The 10 Best Storytelling Games of 2023 for the Whole Family

Best Overall

Atlas Once Upon a Time

4.5

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Once Upon a Time earns the spot of the best storytelling game, thanks to its simple setup that lets imagination run wild. This card-based storytelling game challenges players to test their creative thinking skills and rethink what makes a narrative work, from beginning to end.

Each card features a plot point. Players are dealt random cards, and the first player begins to tell a tale. Other players can take over storytelling by playing a matching plot point card. Each player attempts to steer the story according to their plot cards and, ultimately, toward their ending card. The first player to play all cards in their hand wins. The game challenges players to think about the structure of a story, with rising action, climax, plot twists, and conclusion. We love that it's educational without being didactic.

This game's clear direction and rules make it straightforward enough for players of all ages, including kids. Consumers have remarked that the game is not overly competitive, which makes it ideal for younger players. It's worth noting that some users reported disappointment over the lack of diversity featured in the cards. Perhaps newer editions will solve this; in the meantime, players will enjoy the challenge of coming up with entertaining scenarios that follow a clear narrative arc.

Price at time of publish: $25

_{Number of Players: 2+ | Duration: Not listed | Recommended Age: 12 years and up}

Best Budget

Zygomatic Rory’s Story Cubes

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You don't need to splurge on a storytelling game to garner the challenging, educational, and entertaining aspects of gameplay. Rory’s Story Cubes, a game that revolves around rolling a set of six-sided dice to tell a story is a simple, affordable pick that allows for genuine and imaginative thinking. The game dice are decorated with 54 images to allow for hundreds of combinations.

While there are no specific rules on how to use the dice, the aim of the game is to incorporate the images into a cohesive story that earns points for delivery, humor, or creativity. This game allows players to think on their feet and exercise ingenuity and creativity to create a narrative that's never the same twice.

Price at time of publish: $10

_{Number of Players: 1+ | Duration: 10 minutes | Recommended Age: 6 years and up}

Best True Crime

Hunt a Killer Death at the Dive Bar

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Fans of true crime procedurals can play their hand as detectives in this immersive storytelling game that lets players solve a mystery. The popular brand Hunt a Killer, a leader in true crime storytelling games, released the stand-alone game that challenges players to analyze clues, ciphers, and puzzles that progress the story of this game, until its final conclusion.

We deem this an ultimate parlor party game, but keep in mind that there's only one ending—that means that once you solve the mystery, the game loses some of its suspense. However, because you don't destroy any of the game pieces along the way, they can be repurposed again and again.

Price at time of publish: $30

_{Number of Players: 1 to 5 players | Duration: 1 hour and up | Recommended Age: 14 and up}

Best Ice Breaker

Green Card Voices Story Stitch: Telling Stories. Opening Minds. Becoming Neighbors.

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Storytelling games are often used as ice breakers to get conversations flowing, and people engaged with one other on a deeper level than small talk, whether in the classroom, office, or community setting. If that's your main goal in using a storytelling game, the Story Stitch game is an excellent choice.

Users report that the cards in this narrative game challenge players to step out of their comfort zone and tell stories that can help foster deep personal and community connections. We love that the game was designed for diverse people and experiences. It's been featured in the social feed of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who praises the game for its inclusive approach to storytelling.

Price at time of publish: $17

_{Number of Players: 2 or more | Duration: Not listed | Recommended Age: 10 and up}

Best for the Family

SCS Direct Tall Tales Storytelling Board Game

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Tactile learners will benefit from SCS Direct's Tall Tales storytelling board game that features multiple modes of play, an array of fun game pieces, and story cards to facilitate the flow of the narrative. This game is ideal for young children and family fun because it's engaging enough to capture the attention of adults. Players can draw game pieces to inspire storytelling and think spontaneously. Once the story ends, the pieces go back into the bag for another player to draw. 

There is not a clear path toward winning the game, which makes this a good choice for non-competitive players. There's the option of crafting your own point system to award each story for creativity and humor. One thing to note about this game is that no reading is required, making it a good option for all ages.

Price at time of publish: $30

_{Number of Players: 2+ | Duration: Not listed | Recommended Age: 4 years and up}

Best Adventure

Red Raven Games Above & Below Board Game

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For a storytelling game that immerses players in an imaginative world of adventure filled with decisions, Red Raven's Above and Below board game is a top choice. Players have the opportunity to choose their own adventure, collecting points along the way. A clear winner emerges at the game's conclusion, and as a bonus, players can experience a different story each time they play. Because the game presents players with different scenarios, it does require critical decision-making skills and an ability to understand complex instructions.

Price at time of publish: $38

_{Number of Players: 2-4 | Duration: 90 minutes | Recommended Age: 13 years and up}

Best Educational

Looney Labs Mad Libs the Game

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Who doesn't recognize Mad Libs as the original silly storytelling game? This popular throwback has gotten an educational update to make it more of a learning tool, designed for kids to build social skills while exercising critical thinking on their feet, along with logic and narrative skills.

The gameplay is simple: players are tasked with creating sentences with cards dealt to them. You can elect to choose a winner for the most humorous story, or just enjoy the whimsy of having fun with words.

Price at time of publish: $17

_{Number of Players: 3-8 | Duration: 20-40 minutes | Recommended Age: 10 years and up}

Best for Building Vocabulary

Mrs. Wordsmith Storyteller's Card Game

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Storytelling is a fun and effective way to build vocabulary for young learners. Mrs. Wordsmith's Storyteller's Game challenges players to pick the most appropriate words given certain circumstances. Once the Master Storyteller presents a story theme to the group, each player selects a card with a certain group of words. The Master Storyteller is then tasked with picking the card that best fits the theme of the story.

The game can also be played in teams, with each team coming up with story ideas to fit the words on the cards. This game is just as much about patience and critical thinking as it is about building vocabulary—all skills essential to storytelling.

Price at time of publish: $29

_{Number of Players: 3 or more | Duration: Not listed | Recommended Age: 8 and up}

Best Funny

Flying Leap Games Wing It: The Game of Extreme Storytelling

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Create the most outrageous, hilarious, outlandish scenarios with Wing It—a game filled with "extreme storytelling." The family-friendly game challenges players to imagine themselves in absurd scenarios, including being raised by elephants, chased by rabbits, or fleeing a Victorian mansion. You then use your resource cards to create an escape plan from that situation so you come out unscathed. Appropriate for ages 7 and up, kids and adults alike can enjoy the insane circumstances as they talk their way out of them through the art of storytelling.

_{Number of Players: 4-6 | Duration: Not listed | Recommended Age: 7 and up}