Concept vs Concept Kids: Which Version Suits Your Family?
By Asmodee – Asmodee USA | Published: 2026-11-01
Category: Buying Guides
Compare Concept and Concept Kids on rules, reading demands, and group fit. Learn which party guessing game matches your family's ages and play style.
Quick answer
Choose Concept Kids if your group includes young players still learning to read, because it is cooperative and uses animal cards. Choose Concept if everyone can read and you want a flexible, competitive party challenge with open-ended concepts.
Reading demands change who can play
Concept Kids is designed for young players still learning to read, so the animal-guessing format removes the need to decode written clues. Concept assumes players can read the concepts being conveyed, which makes it a better fit for older children and adults. If your family spans pre-readers and fluent readers, the reading gap is the first practical difference to weigh.
Cooperative vs competitive play changes the mood
Concept Kids is a cooperative version of Concept, so the group works together to identify animals rather than competing for individual points. Concept is competitive: points go to the player who guesses correctly. Cooperative play suits younger children who may feel pressure from scoring, while competitive play gives older groups a sharper party-game edge.
Open-ended concepts vs a focused animal deck
Concept's board is covered in icons that can represent everything from a computer motherboard to the color blue, and players attempt to silently convey concepts such as dinosaur, Eiffel Tower, or Sigmund Freud. Concept Kids narrows the challenge to animals, with players drawing twelve cards and trying to find as many animals as possible. The narrower focus makes Concept Kids easier to teach, while Concept's breadth keeps repeated sessions varied for older players.
Key trade-offs to weigh
- Reading level: Concept Kids removes reading from the core loop, while Concept requires players to read the concepts being conveyed. If any player is still learning to read, Concept Kids is the safer choice. Check the reading level of your youngest player before choosing.
- Cooperation vs competition: Concept Kids is cooperative, so the group wins or loses together. Concept is competitive, with points going to the player who guesses correctly. Cooperative play reduces pressure for young children; competitive play adds energy for older groups.
- Concept scope: Concept Kids focuses on animals, while Concept covers open-ended ideas from objects to people. A narrow deck is easier to teach; a broad board supports more varied repeat play. Consider how often you will replay the game with the same group.
Product facts
- Concept Kids: Concept Kids is a cooperative version of Concept designed for young players still learning to read. It lets pre-readers join a guessing game without written clues, which is the key reason to pick it for mixed-age families.
Concept Kids - Concept: Concept is an easy-to-learn but frequently challenging board game where players silently convey concepts using icons. It rewards creative thinking and works best when everyone can read and is comfortable with open-ended party play.
Concept
Which version fits your family?
Best for
- Families with young children who are still learning to read
- Groups that prefer cooperative play and shared wins
- Parents looking for a gentle introduction to the Concept system
Not for
- Older groups that want competitive scoring and open-ended clues
- Players who already read fluently and want a broader party challenge
- Tables that prefer varied concepts over a focused animal deck
