HT Games
Board Games
Board games have long been a tried and true choice for young boys. Some of the classic game choices for 9-year-old boys include Battleship, Clue, Risk and Othello. While Monopoly is also a possibility, some of the themed versions are more likely to appeal to a 9-year-old. These include Star Wars Monopoly and Pokemon Monopoly. Likewise, Risk has variants based on Lord of the Rings, Star Wars and a future earth. Some newer games that appeal to 9-year-old boys include Kill Doctor Lucky, Settlers of Catan and LEGOS: Minotaurus.
Outdoor Games
It's almost cliche to point out that 9-year-old boys have plenty of energy. Outdoor games are great for their health and help them develop social skills. Playground games such as tag, kick the can and king of the hill are great everyday games for boys. They are also at an age where organized sport games grow in appeal. Boys might enjoy playing soccer, softball, baseball, football, volleyball or backyard basketball.
Card Games
While 9-year-olds aren't ready for poker or most face card games yet, there is a wealth of card games designed for families and children. Some, such as Mag Blast where the rules state that a shot hits only if the person playing the card makes a sound effect, have especial appeal to young boys. Bang is a spaghetti Western card game that boys can enjoy. Other card games that engage young imaginations include Flux, Bohnanza, Apples to Apples Junior and Kung Fu Fighting. It is also at this age that many boys start playing collectible card games such as Pokemon, Magic and Yu-gi-Oh!
Educational Games
Educational games can be a harder sell for 9-year-old boys, but not impossible. A few classic games include Boggle Jr. and Trivial Pursuit Jr. A newer game is spelldown. Electronic games such as Merlin, Simon and TurboTwist combine game-playing and learning. Games that let kids practice math skills include Cribbage and Dominos.
Video Games
For most of today's 9-year-old boys, if you say the word "game" they immediately think flashing lights and buttons. Video games are a favorite of nearly all 9-year-old boys and games that are popular with that set include LEGO games, Super Mario games, Scribblenauts, Pokemon games and other games based on popular television shows.
Dexterity Games
Another genre of games that can appeal to 9-year-old boys are dexterity games. These games involve building, stacking or otherwise calling upon the spatial skills of the players. Some dexterity games that target 9-year-old boys include Jenga, Uno Stacko, Bausack, Bottle Stackers, Bakugan and Speed Stacks.