Cytosis is a worker placement game with a cell biology framework, introducing and reinforcing concepts like DNA, mRNA, proteins, hormones, enzymes, and more. It has been expert reviewed and includes a booklet with facts about the different aspects of the game with an educational focus. [Genius Games sent me a copy of this game for free to play and share about!]

• Number of players: 2-5
• Estimated play time: 60-90 minutes
• Board Game Geek community sourced age recommendation: 10+
• Expansions?: There is a virus expansion for Cytosis!

Ecologies is a compact card game that has you build and maintain food chain webs in different biomes. They include a fact booklet that touch on the concepts introduced by the game and all the cards have gorgeous illustrations; we own this one and my kids happily play it outside school time.

• Number of players: 1-6
• Estimated play time: 60-90 minutes
• Board Game Geek community sourced age recommendation: 10+ but my 8 year old played it without any issue.
• Expansions?: We haven't tried them yet but there are two expansions for Ecologies - Bizarre Biomes & Hidden Habitats, as well as a Junior version.

Planet is a pretty light, fun game with tactile, 3-d pieces that has you choosing different habitats to support the animals you're trying to choose. Basic science principles but easy to learn and fun to play, we own this one and it is a great "gateway game" for people who haven't tried or aren't into more complicated games.

• Number of players: 2-4
• Estimated play time: 30-45 minutes
• Board Game Geek community sourced age recommendation: 6+
• Expansions?: No

Wildcraft! is a wildly popular board game with a very simple premise; forage edible and medicinal plant cards to heal and make your way back to Grandma's house. It introduces basic plant knowledge although it isn't region specific.

• Number of players: 1-4
• Estimated playtime: 30-45 minutes
• Board Game Geek community sourced age recommendation: 4+
• Expansions?: No

Genotype is a worker placement game with some dice mixed in, with players working as Gregor Mendel's assistants to collect data on pea plants. This is rooted in the real life beginning of modern genetics and runs heavy on the science, with beautiful illustrations.

• Number of players: 1-5 players
• Estimated play time: 45-90 minutes
• Board Game Geek community sourced age recommendation: 12+
• Expansions?: No

A Mensa recommended game, Periodic introduces the periodic table and energy forces as players try to collect elements and advance their research. We own this one but haven't tried it yet!

• Number of players: 2-5 players
• Estimated playtime: 40 minutes
• Board Game Geek community sourced age recommendation: 10+
• Expansions?: No

Photosynthesis is a game that illustrates the eponymous process, with players trying to grow their forests of 3D trees and avoid the shade. It has won lots of awards; light on the science but great reviews.

• Number of players: 2-4
• Estimated play time: 30-60 minutes
• Board Game Geek community sourced age recommendation: 10+
• Expansions?: There is an Under the Moonlight expansion

Lovelace & Babbage is a game featuring real life computer science pioneers, with players programming an early mechanical engine. It introduces science history as well as basic engineering concepts.

• Number of players: 2-4
• Estimated play time: 15-30 minutes
• Board Game Geek community sourced age recommendation: 14+
• Expansions?: No

This is a super popular, relatively heavy/long board game that connects players with basic tenets of possible life on Mars, aspects of solar system travel & building, and planet atmosphere conditions. My family owns this but it is too long for me, however my 11 year old and husband love it. There is also a digital app version of this game.

There is also a faster version of the game with a co-op mode, the Ares Expedition.

• Number of players: 1-5
• Estimated play time: 120 minutes
• Board Game Geek community sourced age recommendation: 12+
• Expansions?: There are multiple expansions: Turmoil, Colonies, Hellas & Elysium, Prelude, & Venus Next

Chemistry Fluxx is one of many Fluxx versions; it's easy to learn and fast to play, introducing players to atoms, molecules, elements, and chemical reactions as you play.

• Number of players: 2-6
• Estimated play time: 5-30 minutes
• Board Game Geek community sourced age recommendation: 8+
• Expansions?: No

Ecosystem: Coral Reef is a card drafting game where players try to build their underwater network while learning about food webs and habitats. There is a land based version with similar style play as well, Ecosystem.

• Number of players: 1-6 players
• Estimated play time: 15-20 minutes
• Board Game Geek community sourced age recommendation: 10+
• Expansions?: No

Organ Attack is a quick playing card game that introduces different organs; players play different diseases against each other to win - if families are sensitive to cancer or other ailments, this game may be upsetting and it has crude humor.

• Number of players: 2-6 players
• Estimated play time: 15 minutes
• Board Game Geek community sourced age recommendation: 8+
• Expansions?: No

Cardline Animals is a super light and fast game that my family plays in between school subjects; players try to rank animals based on different fact-based factors like lifespan or weight.

• Number of players: 2-8 players
• Estimated playtime: 15 minutes
• Board Game Geek community sourced age recommendation: 7+
• Expansions?: No

On The Origin of Species has players helping Charles Darwin with his most famous reasearch in the Galapagos Islands, gaining knowledge on science history as well as basic evolution principles.

• Number of players: 2-4 players
• Estimated play time: 45-80 minutes
• Board Game Geek community sourced age recommendation: 10+
• Expansions?: No