Which Board Games Do Emotionally Gifted Children Truly Enjoy?

Understanding the Emotional Depth of an HPE Child

If you’ve ever watched your child burst into tears because a fictional character was sad, or light up with joy when a classmate succeeds, you might be parenting a child with high emotional potential (HPE). These children are deeply empathetic, instinctively tuned into the moods of those around them, and often overwhelmed by emotions they are still learning to navigate. For parents, this depth can be both beautiful and bewildering.

Playtime, particularly through board games, presents a unique opportunity to support these children. But not just any game will do. Games that ignore emotional nuance may leave your child cold—or worse, stressed. So how can you choose games that align with the emotional richness of your child's inner world? And what kind of play helps them thrive and feel safe in their expression?

Why Traditional Competitive Games Often Fall Short

Imagine your child is playing a fast-paced, winner-takes-all game with friends. The stakes rise. Someone loses. Your child not only feels their own disappointment but also mirrors the emotions of others. Tears might follow—not because your child is a sore loser, but because the emotional weight of the situation feels overwhelming. This is common among HPE children, who tend to prefer experiences that emphasize collaboration, storytelling, or empathy over competition.

In fact, children with high emotional potential often gravitate toward games that:

• Have cooperative goals rather than individualistic objectives
• Include meaningful stories or role-playing elements
• Provide space for imagination, humor, and emotional expression
• Allow flexibility in rules that foster inclusion over perfectionism

The Power of Cooperative Play

Cooperative games can be especially healing and empowering for emotionally gifted children. These games allow players to work together toward a common goal, reducing the emotional sting of losing and increasing the sense of connection. One family I spoke to shared their experience with a game called Outfoxed!, where players collaborate to solve a mystery. "My daughter felt like she mattered," the mother told me, "and when they won, everyone celebrated. When they lost, no one blamed her. It was a relief."

Another example is Pandemic, a strategy game that asks players to save the world from disease outbreaks. While it’s complex and suitable for older kids, the sense of team-based problem-solving and high-stakes adventure appeals to many sharp, emotionally sensitive minds.

Role-Playing and Storytelling Games: A Safe Playground for Big Emotions

Many HPE kids feel most at ease expressing themselves in imaginary worlds. Games like Rory’s Story Cubes or improvisational storytelling card games help your child step into another character’s shoes. These experiences offer strong emotional catharsis while also giving you a grounded way to discuss complex feelings.

In these moments of imaginative play, some parents notice their child revealing deeper fears or hopes. It’s not unusual for a child to role-play a character who is “bullied at wizard school,” only to discover that this story echoes something they experienced this week. You can learn more about communicating effectively with an HPE child through imagination-driven conversations.

The Role of Emotional Games in Building Regulation Skills

Games like The Game of Feelings or Mixed Emotions focus intentionally on developing emotional intelligence. While these aren’t always the first choice for Saturday game night, they can be powerful tools for children who struggle to name or manage their emotional experiences. Used gently and without pressure, they can become beneficial parts of your weekly rituals.

A parent once told me, “We play Mixed Emotions every Sunday evening. My son looks forward to it partly because he gets to ‘replay’ his school week through the characters. It helps him reset before Monday.” Pairing this kind of ritual with something like audio reflections—especially those that turn lessons into narrated adventures with your child as the protagonist, as supported by the Skuli App—extends that emotional work into other learning contexts.

When Games Become Coping Tools

For many emotionally gifted kids, gameplay isn’t just fun—it’s regulation. A child might use a storytelling game to externalize their overwhelming day. Another might prefer the consistency of a cooperative board game to feel a sense of safety. Just as some HPE children thrive listening to lessons in the car after school via audio format, turning dry moments into peaceful learning, others use play as a buffer from emotional overload.

That’s why it’s crucial to observe how your child focuses and decompresses. If they emerge from gameplay a bit calmer, a bit lighter, you’ve likely found a match. And when you see your child delighting in co-creating a fantasy kingdom while wearing pajamas and sipping tea—it’s more than just play. It’s healing.

Creating a Game-Friendly Emotional Environment

Not every evening will allow for an elaborate game, and that's okay. The goal is not to entertain, but to connect. Here are a few reminders when introducing board games to your HPE child:

• Let your child help choose the game—they need to feel ownership
• Set emotional expectations: talk about "what might happen" before playing
• Gently name feelings when they arise—but don’t rush to fix them
• Focus on the process, not the outcome

Choosing a game is another chance to see your child more clearly. And as explored in this guide on sparking a love for learning in HPE kids, every interaction—no matter how playful—can gently stretch their emotional bandwidth.

Final Thoughts: It’s Not Just Play

Games, when thoughtfully chosen, help HPE children articulate feelings, practice collaboration, and build emotional resilience. They are doors into imaginary lands and mirrors reflecting your child’s inner world. And sometimes, the most powerful support you can give doesn’t come in the form of a tutor or schedule—but a quiet evening, some dice, and your full attention.

If these approaches resonate with your child’s emotional needs, you may also benefit from tools like the Skuli App, which subtly merges learning with emotional engagement—like transforming a dry lesson into an exciting audio adventure starring none other than your child. These kinds of intentional learning experiences not only educate but reaffirm that their emotions are welcome, valid, and understood.

And isn’t that all they really want?

For further guidance, explore how to avoid common parenting pitfalls with HPE children and deepen your parent-child connection.