The Best Stocking Stuffer Games for Kids
You may have already discovered our list of the best Christmas board games for families, a list which has some really festive family favorites on it. But I’ve long wanted to do a companion piece for it, specifically about games that you can easily slip inside a stocking, and now we’re ready to deliver the goods with a brand new top 10 list.
Discover the best family board games and card games that fit perfectly inside a stocking for Christmas. The best stocking stuffer games for kids is a list of our favorite small-boxed games. #christmasgiftideas #christmasforkids #familychristmas #kidsgames #familygames #christmasgames #stockingstuffers #boardgamesforkids #familygamenight #dadsuggests
We aren’t ranking these games that come in small packages though. We decided that we feel equally about so many of these games, and that they could all serve as the perfect stocking stuffer for different kids. It all depends really. Do they like slapping card games? Do they love the movie A Christmas Story? Do they like using their imagination? This is truly one of those times that you’re best bet is to read through all of our family’s favorite options and decide what might work out best for you.
But, even though they aren’t ranked from top to bottom, just making the list means a lot. We selected these games in 2 ways. First, we thought of our favorite games that came in bite-sized boxes of all time - regardless of whether or not they have a Christmas theme. Good games are good games, and it’s fun to slip them into a stocking.
Secondly, we thought about small games that have a Christmas theme. Obviously they make for a great Christmas gift as well, and it made me reflect on Christmas stocking gifts in general. Either it’s something great, or it’s something Christmas! Isn’t that the truth of it? But lucky for you, even the Christmas-themed games are great in this case.
So whether you’re just looking for a great new small family game to slip into a stocking, or whether you want something with a Christmas theme to it, we have you covered either way. And every single one of these games is great for kids 8 and younger, with nothing more complicated than that. These are all kids games the whole family can enjoy, and, honestly, most of them can be played independently by our 5-year-old as well.
Christmas is a wonderful time to play games together, and I’ve always thought they make a good stocking stuffer. I might be biased as a board game fan, but I always think they look nice poking right out of the top. These games on this list have provided us some of our favorite family game memories, both playing with our kids throughout the year and playing with family like the grandparents on Christmas. So I’m very pleased to recommend them to you now.
And now I hope this list proves very useful for many of you on your hunt for those elusive tiny boxes. I know it can be a hassle finding something that fits in those stockings, and I always hope lists like these help inspire a family game night and perhaps some new family holiday memories.
Disclosure: Some of the links in the following articles are affiliate links. Clicking on those links will lead you to view the games’ listings on Amazon.com.
Story Cubes
Designed by Rory O’Connor and Published by Zygomatic
Story Cubes are so much more than a game. These simple sets of dice are imagination incarnate. They are tools that can be used in so many ways - from the literacy classroom to family game night. And we have long been enormous fans of the product.
I also love how many options there are to choose from - including branded options like Batman, Adventure Time, and Scooby Doo. You could fill an entire bucket of different Story Cubes, and, as you can see, the possibilities for story telling quickly become literally limitless.
Simply roll the dice and tell a story connecting the images you get. You can do so cooperatively, or take turns telling entire stories. I can’t stress enough how wonderful this activity is, and I’ll never get tired of telling my kids stories - but even more special is listening to the stories they tell in return.
Spot It!
Designed by Denis Blanchot, Jacques Cottereau, Guillaume Gille-Naves, & Igor Polouchine and Published by Zygomatic
We discovered Spot It! in the game closet of a rental house many years ago, and it’s been a family favorite ever since. Our son was probably 3 or 4 years old at the time, and he’s been a loyal fan from that day on. He still considers it one of his very favorite games almost 6 years later. While he’s outgrown so many things in life, Spot It! is still very much beloved, and I think that’s pretty special.
It’s also a very easy game to explain, and there are more ways than one to play. Basically there are cards that have lots of images on them, and you’re searching for matching images. Perhaps you’re looking for 3 cards that have the same image on them somewhere. When you find a set, you shout out what you see and scoop up the cards, it’s a fast-paced game and the kids are great at it. It’s one of those games that they can definitely beat me up in.
It’s also one of those games, much like Story Cubes, that have many different versions out there. There are lots of different themes to enjoy, and that definitely helps add to the longevity and helps keep our kids interested in the game for so many years. And, believe it or not, there’s even a holiday version. Although you’ll most certainly enjoy any of the options available as well.
Frosty the Snowman: Follow the Leader
Designed and Published by Funko Games
Speaking from my role as a dad, this might be my favorite game on the whole list. And that, in no small part, is because it’s a cooperative game and it’s suitable for the youngest age range as well - recommended for ages 4+. What that means is the whole family can really work together and get involved, and it’s enjoyable enough to get big brother involved in the action too.
The goal is simple, get the kids lined up in the right order behind Frosty to match the different goal cards in the game. In order to do so, you have to swap kids using the cards in your hands, or work together with your teammates to swap the position of two kids, as long as you each have one of the kids’ cards. The art is great, the design is great, and did I mention it’s cooperative! This is truly a great holiday game for little ones.
Gremlins: Holiday Havoc Card Game
Designed and Published by Funko Games
Gremlins is one of my very favorite movies of all time, and one of the many movies I can’t wait to share with my kids. Honestly, I’m thinking that next year might be the year for my son, but I’m not sure yet, because the movie includes a real honest-to-goodness Christmas-ruining scene talking about Santa Claus.
With all that said, as a big fan of the movie, I also wish this card game somehow had more to do with the movie. At least that was my initial impression. But, having played the game, I have to admit that it’s a pretty fun slapping game, even if it doesn’t include much for fans of the film. As far as slapping games go (like Slamwich for example), this is now one of our favorites.
There are actually several piles to keep track of, and this game really shines more the more players you play with. It’s fun and chaotic to watch all of the piles, trying to slap a pile when a match appears. Our kids have always been fans of slapping games, and I also very much enjoy the Gremlins art on the cards.
Christmas Story: A MAJOR Card Game
Designed and Published by Funko Games
Christmas Story is one of the many Funko card games on this list, and it definitely helps if you are a fan of the movie. This one is a memory game of sorts, where you are trying to find the BB gun and the secret decoder ring before everyone else, and remembering where they are, all while making sure you don’t have any bullies like Farkus in front of you.
The game involves peeking at presents, which include tributes to the movie like the bunny costume, but we all know Ralphie only really wants 2 things - the BB gun and the decoder ring. Figure out where those 2 presents are hiding on the board and you win. Along the way you get to dare and even triple-dog-dare your opponents to swap cards with you. And, believe it or not, there’s a leg lamp piece included that will really confuse your kids if they’ve never seen the movie.
Elf: Snowball Showdown
Designed and Published by Funko Games
Out of all the bite-sized Christmas Funko card games on this list, Snowball Showdown is the one that appealed to our kids the most, and it made for the most fun and memorable game with their grandparents as well. They really love the theme of having a snowball fight, and the design is fun to play and easy to explain.
Basically, if you get hit with 3 snowballs you’re out of the game. On your turn you throw snowballs, and the defender has to try to dodge or block them (or maybe send it flying back at you). It’s easy enough to play and understand for our 5-year-old, and fun enough for the parents and grandparents to have a great time as well. And, let’s be serious, who doesn’t love Elf?
12 Days
Designed by James Ernest & Mike Selinker and Published by Calliope Games
I’m crazy about the design of 12 Days. I think this is a spectacular game, and that’s why we also put it on our list of the best Christmas games. The design is so elegant and the gameplay is so interesting and strategic. It’s a beautiful game and always so fun to play.
Fittingly, the game takes place over 12 rounds of trick-taking. Whoever plays the lowest card on the day wins the card, and each subsequent day is worth more points. So you are trying to simultaneously win points while also saving your best cards for later. But, if you ever play the same number as someone else, you cancel each other out, and the next lowest card wins.
You also are trying to collect sets of cards, because there are bonus points at the end of the game for whoever has the biggest set of each number. So there are multiple strategies going on at the same time, and it’s endlessly interesting to me. But, importantly, it’s quick to explain and surprisingly quick to play as well. Really a perfect Christmas game!
Llama Drama: Holiday Edition
Designed and Published by Yashar Brothers
Llama Drama is a card game we’ve had for years, and our kids adore it. It’s kind of wacky and nonsensical, but since when did kids care about that? The important thing is that they love it, and could learn it from a very young age. Plus us parents enjoy playing with them, AND there’s a holiday version! Perfect for a stocking!
This is a card game where the first player to get rid of all their cards wins. On each turn you must match or beat the top card on the play pile. There are also special llama cards - probably the kids favorite part because of the llama art - which allow for things like playing them on top of any card, or forcing your opponent to play a special card. And soon your kids will be laughing about all of the different silly types of llamas in no time.
Sleeping Queens
Designed by Mirana Evarts and Published by Gamewright
Sleeping Queens from Gamewright has basically reached legendary status at this point. In my experience talking about games with other families, this is by far the most common game we’ve come across. So many people have played this game with their kids, and the feedback is crystal clear: it’s a family favorite. No argument here, because it’s been a favorite in our house for many years as well.
Who knows how Gamewright does it, but they’ve built a catalog of family games that are easy to explain, quirky, and fun for kids and adults alike. And Sleeping Queens is one of the best. The art is clearly a highlight - with cards like the Chess King and the Dog and Cat Queens and many, many more. Be the first to collect enough queens or points and you’re the winner, but watch out for thieves trying to snatch your queens away!
The Nightmare Before Christmas: Making Christmas Card Game
Designed and Published by Funko Games
One of the newest games from Funko’s impressive line of stocking stuffer family games is Making Christmas. The gameplay is kind of similar to Frosty the Snowman, because you are swapping the place of cards in order to reach goals. But in this case it’s a competitive game, and the goal you’re trying to achieve is constructing creepy toys.
On your turn all you have to do is swap the position of two toy parts in the workshop, or perhaps swap one with a card in your hand, in order to build one of the three toys on the goal cards in play. Games like this are great for working on spatial reasoning and puzzle solving with kids, while simultaneously being a pretty fair and fun battle with family members of all ages. Plus, it obviously has a spectacular theme. Isn’t The Nightmare Before Christmas just the best?
For more Christmas game ideas, make sure to check out our list of the best Christmas board games for families!
Do you have any other favorite stocking stuffer games? Let us know in the comments! And Happy Holidays to you and yours!
