years and when we found out about the US Geography version, we were excited!
The game includes:
- A colorful board consisting of special squares each containing a picture of a labeled US state
- Playing cards each labeled with a capital city
- Game chips
Game Play of Sequence States and Capitals
Players work to create sequences of five chips in a row by matching capitals to states on the game board. Sequence States and Capitals is a great strategy game to build critical thinking skills as well as learn states and capitals.
The game is meant for the developmental age of 7 to adults. However, it can easily be played in pairs to include younger players.
4. GeoBingo USA
There’s nothing like a simple bingo game to break up the monotony of a boring lesson plan.
Geo Bingo USA is a high-quality geography board game created by GeoToys, the creator of GEOCards USA (number one on this list).
The game includes:
- Eight bingo game board map cards
- 75 wooden bingo chips
- 50 high-quality State cards
- Includes fun facts for each state
Game Play of GeoBingo USA
The game rules are simple for almost everyone. This means your older kids and your little ones can all participate during family game night.
The bonus of playing bingo is that manipulating small bingo chips is an excellent way to strengthen fine motor skills. (This is important for younger children as well as older ones who struggle with handwriting and other fine motor challenges).
5. Trekking the National Parks
Trekking the National Parks is designed by the creators of Trekking the World. This game, however, is based specifically on National Parks.
The game includes:
- US map with labeled National parks.
- For example:
- Joshua Tree
- Yellowstone National Park
- Shenandoah
- Grand Canyon
- For example:
- Travel cards
Game Play of Trekking the National Parks
This is a great game for up to 6 players. During your next family game night, you’ll each compete to earn the most points traveling across the US while visiting National Parks.
And grab these FREE American landmarks worksheets to add to the learning fun!
6. GeoBingo World
When I find an educational game that works, I stick with it! GeoBingo World has been a great addition to our educational board game stash.
This time, however, it’s focused on world geography and includes:
- Eight world country bingo cards
- 75 wooden bingo chips
- 50 high-quality country cards
- Includes fun facts for each country including population and land area
Game Play of GeoBingo World
Play GeoBingo World as you would any other Bingo game. The first player to Bingo wins.
Of course, you can modify the number of Bingo lines required to “win.” Or, make it into a cooperative game by teaming up in pairs.
7. The Continent Game
The Continent Game is a wonderful world geography game with a heartwarming origin story. A six-year-old boy designed this fun game to help other kids learn about the world he loves.
The game contains:
- Seven color-coded continent cards
- Each card includes a list of countries for that continent
- Game board world map
- More than 200 color-coded country and flag cards to match their corresponding continents
- Country flags are included on every card
- Mystery country cards that are NOT color-coded
- This increases the difficulty level for older students and parents
Game Play of The Continent Game
The goal of The Continent Game is to learn about various countries and continents throughout the world. Each player works to collect four countries from 3 different continents.
And, you can easily modify the requirements to “win” based on your child’s academic and developmental level.
8. The World Game
The World Game is a fun world geography game for older students, ages 9 and up. It includes:
- Country fact cards
- Large paper world map
- Shows continents
- Country flags
- World Map Game Board
Game Play of The World Game
The objective of The World Game is to learn vital facts about the world in a fun way. Compete against others by challenging one another to identify:
- continents
- country capitals
- flags
In the end, this is an excellent game to help students get thorough exposure to world geography.
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9. Trekking the World
Trekking the World is an awesome geography game that takes players on a trek around the world.
Game contents:
- Destination cards
- Trek Cards
- Brightly colored world map game board
- Souvenir cubes and tiles
- Region tokens
- Suitcase map
BeBold Games Explains Trekking the World
Game Play of Trekking the World
Trekking the World is an entertaining way to travel the world and reminds me a bit of The Amazing Race. (We love Phil!!)
Anyway, players take turns going from airport to airport around the world. The game is pretty in-depth and has multiple moving parts so it may be best for older students.
In the end, Trekking the World is a great way to expose players to different cultures and historical sites.
10. Top 5 Geography Puzzles
In my homeschool, there’s no better way to get my school-resistant son to learn than by using backdoor learning approaches. This means that I must use his unique way of learning to his academic advantage.
This kid LOVES to work on jigsaw puzzles and for that reason, we use jigsaw puzzles to learn almost every subject. And that includes geography.
So, while technically puzzles are not board games, they serve a very similar purpose. They make learning more fun and engaging which increases dopamine and thus, increases learning.
Here are five of our favorite geography puzzles to support learning in our neurodivergent homeschool.
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1. Melissa and Doug Jumbo World Map
This 33-piece floor puzzle of the world is a great way to introduce your child to the seven continents of the world.
You can use this puzzle as an intro activity for any lesson on world cultures, different habitats, or any study of the natural world.
2. Melissa and Doug USA Floor Puzzle
Melissa and Doug is a quality educational company that supports young learners.
This Jumbo USA puzzle has been a part of our family’s homeschooling for more than 13 years! Learn how to make a lapbook for any U.S. state and create a more complete lesson.
3. GEOToys USA and Canada
We love GEOToys in our home. Their geography games are high-quality, but we love their puzzles just as much! They’re made of thick cardboard pieces and my son loves them.
My son works on this USA and Canada puzzle multiple times a week these days. (He’s been learning American History this year and is obsessed!)
4. Eurographics Kids USA 200 Piece Puzzle
Eurographics creates a high-quality puzzle and we couldn’t be happier with their 200-piece USA puzzle. Each piece of the puzzle is made of strong cardboard. Further, the puzzle includes a map showing the 50 states and their capitals.
This USA puzzle includes all the state flags, as well as rivers and other bodies of water including the Great Lakes.
5. Eurographics Kids Europe 200-Piece Puzzle
We just recently added this European Map Jigsaw puzzle to our stash since we’ve been so pleased with the USA one.
Recap: Geography Board Games (& Puzzles)
One of the best ways to learn anything is to make it fun. Science proves this because of increasing dopamine. Whether you’re homeschooling, are a classroom teacher, or a parent who wants to support your child’s learning, educational board games are an excellent tool.
I hope you’ve found this list of geography board games and puzzles to be just the inspiration you need to add fun to your family’s learning.
For more learning fun, check out:
- Learning My World: Address, Phone Number, and More UnitMore
- 59 Best Educational Board Games of 2024
- 30+ Best Gifts for Kids Who Love Space & Astronomy (2024)
- Best ADHD Games for Kids & Adults to Improve Executive Function
So, friend. Did I miss any of your favorite geography board games or puzzles?
Related:
Learning My World: Address, Phone Number, and More Unit
59 Best Educational Board Games of 2024
30+ Best Gifts for Kids Who Love Space & Astronomy (2024)
Best ADHD Games for Kids & Adults to Improve Executive Function
About the Author:
Lindsay is a trauma-informed educator with a Master’s Degree in Teaching. Her mission is to support moms to equip neurodivergent kids (ADHD, Autism, Dyslexia, Anxiety) to thrive as exactly who they’ve been created to be. Wait until you hear the story that led to it all…
This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I may earn a nominal fee from qualifying purchases. Thank you for your support. See my disclosure policy for more info.
