Some of the best games come in the smallest boxes. A deck of cards or a handful of dice can deliver as much fun as a big board game, and they fit in a stocking, a bag or a suitcase.
Every game here won or was shortlisted for a major prize, and all of them are card or dice games in a small box.
Designed by Thomas Sing
2–520′10+Great for card players who like a challenge
A cooperative trick-taking game across 50 space missions in a small box. It won the Kennerspiel des Jahres and the Deutscher Spiele Preis.
2021 As d'Or Expert Grand Prix winner
Designed by Wolfgang Warsch
2–415′8+Great for a quick wow moment
Players play numbered cards in rising order without talking. It sounds impossible and feels like magic when it works. It won the As d'Or.
2019 As d'Or Game of the Year winner
Designed by Antoine Bauza and Albertine Ralenti
2–525′8+Great for couples and families
Players hold their cards facing out and give careful clues to build a fireworks show together. A Spiel des Jahres winner in a tiny box.
2013 Spiel des Jahres (Game of the Year) winner
Designed by Wolfgang Kramer
2–1045′8+Great for big families
Everyone plays a card at once, and whoever has to take a full row collects bull heads. Funny and chaotic, for up to ten players. It won the Deutscher Spiele Preis.
1996 Mensa Select
Designed by Kaya Miyano
3–615′7+Great for a family that loves quick games
Find matching sets of three numbers among the cards in the middle and in other players' hands. A quick memory game that won the As d'Or.
2024 As d'Or Game of the Year winner
Designed by Yohan Goh, Hope S. Hwang and Gary Kim
2–615′7+Great for fans of classic card games
A climbing card game: play more cards or higher cards than the last player and empty your hand first. It won the As d'Or.
2025 As d'Or Game of the Year winner
Designed by Kei Kajino
2–520′9+Great for clever card players
A card game where you can't rearrange your hand, which makes every play a puzzle. Shortlisted for the Spiel des Jahres.
2022 Spiel des Jahres (Game of the Year) nominee
Designed by Steffan Benndorf
2–515′8+Great for a dice-game lover
Roll dice and cross off numbers in four coloured rows. A fast dice game for everyone, shortlisted for the Spiel des Jahres.
2014 Mensa Select
Designed by Hervé Marly
3–630′10+Great for friends who like to bluff
Play flowers and skulls on coasters, bid how many flowers you can reveal, and don't hit a skull. A minimalist bluffing game that won the As d'Or.
2011 As d'Or Game of the Year winner
Designed by Seiji Kanai
2–420′10+Great for a pocket-size gift
Deliver a letter to the princess with a 16-card deck, deducing who holds which card. A tiny, clever deduction game.
2014 Deutscher Spiele Preis, 4th place
The Crew, Hanabi and The Mind are award winners in small boxes. For bigger groups, 6 nimmt!.
Card and dice games in small boxes, like Qwixx, Love Letter, Trio and Skull and Roses.
6 nimmt! and Trio are easy for children from about 7 or 8 and still fun for adults.
