Add Some Flair to Holiday Stockings With These Compact Gift Ideas

The days of packing a holiday stocking with nothing but candy are long behind us. Sure, it’s great to get treats, but why not add something with a little more pizzazz? Even as adults, my parents have hung stockings for my siblings and I, our spouses and our children. Each year, we’re surprised by what is inside and it’s always delightful. There have been years with candy and gift cards, but my favorites have been specialty calendars, kitchen gadgets and other thoughtful items. As a gaming family, we recommend games for older kids and adults while using smaller toys for younger recipients. The following starts with a specialty calendar and ends with puzzle with cool things in-between too! See if any of these will check something off your shopping list:

Calendar of Many Adventures 2025

Loke Battle Mats

Planning game night has never been easier or more fun with the Calendar of Adventures 2025! The wall calendar which is also twelve playable RPG battle maps, the calendar features twelve beautiful 12×12″ to scale battle maps, a page per month view calendar and 12 PDF 5E Adventures, written to play on the maps. Also included is a digital copy of the maps for VTT use or print at home.

Tap A Bell’O

Blue Orange Games

Join us in the forest for a mushroom hunt! Players take turns flipping cards on the table. As soon as you spot a pair (number, color or symbol), clap your hands, and tap the Bell’ O! Take fun to new levels by choosing silly actions to replace the clap for the next round. A quick eye and a steady hand is all it takes. When you are out of cards, you’re out of the game!

Jinxx is an abstract strategy game for 2-4 players featuring striking stacking pyramid-shaped pieces in three sizes and four colors–black, white, gray, and clear. In Jinxx, players jockey for position on a 3×3 grid. Pyramid size and a die roll determine your possible moves on each turn. Use your move to capture an opponent’s piece or better position one of your own pieces. If you own the topmost pyramids in any three-space line through the center, you win! But be careful — you can also be eliminated if you lose too many of your pieces!

50th Anniversary Knight

PLAYMOBIL

We’re celebrating a birthday, and you’re invited! PLAYMOBIL turns 50 and this special occasion deserves a grand celebration. Since 1974, PLAYMOBIL figures have been delighting children worldwide, inspiring many imaginative adventures. The exclusive PLAYMOBIL Anniversary Knight on horseback, adorned in golden armor, with a lance and shield, and of course, the iconic PLAYMOBIL smile. Join the party and celebrate 50 years of storytelling with us.

BIZYBOO Holiday Seek ‘N” Find Busy Bags

Vango Toys

Get into the holiday spirit with the all-new BIZYBOO Holiday Seek ‘N’ Find Busy Bags from Vango! These mess-free, portable bags feature three adorable new characters—a cheerful Christmas Tree, Spirited Stocking, and a Sweet Snowman—each holding 30 hidden holiday-themed objects. Perfect for on-the-go fun, these busy bags combine festive cheer with the beloved toddler activity, making them an ideal stocking stuffer!

Sherlock Solitaire

Wise Wizard Games

Take on some of Sherlock Holmes’ most famous mysteries in this smart, quick strategy card game for 1 player (solo) or 2 players (co-op).

With a little luck, you may even be able to thwart the dastardly Professor Moriarty and his agents once and for all! Are you clever enough to survive and solve the case? Contains 55 game cards and a rules sheet.

Kiri-Ai: The Duel

Mugen Gaming

In Kiri-ai: The Duel, each player has a hand of cards that represent movements, attacks, or special attacks on the battlefield. Each round, both players place two cards from their hand face down next to the battlefield, after which they resolve the actions one at a time. Kiri-ai is a fast paced small card game that challenges you to read your opponent and outwit them in just a few turns.

Looney Oracle

Looney Labs

The Looney Oracle is a fortune telling toy that can offer cryptic advice on a topic of your choosing, or can answer any yes/no question. You influence the answer received by choosing among Oracle objects. When asking for advice about your birthday, do you choose the Bicycle, the Universe, or Dinosaurs? One of them advises: “Consider the mistakes you made last time.” Both fun and surprisingly deep, the Oracle is a great take-along to parties and sleepovers. Or keep it on your desk at work to help you make those hard decisions!

STICKI ROLLS: The Sticki Book

Sky Castle Toys

Introducing STICKI ROLLS from Sky Castle Toys! These wearable, shareable sticker bracelets let you peel, tear, and share with friends. This a bracelet kit with a notebook of 50 laminated pages to keep track of your sticker activities and swap with friends to collect all of the stickers! Inspired by Taylor Swift’s friendship bracelet trend, STICKI ROLLS offer holographic, kawaii-themed stickers. The Sticki Book pack includes 12 rolls of stickers with a total of 120 unique designs. Start sticking and sharing right away with this comprehensive collection!

Card Catcher

Level 99 Games

Card Catcher is a fun, fast, family dexterity game from Level 99 Games. You can learn it in just a moment and can play quickly with both kids and adults. Only a little basic math and dexterity are required to play. Use your arm as a crane to drop the coin. Win the prize the coin lands on. Collect the best combination of plushies and capsules to win!

BUY DIRECT FROM LEVEL 99 GAMES!

Marvel 3D Crystal Puzzle

Bepuzzled by University Games

Building a superhero collection. Universes collide when University Games joined forces with Marvel for its BePuzzled Marvel 3D Crystal Puzzles ($16.99 for ages 8+). University Games is pleased to welcome the Marvel Universe to its award-winning line of highly-collectible BePuzzle branded 3D Crystal Puzzles. The Marvel heroes in the first series of puzzles are the franchise’s favorite Iron Man, Spider-Man, Black Panther and Captain America.

Legend of Zelda Hanayama Puzzles

University Games

Legend has it that University Games has challenged the devout legions of Zelda fans with new and different brain teasers, a set of uniquely designed, cast metal Hanayama The Legend of Zelda puzzles. One of the most successful franchises to ever emerge from the video game world partners with University Games and Hanayama for a trio of new Zelda challenges. The initial set are three familiar items and emblems from the storyline: The Master Sword, The Triforce, and The Hyrule Crest ($26.99 each for ages 12+).

It’s always fun to add non-candy items to stockings, but we’ve barely brushed the surface on the many options. Check out our stocking stuffer suggestions from prior years for more ideas if you’re like me and enjoy putting more than one extra thing in the stocking!

What types of items do you enjoy finding in your stocking?

 

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