2018 Geek Gaming Gift Guide: Part II – Stocking Stuffers

LRM Online is pleased to offer Part II of our Geek Gaming Gift Guide below, which focuses on great stocking stuffer games, many of which were featured at 2018 PAX Unplugged, an annual tabletop convention in Philadelphia. Click here to read Part I, which focused on some bigger titles suitable for gamers of all types.

If you are interested in purchasing any of the games, each title is linked to an appropriate online shop for quick access. Games are featured in alphabetical order. Enjoy!

Decrypto by IELLO

Price: ~$20.00
Players:
3 to 8
Playtime:
20 to 30 minutes
Perfect for:
Players who love to play games at parties in groups where deduction and guessing are the core mechanic (and those who enjoyed Codenames, but are looking for something similar, but new)

In Decrypto two teams square off to try to decipher messages, both their own and their opponents’. The encryptor has four words he needs his team to guess. The actual codewords aren’t what is important, but rather the order, as each codeword has a number associated with it (1 to 4), and the goal is to guess the sequence (i.e. 1, 3, 2) using the clues provided. However, the opposite team must pay attention as they have the opportunity to intercept the code, and also score points. Rounds proceed with a bit of a stacking mechanic, where clues from older rounds can be used to decipher future codes, giving Decrypto some longevity. This is a great little party game that can include lots of people quickly for as long as they want to play.

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Ghostbusters: The Card Game by Renegade Game Studios

Price: ~$15.00
Players:
2 to 5
Playtime:
20 to 30 minutes
Perfect for:
Ghostbusters fans; people who enjoy quick-to-learn-and-play card games

In Ghostbusters: The Card Game you are a buster of ghosts, manipulating your cards to snag as many as ghouls as possible. Certain ghost cards and sets of cards are worth more points, so calculating which spirits to target is part of the strategy. The core mechanic is the movement of the Ghost Trap card, which can be positioned by playing Ghostbuster cards from your hand. Where the trap lands determines the card the player receives. For example, a player might play a Ray Stantz card, which moves the trap to the right two spaces, and then they capture a ghost worth five points. The artwork is really fun (inspired by the comics) and because Ghostbusters: The Card Game is relatively simple, it’s a great gift for the GB fan in your house.

Fortune by Stronghold Games

Price: ~$20.00
Players:
3 to 5
Playtime:
15 minutes
Perfect for:
Players who enjoy the mystery of a game unfolding as the play, along with light competitive strategy that evolves.

Fortune has no rule book! Perhaps in one of the cleverest designs I’ve seen, players take the deck of cards for the Fortune game out of the box and literally learn as they play. The reveal of the mechanics is part of the fun, so I won’t spoil too much for you here, but I can say that it’s a highly engaging card-based game of strategy that becomes more complex the more you play. The rules start off simple, but then expand to allow players to engage competitively in new and unique ways. This is an excellent stocking stuffer because the whole family can dive right into the gameplay within minutes and have a great time.

Little Monster That Came for Lunch and Stayed for Tea by Strawberry Studio

Price: ~$15.00
Players:
2 to 4
Playtime:
20 minutes
Perfect for:
All ages, especially gamers who want something light to play quickly, and enjoy colorful artwork

In Little Monster That Came for Lunch and Stayed for Tea, players are racing to feed their monsters the fastest in order to move them around a dining room table towards a finish line. Each player has two monsters to control, which each have a unique ability related to movement or action. In addition, players strategically play food cards they have drafted, often in combination, to satiate their monsters’ appetites (making them move) as well impact the overall flow of the game. With a simple mechanic and fun art, Little Monster That Came for Lunch and Stayed for Tea is a cute little game that players of nearly all ages can pick up and enjoy within a few minutes of opening the box.

Ninjitsu by Jellybean

Price: ~$15.00
Players:
2 to 5
Playtime:
10 minutes
Perfect for: 
Families who enjoy a little bluffing and friendly competition in a super-fast, easy, and delightful card game.

In Ninjitsu, players are trying to score 21 points as fast possible by collecting cards with different values. On a turn, a player can draft two new cards, play a card for points, play a card as a secret (face down), steal another players’ secret card, or play a card to use its action. Secret cards might be high-value points that can be scored during the endgame, or they might be sabotaged for would-be thieves. What make Ninjitsu so fun is that it is incredibly simple to learn, but the variety of actions and strategies makes each game exciting. It also benefits from really fast gameplay and playful artwork. For its price, Ninjitsu has a great deal of value for players of all ages.

Scuttle by Jellybean Games

Price: ~$20.00
Players:
1 to 5
Playtime:
5 minutes
Perfect for: 
All ages (down to 5 or 6!) who like card games that combine speed, luck, and taking actions strategically

In Scuttle, players start with four cards and then either draw a card or play a card. Playing a card has two options: a) you use the numerical value to add to your total point value, or b) you use the action on the card to help yourself or disrupt your opponent(s). Some actions are temporary and instant, while others have an effect that lasts the whole game. The first person to 21 points wins! Scuttle is a great addition to a stocking because of its simplicity and portability. This is the kind of game you can get a few rounds in of before taking a kid to school in the morning, or bring it to your local pub to play while waiting on the next order of drinks. Simple concept + good execution makes this game a win.

The Tea Dragon Society Card Game by Renegade Game Studios

Price: ~$20.00
Players:
2 to 4
Playtime:
30 to 60 minutes
Perfect for: 
Gamers who appreciate strategic deck-building games who like their gameplay slightly more complex with planning components

In The Tea Dragon Society Card Game, players begin with a starting deck of cards (slightly asymmetrical). The first option on a turn is to play a card. A played card typically has a value which can be combined with other cards for purchase power, and it might have an effect such as draw again or discard. The second option for a player is to purchase a card that is available in the market. These cards typically enhance the power of the player’s deck and contribute victory points. After four seasons, each of which have multiple rounds, points are counted, and a winner declared. The Tea Dragon Society Card Game, based off of the graphic novel of the same name, features stunning artwork on its cards. In addition, the mechanic is easy enough for new players to pick up thanks to two sets of rules included in the box, but also offers enough complexity to satisfy more seasoned gamers.

If you have any questions about any of the games featured in this article, please post them in the comments below!

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