Top 10 Canadian-Themed Board Games: A Fun Way to Explore Canada

Entertaining, Interactive Ways to Learn about Canada's Culture, History, and Geography

Best Gifts for World Travellers and Globetrotters

Top Canadian-themed board games are a fun way to explore Canada while bringing together friends and family for a screen-free night of cooperative teamwork, cunning strategy, or friendly competition.  Game nights create the perfect setting to share travel stories and find inspiration for your next road trip.  In our experience, when the roads are icy and the days are short, board games are also a great way to continue discovering new things to see and do in the Great White North.  For example, you might be inspired to visit the 'City of Festivals' or learn which province you need to visit to get 'screeched in.'  Alternatively, hosting a game night and spending time with friends and family is always an entertaining and interactive way to keep festive holiday traditions alive, start new ones, or simply impress with your knowledge of Canadian heritage, history, culture, and geography.  Looking for the perfect gift for that world traveler or globetrotter on your holiday list?  Add board games to your list of must-read Canadian travel books, and if you play your cards right, you might just have the perfect gift combo!  Whether you prefer quiz nights that test your knowledge of Canadian trivia, or like us, you fancy trying your luck at achieving victory with the roll of a dice, our list of top 10 Canadian-themed board games has something for all ages, skill levels, and interests. Let the games begin!

When you see a good move, look for a better one."

by Emanuel Lasker

1. Canada-OPOLY is a Top 10 Canadian-Themed Board Game  

Canada-OPOLY is first on our list of Canadian-themed board games.  As the name suggests, this pick puts a unique twist on the classic Monopoly board game. Players navigate the board by buying, selling, and trading famous Canadian landmarks, cities, and attractions, such as Niagara Falls, Banff National Park, and the CN Tower. The game uses familiar Monopoly mechanics, like collecting rent and managing properties, but with a Canadian flair. For example, log cabins can be upgraded to ski lodges, and instead of railroads, players compete to collect the four parts of Canada: Territories, Western Provinces, Central Canada, and Atlantic Canada. Canadian culture shines through in bonuses like maple syrup tokens, while obstacles like hockey equipment fees, snowstorms, and income tax can slow players down.

Why we love it: This is an exciting game of strategy and luck that ultimately determines who will own the greatest share of the friendly hockey-loving country that is Canada.

Player Count: 2 - 6
Duration: 1 - 4 hours
Ages: 8+

2. Stops: Canadian Edition

Stops: Canadian Edition is a captivating and uniquely Canadian re-mastering of the popular board game Stops, making it number two on our list of top 10 Canadian-themed board games. In this version, players embark on a coast-to-coast journey across Canada, navigating famous landmarks, cities, and cultural highlights. In addition, the game challenges players to answer trivia questions about Canadian history, geography, and pop culture while collecting "stops" in various provinces and territories. Specifically, the role of a dice moves players around the board, where they must listen to clues in order to identify which province or territory is being described. Ultimately, the goal is to complete a set of stops and be the first to reach the final destination: Ottawa, Ontario, the nation's capital.

Why we love it: With its blend of educational content and fun, Stops: Canadian Edition is a trivia based game that offers an entertaining way for players to learn more about Canada's rich diversity, natural beauty, and multicultural heritage while enjoying friendly competition. In addition, options to level the playing field for participants with more or less 'travel experience' makes it fun for all.

Player Count: 2 - 6
Duration: 40 minutes
Ages: 7+

3. Canadian Trivia: Family Edition

Canadian Trivia: Family Edition is fun, educational and designed to celebrate Canada's rich history, culture, and geography. Similar in mechanics to Trivial Pursuit, this game has two difficulty levels.  Further, it features over 2,000 questions from four categories - geography, history, the arts, and general knowledge. Earn a chip from each category to win! Specifically, players are challenged to answer questions about topics ranging from sports, to politics, famous Canadians, iconic landmarks, and Indigenous history.  From St. John's, Newfoundland to Tofino, British Columbia, and from Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario to Iqaluit, Nunavut, this game covers it all. In addition, the latest incarnation incorporates questions from the original, supplementary, and millennium versions, giving the game a new and updated feel.

Why we love it: With its accessible rules and two difficulty levels, this board game offers an enjoyable way for Canadians (and anyone interested in Canada) to test their knowledge, improve their cognitive skills, and have fun together.

Player Count: 2 - 6
Duration: 1 -3 hours
Ages: 9+

4. Trailblazer: Rediscovering Canada

The Trailblazer: Rediscovering Canada board game offers a unique opportunity to take the entire family on a truly Canadian adventure. Players cross the country from east to west, and the game ends when the first player reaches Vancouver, Canada. However, as we've learned firsthand during our own 14,000 km hike across Canada, travel in this country isn't just about the destination; it's also about what happens on the journey. Travelling by canoe, bush plane, train, or ox-cart, players can follow pioneer trails, canoe down the Swift Current rapids, and fly supplies to gold miners in the Klondike.  At the same time, they are also discovering what kind of bear lives in the Arctic and collecting the treasures like the Stanley Cup. Specifically, competitors advance by answering trivia questions, collecting treasure cards, and going on adventures. Ultimately, it is the player with the most points when the game ends that is declared the winner.

Why we love it: This board game takes players across the country on a truly Canadian adventure.  For us, it brought back fond memories of the places we visited during our cross-Canada hike. In addition, at its release, all proceeds from the sale of this game went towards funding the Trans Canada Trail, the longest recreational trail in the world!

Player Count: 2 - 4
Duration: 1 - 3 hours
Ages: 7+

5. Professor Noggins Cards Games

The Professor Noggin's Card Game series includes some great Canadian favourites, such as Professor Noggin's History of Canada and Professor Noggin's Geography of Canada. They are specially designed to encourage young players to learn while competing in a fun, friendly, interactive way. As such, each game features a deck of cards with a series of questions related to a specific topic.  Moreover, the game mechanics are simple, with players answering questions to collect cards. Each card is colourfully illustrated on the front, and contains a set of six questions on the back, including true/false, trivia, and Noggin's choice. Interestingly, players can opt to answer easy questions or hard ones, allowing participants with different levels of knowledge to compete and have fun together.

6. Explore Canada

Ages: 7 + 

7. 1867: The Railways of Canada

The 1867: Railways of Canada board game is a compelling strategy game set during the early days of Canada's railroad expansion, making it the seventh pick on our list of top Canadian-themed board games. Players take on the roles of railway magnates, aiming to build rail networks across the Canadian landscape, linking cities, and optimizing routes to transport goods efficiently. Specifically, the game features a map of central Canada, with players strategically placing tracks, investing in companies, and competing for valuable resources and territory. With mechanics inspired by the popular 18XX series, 1867 incorporates economic strategies, stock trading, and railroad development, making it a complex and immersive experience for players who enjoy long-term planning and intricate decision-making.

8. Expedition  Northwest Passage

Expedition: Northwest Passage is a strategy board game that takes players on an adventurous journey through the hazardous waters of the Arctic Ocean. As the leader of your own expedition, you are not only racing to discover the illusive Northwest Passage, but you are also trying to solve the mystery behind the sudden disappearance of Sir John Franklin's 1845 Expedition. As the game progresses, the seasons change and the ocean freezes, but players must continue exploring, moving, and collecting information on the missing expedition. Ultimately, points are gained for acquiring clues, mapping areas, and of course, discovering the Northwest Passage. However, in order to claim victory, the winner must return to Greenland before time runs out.

9. Monopoly: Canadian Edition

Monopoly: Canadian Edition is a localized version of the classic board game that celebrates Canadian culture, landmarks, and history. In this edition, players move around a game board featuring Canadian cities, provinces, and iconic locations like Banff, Montreal, and Niagara Falls. The traditional properties are replaced with names familiar to Canadians, offering a unique twist on the classic game play. Players buy, sell, and trade properties like hockey arenas, famous landmarks, and even the Royal Canadian Mounted Police headquarters. The game's money is also in Canadian dollars, adding to the authenticity. This version of Monopoly highlights the country's rich heritage, blending fun with a sense of national pride, making it a perfect gift for both board game lovers and Canadian enthusiasts.

10. Race to the New Found Land

Race to the New Found Land is the final pick on our list top Canadian-themed board games, and it set in the 16th century. Explorers and sailors have just discovered a large island off the coast of North America - the 'new found land'. Immediately, a war breaks out among competing nations, each striving to control the largest piece of Newfoundland. Specifically, players take on the role of sailors who must skilfully overcome obstacles such as storms, pirates, and limited resources while consistently presenting achievements to their Royal House. The game combines elements of luck and skill, requiring players to decide whether to become the first to populate the new land, to explore new areas first, or to trade and build a fleet before setting sail. As a result, this game offers a fun mix of adventure and tactical thinking, as players race against each other to be the most successful in their quest to reach Newfoundland, Canada.

Why we love it:  This game provides the perfect mix of luck and strategy to create a family-friendly game night that is fun for all.

Player Count: 2-4
Duration: 1 - 2 hours
Ages: 10+

In Conclusion

In conclusion, this list of the top 10 Canadian-themed board games offers players a chance to explore Canada in a fun and interactive way. Whether you're spending a cozy evening with family or hosting a game night with friends, these games will transport you to the heart of Canada's landscapes, history, and culture. They also make the perfect holiday gift for world travelers, Canadians living at home or abroad, or anyone interested in learning more about the Great White North. So gather together, let the games begin, and let the chips fall where they may!

Top 10 Canadian-Themed Board Games: A Fun Way to Explore Canada

Entertaining and Interactive Ways to Learn about Canada