Or: How to Turn Game Night into a Six-Legged Celebration
Greetings, bug lovers and board game buffs! Fancy a lively game night that blends beetles, butterflies, and a dash of strategy? Then you are in the right place. We have gathered ten of the best insect-themed board games (that span a range of styles and ages) that will turn your dining table into a vibrant field guide of laughter, learning, and leggy little surprises.
There is something magical about combining bugs and board games. Both invite curiosity. Both reward close observation. And both, when done right, bring people together in unexpected and delightful ways.
From speedy card games with mantises to tile-laying beetle battles, these picks are a brilliant way to bond with family, sharpen your wits, or introduce kids to the wonders of entomology, without anyone needing to release live locusts in the living room.
Ready to crawl into the countdown? Let’s scuttle from 10 to 1.
10. Fast-Paced Mantis Matching Card Game
$19.99 • 4.8 stars • 1,532 reviews
A card game with mantises and mischief? Yes, please. Exploding Kittens: Mantis delivers quick, high-energy gameplay with just enough strategy to spark friendly feuds. In ten minutes or less, players try to outmaneuver each other in a game of matching, memory, and sudden surprises.
Compact enough for your backpack and bold enough to start a lively evening, Mantis is ideal for ages 7 and up. Expect fast hands, big laughs, and maybe a little tactical deception, like any good mantis would approve of.
Underline your fun: Unleash Your Inner Praying Mantis – Click to Conquer!
Unleash the fun with Exploding Mantis - Click here to dive into the cutthroat card game!
9. Make-Your-Own Bug Stickers (45 Pieces)
$7.49 • 4.8 stars • 72 reviews
Want to create your own caterpillar with a cowboy hat? Now you can. This DIY sticker set invites kids to mix and match bug bodies and faces for hilarious and imaginative results. With butterflies, beetles, bees, and more, children explore insect anatomy through playful customization.
It is hands-on, screen-free fun that just so happens to sneak in a little biology. Whether for party favors, classrooms, or rainy days, this sticker activity offers a joyful first step into the world of entomology.
Bring your bugs to life – Create Bug Chaos Without the Cleanup – Grab Your Stickers!
Create your own insect adventure with CY2SIDE Stickers!
8. Insect Scavenger Hunt Card Set (30 Pieces)
$9.99 • 4.8 stars • 11 reviews
Nature is the best playground, and these cards prove it. With 30 vibrant, durable scavenger hunt prompts, kids and grownups alike can turn a simple walk into a full-on field expedition. From dragonflies to pill bugs, each card encourages observation, excitement, and respectful exploration.
Perfect for camps, birthdays, or unplugged weekends, this portable set is a great way to encourage movement and curiosity—no entomology degree required.
Head outside with your antennae up – Hunt Down Adventure (And Actual Insects) – Get Your Cards!
Explore the Adventure: Get Your Insect Scavenger Hunt Cards Set!
7. Hive Pocket Strategy Game with Expansions
$10.99 • 4.8 stars • 1,706 reviews
This pocket-sized marvel combines the elegance of chess with the charisma of the insect world. Hive Pocket offers strategic gameplay without a board, and includes the Ladybug and Mosquito expansions to keep things buzzing.
Designed for two players and endlessly replayable, Hive Pocket is easy to carry, hard to master, and absolutely perfect for bug-loving thinkers.
Strategize like a spider – Join the Hive Mind – Resistance is Futile (And Fun!)
Discover the Fun: Shop the Hive Pocket Game!
6. Pink Owl Character Chair for Young Naturalists
$29.39 • 4.6 stars • 4,951 reviews
While not technically an insect, owls deserve honorary mention here because they do eat bugs, after all! This cozy chair offers the perfect perch for little explorers as they settle in for a round of insect-themed games.
Soft, durable, and machine washable, it adds a dash of whimsy to any playroom while providing supportive seating for young bug lovers.
Add a comfy throne to your bug kingdom – Claim Your Owl Throne – Rule from Comfort!
Discover the Cozy Pink Owl Chair for Your Little Explorer!
5. Eric Carle Matching Game for Little Entomologists
$49.99 • 4.8 stars • 3,514 reviews
Beloved characters like The Very Hungry Caterpillar and The Grouchy Ladybug take center stage in this colorful matching game. Designed for preschoolers, it helps build memory and visual recognition—plus, it might just spark a lifelong love of insects.
Bright illustrations and simple rules make this a charming choice for young families. It is learning disguised as laughter.
Flip, match, and giggle – Feed Their Minds (And Maybe a Caterpillar) – Shop Now!
Discover the Wonder Forge Eric Carle Matching Game - Click here for details and to buy!
4. Hive – Full-Sized Strategic Bug Showdown
$39.95 • 4.8 stars • 2,361 reviews
Ready for the full Hive experience? This version expands on the portable edition, offering bigger pieces and even more intense strategy. There is no game board, just your wits, your pieces, and your queen bee’s survival.
A modern classic of abstract strategy, Hive challenges players to think like insects: move carefully, trap decisively, and defend the colony.
Build your insect empire – Build Your Empire, One Hexagon at a Time – Buzz Over to Buy!
Discover the possibilities of Hive - Click here for details!
3. Jewel Box Beetle Tile Strategy Game
$24.99 • 4.9 stars • 65 reviews
Featuring 75 unique beetle illustrations, this tile-laying game combines biodiversity with beautiful design. Players collect, arrange, and strategize to build the most impressive insect collection on the board.
Educational yet immersive, Jewel Box celebrates the artistry and variety of beetles while sharpening pattern recognition and planning skills.
Let your love of beetles shine – Beetle About for Strategic Fun – Click to Collect!
Discover the Fun: Click Here to Learn More About the Jewel Box Family Board Game!
2. Talking Tables Bug Bingo
$14.38 • 5 stars • 6 reviews
Bingo gets a buggy upgrade with this plastic-free, beautifully illustrated game. With 48 insect-themed cards, pencils, and a cotton storage bag, it is a wonderfully sustainable way to introduce kids to insect diversity.
Whether for rainy afternoons or birthday parties, Bug Bingo delivers equal parts excitement and education—with a feel-good, planet-friendly bonus.
Buzz into eco-fun – Buzz Into Educational Bingo – Six Legs of Fun Await!
Discover the Buzzing Fun of Bug Bingo – Perfect for Kids!
1. Jewel Box Fluttering Expedition (Butterfly Expansion)
$17.99 • 5 stars • 9 reviews
This expansion to the Jewel Box game adds 30 exquisite butterfly tiles and supports up to six players. It brings a flutter of color and complexity to every round, transforming your tabletop into a blooming pollinator paradise.
If the original Jewel Box is the field guide, this expansion is the summer meadow in full flight. Beautiful, balanced, and endlessly replayable.
Bring the butterflies home – Flutter Into Strategic Bliss – Expand Your World!
Discover the Jewel Box Fluttering Expedition - Expand Your Game with 30 Unique Butterflies!
Insects and board games may seem like an unlikely pair, but together they offer a world of wonder, strategy, and shared joy. Whether your game night involves catching queens, matching caterpillars, or crafting your own sticker swarm, each of these bug-themed games invites curiosity and sparks connection.
At the Bug Zoo, we believe that insects can teach us more than just science. They show us how to be patient, observant, and wildly creative. So gather your friends, shuffle your decks, and let the bugs do what they do best. What's that? Bring people together.
Thank you for reading. Stay curious and keep exploring because the world is better with bugs, than without them.
🐞 Flex Your Antennae: A Quick Bug Quiz!
Which insect is known for its lightning-fast reflexes and specialized predatory front legs?
(a) Praying Mantis
(b) Antlion
(c) Grasshopper
Answer: (a) Praying Mantis
True or False: All butterflies go through complete metamorphosis.
Answer: True! Like moths, butterflies experience four distinct stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult.
THE END! 🐜 Got questions? Antennae up—we're listening. 💌
Not Sweet enough? Treat yourself to Nate’s 100% Raw & Unfiltered Honey, award-winning, never heated, pure bee goodness. 👉 Shop Honey 🍯✨
What does a bee say when it's flying backwards?
(Zzub!)🐝😊
🛍️ Ready to explore the world’s most bug-tastic gear, gifts, and curiosities?
Visit the Bug Shop — from plush beetles to bug repellents, we’ve got your wings covered. If you do not see what you are looking for please reach out. 👇
Email:bug.zoo@outlook.com
Mailing Address: Box 41076, RPO Woodgrove, Nanaimo, BC, V9T 6M7, Canada
About the Author
Carol Maier is a professional entomologist, eco-educator, and the founder of International Bug Zoos Inc. With a lifelong passion for insects, spiders, pollinators, and biodiversity, Carol shares her expertise to spark wonder in the natural world—one six-legged friend at a time. Let’s keep the hive humming together! 🐝
As an Amazon Associate, the Bug Zoo Team may earn from qualifying purchases at no cost to you. Thank you for your support! Come back and BUG us soon! 🐛✨
#BugLife #NaturalLiving #Entomology #NaturellyAwesome #BugZoo #PollinatorPower #SmallBusinessHeroes