To play Trouble, each player takes turns pressing the Pop-O-Matic bubble to roll the dice and move their colored pieces around the board. The goal is to move all of your pieces from the starting point to the finish line before your opponents. However, players must be careful, as they can be sent back to the starting point if an opponent's piece lands on the same space as theirs. Roll a 6 to get a piece out of the starting area and onto the board. The first player to successfully move all of their pieces to the finish line wins the game.
Best Board Games for 5 Year Olds of September 2025
1
Rating is 5 out of 5
The Original The Floor is Lava! Game by Endless Games - Interactive Game For Kids And Adults - Promotes Physical Activity - Indoor And Outdoor Safe
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ENDLESS GAMES PRESENTS: The Floor is Lava! is a family board game that promotes physical activity, an active imagination, and engaging excitement for kids and adults.
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EVERYONE LEAP: Real entertainment and laugh out loud fun challenges the whole family. Popular for birthdays, holiday parties, or game night. For 2 or more players ages 5 -105!
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INSIDE OR OUTSIDE PLAY: Each of our cushioned, durable, slip-resistant foam stepping stones can be used during outdoor birthday parties or indoor sleepovers.
2
Rating is 4.9 out of 5
Hasbro Gaming Don't Break The Ice Preschool Game, Board Games for Kids Ages 3 and Up
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FUN KIDS GAME: This Don’t Break the Ice game is an exciting preschool game that has players tapping out ice blocks one by one, as they imagine helping Phillip the Penguin make a new igloo
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CHILDRENS GAMES MAKE GREAT GIFTS: If you're looking for family gifts or gifts for kids, board games are a great choice
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HAVE FUN WITH CLASSIC GAMES: From classic tabletop board games to up-and-active toddler games, to party games, Hasbro Gaming is a one-stop-shop for filling your games closet
3
Rating is 4.8 out of 5
ThinkFun Zingo Bingo Award Winning Preschool Game for Pre/ Early Readers Age 4 and Up - One of the Most Popular Board Games Boys Girls their Parents, Amazon Exclusive Version
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Trusted by Families Worldwide - With over 50 million sold, ThinkFun is the world's leading manufacturer of brain games and mind challenging puzzles.
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Clear instructions – Easy to learn with a clear, high quality instruction manual. You can start playing right away!
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Award winner - Zingo has won many awards including an Oppenheim Gold, Parents' Choice Award, ASTRA Best Toys for Kids Award, and is a three time Toy of the Year Nominee, which makes it a great gift for boys and girls ages 4 and up.
4
Rating is 4.7 out of 5
Monopoly Junior Super Mario Edition Board Game, Fun Kids' Ages 5 and Up, Explore The Mushroom Kingdom as Mario, Peach, Yoshi, or Luigi (Amazon Exclusive)
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MONOPOLY JUNIOR GAME FOR KIDS: In this Monopoly Junior board game kids can imagine exploring the Mushroom Kingdom with Super Mario artwork, themes, and gameplay
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SUPER MARIO CHARACTERS: Players move around the gameboard as Mario, Peach, Yoshi, or Luigi buying up properties and collecting coins. The player with the most coins wins
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GAMING SOUND EFFECTS: Players roll the power-up die to find out if they can press the Coin Sound Unit featuring the iconic coin sound from Super Mario, and collect coins
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BUY SUPER MARIO PROPERTIES: Board spaces feature scenes and themes Super Mario fans will recognize including Yoshi's Hill, Cooligan Fields, and Rock-Candy Mines
5
Rating is 4.6 out of 5
Hasbro Gaming Candy Land Kingdom Of Sweet Adventures Board Game, Easter Basket Stuffers or Gifts for Kids, Ages 3+ (Amazon Exclusive)
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CLASSIC BEGINNER GAME: Do you remember playing Candy Land when you were a kid? Introduce new generations to this sweet kids' board game
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RACE TO THE CASTLE: Players encounter all kinds of "delicious" surprises as they move their cute gingerbread man pawn around the path in a race to the castle
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NO READING REQUIRED TO PLAY: For kids ages 3 and up, Candy Land can be a great game for kids who haven't learned how to read yet
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GREAT GAME FOR LITTLE ONES: The Candy Land board game features colored cards, sweet destinations, and fun illustrations that kids love
6
Rating is 4.5 out of 5
Hasbro Gaming Perfection Game for Preschoolers and Kids Ages 5 and Up, Popping Shapes and Pieces, Preschool Board Games for 1 or More Players
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SHAPE-POPPING GAME FOR PRESCHOOLERS: Race against the clock with the Perfection game, a favorite fast-paced puzzle game for kids ages 5 and up
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CHALLENGE KIDS TO MATCH SHAPES: Children can practice finding, placing, and even naming the different shapes included in this fun preschool game
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EASY TO SET UP AND PLAY: This game is easy to set up and can be played over and over again. After playing, easily store the shapes in the game unit
7
Rating is 4.4 out of 5
OUTFOXED, A CLASSIC WHO DUNNIT GAME FOR PRESCHOOLERS, 4 players
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WHO, WHAT, WHERE: Clues help you determine what the guilty fox is wearing so you can rule out suspects as you travel the board.
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FUN FAMILY GAME: Outfoxed is a fun cooperative boardgame that is perfect for younger kids. Entertain kids on play dates or rainy days with Outfoxed.
8
Rating is 4.3 out of 5
Hasbro Gaming Connect 4 Classic Grid,4 in a Row Game,Strategy Board Games for Kids,2 Player .for Family and Kids,Ages 6 and Up
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Choose yellow or red discs. For 2 players
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Classic Connect 4 game is disc dropping fun
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Includes grid, 2 legs, slider bar, 21 red discs, 21 yellow discs and instructions
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When you get 4 discs in a row you win
9
Rating is 4.2 out of 5
Bluey Scavenger Hunt Game, 2-4 players
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The Bluey Scavenger Hunt Game Is All About Finding, Playing And Collecting.
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Players Must Work Together As A Team To Find 12 Toy Tokens. The First One To Collect Enough Tokens And Get To The Finish Line Wins.
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2-4 Players For Ages 3+
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Join Bluey And Her Family In A Fun Game Of Scavenger Hunt.
How to decide who goes first in Trouble?
- The youngest player typically goes first in Trouble. This is a common rule in many board games as it gives the younger player a slight advantage and ensures a fair start to the game.
- Alternatively, players can roll the dice to determine who goes first. The player who rolls the highest number gets to go first.
- Another option is to spin the pop-o-matic bubble in the center of the board. The player whose color bubble pops up first gets to go first.
- Players can also draw straws, flip a coin, or use any other random method to determine who goes first in Trouble.
What is the objective of Trouble?
The objective of the board game Trouble is to be the first player to move all four of your colored pegs around the board and into your home space. Players must move their pegs around the board by popping the plastic bubble dice roller and moving the corresponding number of spaces. Players must strategically navigate around the board and use the special abilities of landing on other players' pegs to progress towards their home space. The first player to successfully move all of their pegs into home wins the game.
How to stay ahead of your opponents in Trouble?
- Focus on your game plan: Develop a strategy before the game even starts. Decide whether you want to prioritize getting all your pieces around the board first, or if you want to focus on blocking your opponents.
- Pay attention to your opponents' moves: Keep an eye on what your opponents are doing on the board. This will help you anticipate their next move and plan accordingly.
- Use your bumping ability wisely: Bumping opponents back to start can give you a significant advantage. Use this ability strategically to disrupt your opponents' progress and stay ahead.
- Aim to create blockades: If you have the opportunity, try to create blockades on the board to prevent your opponents from advancing their pieces.
- Stay calm and focused: Don't let frustration or distractions derail your game. Stay calm and focused on your strategy to ensure you stay ahead of your opponents.
- Be adaptable: Be prepared to adjust your strategy as the game progresses. Stay flexible and be willing to change tactics if needed to stay ahead of your opponents.
How to move your game pieces in Trouble?
To move your game pieces in Trouble, you must press the Pop-O-Matic bubble in the center of the game board to roll the dice and determine how many spaces you can move your piece. Once you have rolled the dice, you can move one of your pieces clockwise around the board the number of spaces indicated on the dice. If you roll a 6, you get an extra turn. If you roll a 6 three times in a row, you can move a new piece out of your start zone. If you land on a space occupied by an opponent's piece, you can send the opponent's piece back to their start zone. The first player to move all of their pieces around the board and into their "home" zone wins the game.
What is the role of each player's game pieces in Trouble?
In Trouble, players have game pieces called "pawns" that represent their characters on the game board. The role of each player's game pieces is to move around the board according to the number rolled on the die, with the ultimate goal of getting all of their pieces from the starting point to the "home" space. The first player to get all of their pieces to the home space wins the game. Players must also strategize to block their opponents' movements and hinder their progress by landing on their opponents' pawns and sending them back to the starting point. Overall, the game pieces in Trouble function as the main means of navigating the board and competing against other players to reach the goal first.
