We share a lot of different types of games both on the site and offline. When we go to game meetups, we try make new people feel welcome by inviting them to join us for games. Of the multitude of times we’ve done this, I have noticed one commonality: new players are more likely to say ‘Yes” to a card or dice game than a board game. There’s something about the tactile nature of cards and dice that makes them feel familiar and therefore, the game not be so intimidating. Each year, we craft holiday gift guides that include a variety of subjects such as family games or party games which often target people used to playing those types of games. Compiling a list of card and dice games is a way for us to help our readers find the perfect gift for someone on their shopping list because even if someone isn’t a gamer, chances are they’ll appreciate these types of games as gifts!

As you go through this list, you can easily learn more about a game by reading the description included next to it. You should make note that listings with our  logo have even more information readily available! Click on that symbol next to the brand’s name and it will take you directly to an overview article for that game. Not only do we walk you through how to play, but we also provide several pictures to give you a better feel for it. Think about the various people on your shopping list and hopefully you’ll be able to find something for many of them!

Hip Town

Endless Games

It’ll take style, street smarts, and a sense of humor to make it here and beat your fellow developers for the trendiest neighborhood in Hip Town. With over 100 unique businesses and a wide variety of game-changing “reality” cards, you’ll never play the same game twice.

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner

25th Century Games

Roll the dice, steal the chickens, avoid the dog, and cook up some tasty dinner in Winner Winner Chicken Dinner. All of this, while you try to outfox your closest fox friends as you race to see who will end up with the most cooked dinners and chickens in your bag.

A fun family game of dice chucking & chicken clucking.

Random Fun Generator

Steve Jackson Games

The Random Fun Generator . . . 21 Dice Games That Are . . . A Little Different! Fast-playing dice games for groups of all sizes, ages, and gaming experience. All you’ll need to add is paper and a pencil for keeping score. Grab some friends, pick a page, and get rolling!

The Crew: Mission Deep Sea

Kosmos

In this highly-anticipated followup to the original cooperative card game — winner of the 2020 Kennerspiel des Jahres — players work together to search for the lost continent of Mu. This new adventure takes your crew deep down into the abyss on a search for the fabled sunken land. How far you get depends entirely on how well you work together as a team. Card by card, trick by trick, your search party will discover the challenges that lie ahead and forge a path to Mu. This new version of The Crew has the same innovative cooperative trick-taking mechanic as the highly lauded original game — but with some exciting new surprises!

Machi Koro 2

Pandasaurus Games

In Machi Koro 2, veteran players will notice some big changes. Under the new zoning laws, players receive a limited budget to choose their own starting establishments. The available cards are pulled from three decks and arranged for all to see. It’s a race to grab the coolest new establishments and landmarks in the land!

Floriferous

Pencil First Games

Your garden awaits! Spend the afternoon in your floriferous garden. Pour a cup of tea, relax, and enjoy this elegant game of picking, pairing, and arranging flowers. Take a leisurely stroll through a collection of gorgeous watercolor artwork. Find joy in the abundance of nature with flowers like daisies and tulips, along with friendly ladybugs, butterflies, and more!

Lost Cities: Roll & Write

Kosmos 

Begin your expedition on one of six colored paths by rolling the smallest possible numbers on the dice. Each turn, decide whether to continue an expedition or start a new one. Acceleration fields and artifacts provide opportunities to advance quickly, but you’ll have to carefully consider which paths to take on which roll. If you make good progress, victory beckons — but if an expedition gets stuck, you will lose points just as quickly as you earned them! The small and portable format makes this the perfect Lost Cities game for on-the-go fun.

Mass Transit

Calliope Games

It’s quittin’ time in the Big City, and rush hour is about to begin! Your team will work together to play cards, build transit routes, and run vehicles out to the Suburbs. If you work like a well-oiled machine in getting everyone home, you will ALL succeed at Mass Transit™! Plays 1-6 players in about 20 minutes for ages 8+.

BUY DIRECT FROM CALLIOPE GAMES!

Cubitos

Alderac Entertainment Group

Players take on the role of participants in the annual Cube Cup; a race of strategy and luck to determine the Cubitos Champion. Each player has a runner on the racetrack and a support team, represented by all the dice you roll. Each turn you roll dice and use their results to move along the racetrack, buy new dice, and use abilities. But you must be careful not to push your luck rolling too much or you could bust!

Star Realms Box Set

Wise Wizard Games 

This Star Realms Box Set includes all of the cards from the Star Realms Core Set and Gambit Set, plus a game board and two additional starting decks, providing awesome gameplay for 2-4 players. And the Nemesis Beast and the Pirates of the Dark Star challenge cards provide additional solo and cooperative play options! Each box is a complete 4-player game containing rules and 162 cards.

PREORDER FROM WISE WIZARD GAMES!

Dice Flick

Pegasus Spiele

Well-flicked is half won in Dice Flick! With a self-contained game arena, all you need to start playing is the box. Use strategy and dexterity to flick your dice and score the most points. Even if the dice don’t fly in your favor, the quick gameplay allows plenty of time for a rematch. Flick your way to victory!

2Can

AMIGO Games 

In 2CAN, players must trade their cards wisely to end up with the lowest score, even if they don’t know the values of the cards they’re trading. And just like the name of the game, “2 can” help—two matching cards in a column cancel each other out. It’s simple to learn and play, but has layers of strategy . . . and a little bit of luck!

BUY DIRECT FROM AMIGO GAMES!

Dinosaur Island: Rawr ‘n Write

Pandasaurus Games

In Dinosaur Island: Rawr ‘n Write, your goal is to build the best dang dinosaur theme park you can! You do this by collecting DNA to make Dinosaurs, hiring Specialists to use their unique abilities, and building Attractions and special Buildings to enhance your visitor experience.

7 Summits

Deep Water Games

Grab your gear! In 7 Summits, you’re playing as a world class mountain climbing team. Use the dice to climb the seven tallest peaks on the seven continents, upgrade your equipment, and advance your skills. Will you be the first to climb them all, or does the weather have other plans in mind?

BUY DIRECT FROM DEEP WATER GAMES!

Power Failure

Genius Games / Artana

Crank up the voltage in Power Failure, an electrifying card game in which you race to build the most productive grid. Up to four players compete to meet rising demand by acquiring resources, building power plants, and activating them to generate energy. Power production is inherently volatile, though, as rash individuals risk environmental catastrophes that set everyone back. The player who provides the bustling city with the most megawatts wins!

Cuphead Fast Rolling Dice Game

The OP

From the popular Cuphead video game, comes an all-new fast action, original cooperative dice game where players must roll dice to defeat iconic bosses. Featuring the classic hand-drawn 1930’s art style, this card and dice game emulates the side-scrolling, run-and-gun excitement from the video game. Work together to be quick and nimble to avoid the attacks and defeat the bosses to win. Includes custom art, 8 Boss Decks, custom dice and more!

Dice Throne Rerolled

Roxley Games

Often described to new players as “Yahtzee meets Magic: The Gathering”, Dice Throne is a fast and strategic game of card play and dice manipulation for 2-6 Players. Its variety, set up time, playtime, and addictive nature make it one of the easiest games in existence to get to the table. Dice Throne will be the workhorse of your game collection.

By now, we hope you’ve had a chance to enter some of the giveaways we have been running in conjunction with our gift guides. We’ll be offering many more between now and the end of the year, including several that can be found on this very list! If you see something that is of interest to you then grab a copy for a friend (or yourself). But remember to keep an eye on our giveaways, too!