Looking to stuff your stockings with games this Christmas?
With the festive season in full swing, it’s all too easy to get swept up in the bigger gifts - the shiny new releases, the must-haves and the boxes that barely fit under the tree. We want all of these too, of course, but sometimes the real joy comes from the little surprises: the tiny treasures tucked between the chocolates, the cosy socks, and that slightly squished tangerine that somehow appears every year.
This time around, we wanted to shine a spotlight on the small-but-mighty games - the ones that don’t demand much space, time, or money, but still spark that same thrill of discovery. We’ve rummaged through our own shelves (and yes, quite literally through our Christmas stockings) to pick out the games we’d be absolutely delighted to find hiding there this year.
What makes the perfect stocking filler game?
For us, a great stocking filler has a few simple traits especially when it comes to stocking filler board games. First up: it actually fits inside a stocking. This feels obvious, but unless you’re dealing with a stocking that belongs to a giant, those big-box beauties are definitely tree-present territory.
Secondly, stocking fillers should be kind to your budget. They’re little extras - thoughtful, fun, and affordable without tipping into main gift territory.
And finally, they’re the surprises. The things the recipient hasn’t circled in a catalogue or begged you for, but that you just know they’d enjoy once the wrapping paper’s off and mum’s got the bin bag out - just make sure nobody accidentally throws the games in there.
So, with all that in mind, here are the little gems that we think deserve a spot in any stocking this Christmas.
Sea Salt & Paper
This has been the highlight of our small box games this year and it’s easily one of our favourite small box board games for Christmas. After spotting its fun, nautical-origami themed artwork on a shelf in Waterstones we picked this game up on a whim and haven’t looked back. Sea Salt & Paper is a regular at our game nights and is usually our go to for getting new gamers to join the hobby.
A game with zero set up time and endless replayability, Sea Salt & Paper is a fun, strategy-based set collection game that lasts roughly 30 minutes but contains hours of fun. For a game that features a small deck at only 64 cards, Sea Salt & Paper really packs a punch. It may take a second for new players to learn the different abilities (e.g a shark and a swimmer lets you steal from another player’s hand) but once you’ve got those down, you’ll be stealing cards and chasing mermaids in no time.
This is a game that has you thinking five steps ahead and watching your opponents carefully. Sea Salt & Paper will have you shuffling the deck and playing again and again and we think its £10 price tag feels like an absolute steal.
Sea Salt & Paper was actually our first ever review on this blog, check it out here!
Small, quick to play, and packed with charm - a game that slips into a stocking and delivers hours of nautical fun.
Tinderblox
This campfire in a tin is a roaring good time. It’s one of those brilliant portable board games that works for almost anyone. Jess’ love of the classic games from her childhood had Rob putting together a list of newer games that scratch that same itch and this was his answer to Jenga.
And if you’re curious what Rob picked as the modern cousins to Monopoly and Cluedo? Check out the full list here!
In Tinderblox players are challenged to build a campfire together using different blocks, the twist? You have to use tweezers. A deck of cards tells you which pieces you have to add to your fire, a single log, or a log with a flame cube perhaps - and whether or not you get to use your good hand!
This fun dexterity-based game has no set up, simply tip it out of the tin and go - also the tin? Perfection. We love games that come in tins here at The Club so extra points for that. Tinderblox is full of tension and laughter and can be purchased for around £12. With a playtime of anywhere from five to fifteen minutes - depending on your tweezer skills! - Tinderblox is the perfect game for seasoned and non-gamers alike. Wonderfully adaptable, it's a super fun game for the whole family.
Now we just want Alley Cat Games to make a Jenga sized version.
The Days Series
Every time we go to a convention, Farplace Games tend to be there, and we will inevitably buy another of the Days games.
The Days Series of card games are wonderfully versatile as there are many themes to choose from. We - at the behest of our beloved pooch - own the Woof Days version but they also have cat, dinosaur, pirate, dungeon, space and cosy versions. They’re exactly the kind of affordable stocking filler games we love to recommend. Every version features wonderful illustrations that we absolutely adore. We especially love the dogs on the Woof Days Cards.
All the Days games are extremely simple to learn, but definitely have a strategic edge to them. You will be trying to fill up a week with dogs, cats or whatever your deck is themed as, but along the way you will steal cards and maneuver your selection to score as many points as possible.
Published by Farplace Animal Rescue, the player count of this game is limited only by the amount of copies you own. One copy enables a two player game, two copies enables up to four players etc.
Buying multiple decks might sound expensive, but if you purchase directly from Farplace Games, each individual game is only £5 making them one of the best budget board game gifts we’ve found. And the best part is every game they sell goes towards funding Farplace Animal Rescue. So you get a great game, and animals get help, what could be better.
This game fits perfectly into our stocking filler criteria: Affordable, heartwarming, and flexible - a little deck that brings joy and supports our furry friends.
The Mind
We have talked about The Mind so much recently, if you listen to our podcast we could apologise for going over it again, but we won't because this game is brilliant.
The Mind is a tiny card game with a big personality. Consisting of a deck of cards numbered 1-100, and the premise is really simple. As a group lay down the cards you have been dealt in order from lowest to highest, it's all about teamwork - but the catch is: you have to do it all without talking. You have to be able to read the other players around the table, send and receive subtle hints about who should go next. It’s such a clever idea, and it makes The Mind one of our go-to quick board games for families on Christmas Day.
We have definitely not mastered playing in complete silence just yet, and we all find it so hard not to gesture and give things away, but this game is always a blast no matter what. We often bring out The Mind to close out our game nights, and sometimes our D&D sessions, and it never fails to get us all laughing.
Perfect for slipping into a stocking (and maybe avoiding a little post-Christmas family squabble), this game is all about reading subtle tells, timing your moves, and quietly cheering (or groaning) together.
It is probably the perfect stocking filler as not only is it a small box, not only is it only around £10, it's so easy to learn how to play that you could easily find yourself on Christmas evening getting the family at the table for a few rounds.
Compact, clever, and full of suspense - it ticks all the boxes for a brilliant stocking filler board game. The Mind is a sneaky little game that keeps everyone laughing without saying a word. Nobody would regret adding it to their collection.
Sushi Go
When Rob was getting into board games, Sushi Go was one of the first games to join the collection, and it's still a staple 10 years down the line. It’s still one of the best beginner-friendly card games we recommend today.
This is another brilliant little tin game, but where Tinderblox is all about dexterity, Sushi Go is a fast paced card drafting game. You will get dealt a hand of cards, choose one of them to keep, and pass the rest on, until all the cards have been chosen. The aim is to create sets of adorable sushi, and score the most points over 4 rounds.
The artwork is brilliant in Sushi Go, and it really brings the game to life. It would still work with images of sushi, but giving the sushi pieces personality just makes the game better. You really want to find a partner for your tempura, and not just because you won't score points otherwise.
There isn't too much going on in Sushi Go but you really have to pay attention to what everyone else is doing. Do you want to stop another player collecting the last of a set? Or do you want to add to your own score? Every turn and every choice really matters.
The rules are easy to pick up, the artwork is delightful, and at around £10, it’s a small package that packs a lot of fun. Sushi Go is one of those games that sparks laughter and a tiny bit of friendly sabotage - and honestly, isn’t that exactly what Christmas is about?
Fast, adorable, and delightfully strategic - a small box board game that sparks instant festive fun.
And there you have it - a handful of small, clever, and downright delightful games that are just waiting to hide in a stocking this Christmas. They’re exactly the kind of stocking filler board games we find ourselves reaching for year after year. Whether you’re after a quick laugh, a bit of strategy, or a game that brings the whole family together, these picks are little packages of fun that don’t take up much space but deliver plenty of joy.
If any of these caught your eye, why not slip one under the tree or into a stocking as a budget-friendly board game gift? And if you’re after even more festive game inspiration, check out our blog, peek at our Instagram for cosy stocking-stuffer ideas, or tune into the latest episode of our podcast where we chat about these games and more. Here’s to a season full of laughter, games, and a little magic in every stocking.
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