Small, super fun games in handy sized packs that you will want to bring on your next camping trip, staycation or even to the pub.
Iota
First up is Iota - probably the smallest game in our shop (only 2 inches tall!!). This great game in the teeny-weeny tin will remind you of games like Qwirkle or Set. The rules are simple. Add cards to the grid, making sure that colour, shape, and number are either all the same or all different across the line. This sounds easy enough but as the grid expands, so do the possibilities. For example a line can consist of all green cards or all of the cards have to be different colors. All of the cards can be a circle or they all have to be a different shape. All of the cards can be a two or all of the cards have to be a different number. No card may be played that breaks this rule. Recommended for age 8 to adul. 2 to 4 player game.
Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza
Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza - keep these 5 crazy words in mind. As soon as there is a match between a card and a spoken word, race against each other to slap your hand on the central pile of cards. The last one to do so must take them all. Be quick to be the first to get rid of all your cards. This wacky, frantic game of snap is so fun and will keep you on your toes. The special wild cards really make me laugh...draw one these (the groundhog, gorilla or narwhal cards) and race to either slap your hands on the table, beat your fists on your chest or slap your hands above your head to form a horn. Recommended for ages 8 and up. 2 to 8 player game.
P For Pizza
P For Pizza is a family word game quick to learn and easy to play. You don’t need super-spelling skills or perfect pizza knowledge. You just need to be able to shout out words (and be speedy about it). From the awesome Big Potato Games, P For Pizza is small enough that it doesn't take up too much room in your bag. Match a letter card with a category card and the person to shout out a correct answer first wins a pizza slice card. Italian food beginning with P? Reptile beginning with W? The first player to win 9 pizza slice cards wins the game! Recommended for ages 8 to adult. 2 to 4 player game.
Mini ColourBrain
Another doozy from Big Potato Games, Mini ColourBrain is the pint sized version of the super fun party game ColourBrain. It's a quiz game all about colours and players answer each question by choosing from the 11 colour cards in their hand. E.g. What colour is Vine Street in Monopoly? Name every colour of Skittles? This mini version of the game contains 70 brand new questions. Play it on its own or combine it with the full-sized version. Recommended for ages 14 and up. 2 or more player game.
Bandido
The game I played most over the lockdowns when there wasn't much else to do. Bandido is a fun cooperative game in which players are laying cards in order to block off tunnels and prevent Bandido from escaping prison. And it's actually just as fun to play solo! Bandido comes in a small box but you will need a decent sized table to play as, the more cards are played, the more the tunnels sprawl out. Recommnded for age 8 and up. 1 or more player game.
Love Letter
Love Letter is a game of risk, deduction, and luck. Your goal is to get your love letter into the Princess' hands while deflecting the letters from competing suitors. From a deck with only sixteen cards, each player starts with only one card in hand; one card is removed from play. On a turn, you draw one card, and play one card, trying to expose others and knock them from the game. Powerful cards lead to early gains, but make you a target. Rely on weaker cards for too long, however, and your letter may be tossed in the fire! Love Letter is a card game that I've owned for years and still enjoy going back to. Recommended to ages 10 to adult. 2 to 4 player game.
Coup
Another fantastic card game. Coup is a game in which players must manipulate, bluff and bribe their way to power. It surprised me just how easily I took to the bluffing aspect of this game! Players each have two character cards and through gathering coins and influence try to eliminate the other players to win. Recommended for age 13 and up. 2 to 6 player game.
Qwirkle Travel Size
My dad has been obsessed with Qwirkle since I introduced him to it on a family holiday to Achill Island back in 2021. Any time he needs to buy a gift for someone he calls me up, "Alan, can you pick me up another Qwirkle". And I can see why because I love it too and it's great for a wide range of ages. It is as simple as matching colours and shapes – but it takes both logic and strategy to score big! Create rows and columns by matching tiles with the same symbol or colour. Match both for maximum points. Create a line of all six and you score a Qwirkle. It's a great family board game recommended for ages 6 and up. 2 to 4 player game