Small World is that rare family game where nobody's secretly bored. The combination system is genius—pairing random fantasy races with random powers means every round feels like a puzzle to solve. Yes, you're conquering each other's territories, but it's so whimsical (Heroic Rats! Underworld Elves!) that it never feels aggressive.
The 'decline' mechanic is secretly brilliant parenting. Kids learn that sometimes you need to let go of what's working to try something new, and the game rewards that flexibility. Hidden scoring keeps everyone engaged until the end—no obvious runaway winners.
Complexity-wise, it sits in the Goldilocks zone: meaty enough that adults aren't patronized, but visual and intuitive enough that elementary schoolers can compete. First game will take 90 minutes with rule-checking; after that, you're looking at a tight hour. The 74,000 BGG ratings and 7.2 score tell the story—this is a modern classic that deserves its shelf space.