We are a huge board game family and love playing them! A lot of them, however, are quite big. But, plenty of them are small and can fit easily in a stocking! This is my list of some of our favorite games that would fit in a stocking. Some of them might be a stretch, but then it all depends on just how big your stocking is!
Note: This post contains affiliate links, I am an Amazon affiliate and these links will give me a small amount of payment if you use them without any extra cost to you. I provided links to Amazon for your convenience and because I know not everyone has a Friendly Local Game Store (FLGS as seen on the internet), but where you can, your FLGS would be happy to help you find these games!
Blink is a fast paced game that requires matching shape, color, or number. While it seems simple, the fast paced nature of it can make it really competitive. Because it’s fast paced, games can go really quickly, so it can be a nice time filler. It also has no reading components to it so it can be played by children who are quite young.
Catan Dice Game is a smaller and scaled down version of the regular Catan game (which would definitely not fit in a stocking). Not only is it smaller, it’s also quicker. With two different kinds of gameplay, it’s likely got the right challenge level for the group you are looking at. You do not need to have the original Catan or even to ever have played it to find the Catan dice game fun. But it would make a good stocking stuffer for someone who does really enjoy the original Catan. Also, the original Catan needs 3 players minimum and can’t play more than 4, but Catan dice can be played easily with 2 players or with 5 or more. Your choices in Catan dice game have less of an effect on other players than they do in the original.
Chrononauts is a game from Looney Labs, a game publisher that I have loved since I was in high school. Chrononauts is definitely a game for older kids or adults and centers around time travel. You are trying to change the timeline in the ways that your secret mission tells you too. This game has a solo player mode if you are looking for something the recipient can play alone, but it can also be played with up to six people. There is also an Early American History version and a Star Trek version as well.
Cranium Zigity takes the fun of original Cranium and puts it into a faster, more portable game. With four different categories and cool plastic cards, it’s sure to please! This may come in a bigger package that doesn’t fit in a stocking, but if you remove the extra packaging and get it just down to the tin, that will fit in a stocking no problem.
Fluxx is one of those games that’s simple to learn in the start, but can quickly get more complex. That’s because changing the rules is literally part of the gameplay! But to start, it’s very basic, you just draw one and play one. How you win and how you play change as you go along and it’s so much fun! There are also many more versions than I could link here – so there’s sure to be one that appeals to someone’s specific interest. (My own family has the original and The Monty Python version – though when I was in high school I played a lot of the Zombie version!) This game is reading heavy so is best for older kids and adults.
Iota may come in a super tiny tin and have pint size cards, but the space it can take up when you’re playing is quite large! This game relies on pattern recognition and would be good for fans of Qwirkle.
My kids really enjoy playing Monopoly, but me? Not so much. Don’t get me wrong, I used to enjoy playing Monopoly. But now it’s like pulling teeth. But Monopoly Deal is a much shorter and, in my opinion, a much more fun version of Monopoly. It would fit great in a stocking.
Nanofictionary is a great story telling game. Another winner from Looney Labs (I told you I liked those guys!). If you’re familiar with Rory’s Story Cubes (another great stocking stuffer game!) then you will like Nanofictionary. Games like this really encourage and bring out creativity.
If you are looking for an educational game to give your younger kids, Pop for Letters will have them working on their literacy skills in a fun way. You will need a kind of big stocking to fit this one in, but you could definitely slide it in. There are also other versions, like sight words and blends, depending on what skill your child is ready to work on.
Skip-Bo is a classic. I played it when I was growing up and now I enjoy playing it with my own kids. This game is perfect for fans of Uno!
What games will be in your stockings this Christmas? I hope this has given you some good ideas!
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