What Are Some Good Games for Autistic Children?

Finding good games for autistic children can take some trial and error. The best games are the ones your child enjoys, that match their interests and sensory needs, and that give you both a chance to connect. Below, a parent asks about games for her autistic daughter, and we share our answer, followed by a list of the best games for autistic kids and practical tips for making game time work.

Member: I need to find some good games to play with my 10 year old daughter. She is Autistic and was diagnosed a year back as having Pervasive Developmental Disorder – Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS). She has a tough time playing games of any kind, really.

She doesn’t like any competitive spirit and hates to lose. She also has a lot of trouble taking turns, but I want her to be able to learn to play games with others so that she can better integrate into classrooms. We play Sorry and Memory right now because those are the ones we have, but I’m not sure they’re the best games for her to play.

We can never really finish a full game because she runs out of patience and starts screaming most of the time. She will often throw the game pieces before the end too, and sometimes will hit me. I am not sure how she acts at school or if they play games there. We have not received any behavioral complaints about her yet from the school, but maybe the kids just ignore and just don’t play any games with her.

I know she prefers to do puzzles on her own, so maybe they just let her do that. And I know there are probably better games to start slowly with or maybe I’m just teaching her to play wrong? So, what are some good games for autistic children that I can get?

Our response: There are quite a few good games to play with children who have Autism Spectrum Disorder, including PDD, but there aren’t many specially made ones. We believe any game is a good game if she enjoys it, as long as you have the patience to teach it at her pace. Also, check out our topic on Toys for Autistic Children.

Each autistic child is unique, so different parts of a game may bother some children more than others. When thinking about games for autistic children, we like to choose ones that are fun first and also build skills your child is ready to grow, such as turn-taking or listening.

For instance, Hungry Hungry Hippos can be a good game because it only needs one finger and one repetitive movement to start the feeding frenzy. You don’t have to be able to read, and there are chances to practice parallel play as well as turn-taking.

Guess Who has also been popular with a few of the autistic girls we have worked with around your daughter’s age. It is a great game for practicing skills such as:

• turn-taking
• waiting for others to finish speaking
• describing features and characteristics
• paying attention to detail, and more.

Another game that works well for kids in a similar age group is Bop-It. It builds listening skills: you hear a prompt, then respond quickly by grasping, twisting or pulling with your whole hand. It is also a fun way to practice following directions.

Another popular game that can build shared play with children with Autism is Candy Land, which most of us know. It is simple, colorful, needs no reading and has clear rules, which many autistic children find reassuring. Many autistic children play in their own ways (lining things up, sorting, repeating a favorite part), and that is real play too. Games like Candy Land simply give you a shared, predictable structure to play together. See the video above.

There are other activities you can share too, such as building blocks, playing catch with a ball, or doing puzzles together. Since your daughter already enjoys puzzles, that is a great place to start. Sit with her, take turns placing pieces, and slowly increase the difficulty as her confidence grows. Below is another interesting game you can play:

Again, our view is that rather than hunting for specific games for autistic children, you can teach your daughter almost any game she is interested in, by being patient and slowly building up how long she plays and how many people join in.

Helping When Games End in Meltdowns

Screaming, throwing pieces or hitting at the end of a game is very common, and it is your daughter’s way of telling you the game has become too much. Losing, waiting and unpredictable outcomes can feel genuinely overwhelming for many autistic kids. A few things that often help:

• Start with co-operative games. In co-operative games, everyone wins or loses together, so there is no single loser. This takes away the hardest part while she practices turn-taking.
• Keep games short. Play for five minutes, or play only until the first person reaches halfway. Stopping while it is still fun builds good memories of games.
• Make turns visual. Use a “my turn” card or token that passes from player to player, so she can see when her turn is coming.
• Practice losing when the stakes are low. Let her see you lose and model what you say (“Oh, I lost. That’s okay, let’s play again”). Some families play “silly losing” games where the goal is to lose.
• Plan a calm exit. Agree beforehand what she can do if she needs a break, such as walking away, squeezing a cushion or going to a quiet spot.
• Look at the environment. Noise, siblings, hunger or tiredness can all make losing harder. Try games when she is calm and well rested.

Best Games for Autistic Kids in 2026

The best games for kids with autism, and for neurodivergent kids generally, tend to have clear rules, short rounds, predictable turns and plenty of visual information. Here are some ideas to try, grouped by type. Choose what fits your child’s age, interests and sensory needs.

Board and Card Games

• Memory or matching games: great for visual thinkers and easy to make shorter.
• Uno: simple color and number matching, with fast turns.
• Connect 4: quick rounds and a clear visual goal.
• Jenga: builds fine motor skills and is fun whether the tower stands or falls.
• Snakes and Ladders: no reading needed, and luck rather than skill decides the winner.
• Dominoes: matching, counting and a calm pace.

Educational and Learning Games for Autistic Kids

Educational games for autistic children work best when learning is built into play the child already enjoys, with clear visuals and no time pressure.

• Bingo with pictures: practices listening and matching, and works for many players.
• Feelings charades or emotion cards: a playful way to talk about how faces and bodies show feelings.
• Sorting games: sort buttons, blocks or toy animals by color, size or type.
• Puzzle and pattern games: jigsaws, tangrams and pattern blocks build problem-solving.
• Educational apps: many children enjoy tablet games for reading, math and drawing. Choose ones without loud ads or in-app purchase pop-ups.

Video Games

Many autistic kids love video games, and they can be a real strength. Building and creative games such as Minecraft let children plan, design and play with others online at their own pace. Calm, predictable games are often a better fit than fast, noisy ones. Playing alongside your child is a great way to share their world and connect over something they love.

Sensory Games

• Treasure hunts in a tub of rice, sand or dried pasta
• Play dough or kinetic sand challenges (“Can you make a snake?”)
• Bubble popping or balloon keep-up
• Feely bag guessing games, with objects to identify by touch

What are Active Games for Children with Autism?

Are you looking for active games for children with autism that help with motor skills and social development? Activities like obstacle courses, parachute games and ball tossing can engage kids while supporting physical and social growth. Sensory-based games, such as scavenger hunts with tactile clues, are also great for focus and problem-solving. Movement games like Simon Says, musical statues, trampoline games and “follow the leader” are also fun ways to burn energy and practice listening.

Games to Play with an Autistic Child: Tips for Parents

• Follow their interests. If your child loves trains, dinosaurs or a particular show, look for a version of a game with that theme, or make your own.
• Explain the rules visually. A simple picture card showing the steps of the game can make a big difference.
• Start with just you and your child, then add a sibling or friend once the game feels familiar.
• Let them change the rules. Playing a game “their way” still builds connection and confidence.
• Notice what they are good at. Many autistic kids have great memory, attention to detail or pattern spotting. Pick games that let those strengths shine.

Games for autistic people of any age work best when they are enjoyable, predictable and played with people who are patient and kind. Start where your child is, keep it fun, and the skills will follow.