Quick answer: Match the game to the group. For families, pick an easy card game with a wide age range such as Triple Threes or Exploding Kittens. For friends, choose a team or party game like Codenames or What Do You Meme. For couples, try the BestSelf Intimacy Deck, and for pickleball players, Deal and Dink makes card games you play on the court.
The holidays are the season of game nights: cousins home from college, friends gathered after a big dinner, a long weekend with nowhere to go. A new game is one of the few gifts that brings everyone together, and it keeps giving every time it comes off the shelf.
The secret to a good game gift is matching the game to the group that will play it. A brilliant strategy game falls flat with a crowd that wants to laugh, and a silly party game can feel thin to people who love to plan. This guide sorts game night gifts by who is playing. Every pick is a real Amazon listing in the Surprise Selections gift quiz, with rough prices from when we last checked.
Before you choose: three questions
- How many players? Some games are made for small groups, others work for a crowd.
- How old are the players? Check the age on the listing, especially for party games.
- Do they want to think or to laugh? Strategy games and party games suit different moods.
For families: easy rules, wide age range
Family games need rules a younger player can learn in a few minutes and enough tension to keep adults interested.
Triple Threes! Card Game
by KVR Games · Games · around $15
A rummy-style race to build three secret sets before your rivals.
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Exploding Kittens Card Game
by Exploding Kittens · Games · around $20
A fast, silly card game of strategy and kitten-powered chaos for game night.
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Triple Threes from KVR Games is a rummy-style card game where players race to build three secret sets before their rivals. The listing gives ages 8 and up and two or more players, and calls it travel friendly, so it can come along to a relative's house. Exploding Kittens is a fast, silly card game of strategy and chaos, listed for 2 to 5 players and ages 7 and up.
Tip: for a family with mixed ages, wrap a fast card game with a classic like UNO from our stocking stuffers under $25 list.
For friends: party and team games
When a group of adults gets together, a team or party game keeps everyone involved, even people who say they don't like games.
Codenames Party Game
by Czech Games Edition · Games · around $25
A word-association team game where spymasters give one-word clues.
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What Do You Meme? Party Game
by What Do You Meme? · Games · around $30
The adult party game where you pair caption cards with meme photos.
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Codenames, from Czech Games Edition, is a word-association team game where each team's spymaster gives one-word clues to help teammates find their words. It's a strong pick for a group that likes to talk and think. What Do You Meme? is an adult party game where players pair caption cards with meme photos. Because it is made for adults, keep it for grown-up game nights.
For strategy fans: a classic board game
Some players want a game they can sink an evening into, with trading, planning and a little rivalry.
CATAN Board Game
by CATAN Studio · Games · around $40
The classic trading-and-building strategy board game for 3–4 players.
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CATAN is the classic trading-and-building strategy board game, and this edition is for 3 to 4 players. It suits a group that plays together regularly, because the game gets more interesting as players learn each other's habits.
For couples: a game for two
Game nights don't need a crowd. For couples, a conversation game can be a thoughtful alternative to a movie night.
BestSelf Intimacy Deck
by BestSelf Co. · Games · around $25
170 conversation-starter cards for couples to get to know each other better.
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The BestSelf Intimacy Deck has 170 conversation-starter cards for couples to get to know each other better. It pairs nicely with a date night, or as part of an anniversary gift.
For pickleball players: games on the court
Pickleball players are a special case: their favorite game night happens outdoors. Deal and Dink makes on-court card games that add strategy and twists to a regular pickleball match, so the cards come along to the court rather than staying on the table.
Deal and Dink Pickleball Card Game
by Deal and Dink · Games · around $25
An on-court card game that adds strategy and twists to pickleball.
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Deal and Dink Date & Dink Couples Edition
by Deal and Dink · Games · around $20
A couples edition of the on-court pickleball card game that adds playful competition to every pickleball date.
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Deal and Dink Drink & Dink Card Game
by Deal and Dink · Games · around $20
An on-court pickleball card game with 25 chaotic challenge cards for laugh-out-loud drinking matches.
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Deal and Dink 3-Game Bundle
by Deal and Dink · Games · around $45
Three on-court pickleball card games in one: Deal & Dink, Date & Dink and Drink & Dink.
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How to choose among the Deal and Dink games:
- Deal & Dink is the original on-court card game, the place to start for any pickleball player.
- Date & Dink is a couples edition that adds playful competition to every pickleball date, a fun gift for a couple who plays together.
- Drink & Dink has 25 challenge cards for drinking matches, so it's only for adults of legal drinking age.
- The 3-game bundle includes all three games, which costs less than buying them one at a time based on the prices we last checked.
Don't forget the snacks
Game night needs something to eat. A dip or snack mix turns a game gift into a complete game-night kit.
Growee Vegan Dip Trio
by Growee · Food · around $37
Dairy-free, gluten-free dips that work as a queso or hummus alternative.
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Kentucky Hot Mix Snack Mix
by A Taste of Kentucky · Food · around $18
A spicy, crunchy family-recipe snack mix made for parties.
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The Growee Vegan Dip Trio has three 12 oz dips, red pepper, curry zucchini and spiced mango, that are listed as dairy-free, gluten-free and nut-free, so they work for guests with many food needs. The Kentucky Hot Mix is a spicy, crunchy snack mix for anyone who likes a little heat. Find more snack ideas in our food gifts guide.
Build a game night gift basket
Put together a game, a snack and a small extra for a gift that feels complete:
- Family kit: Triple Threes, UNO and a bag of snack mix.
- Friends kit: Codenames and the Growee dip trio.
- Pickleball kit: the Deal and Dink 3-game bundle with Kentucky Hot Mix for after the match.
See every game in our game night gift guide, or take the gift quiz and choose "Games" as an interest.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good game night gift for a family?
- Choose a card game with simple rules and a wide age range. Triple Threes is listed for ages 8 and up and two or more players, and Exploding Kittens is listed for 2 to 5 players and ages 7 and up.
What is a good gift for a pickleball player?
- Deal and Dink makes on-court pickleball card games that add strategy and twists to a match. The 3-game bundle includes Deal & Dink, Date & Dink and Drink & Dink.
Is Drink & Dink appropriate for everyone?
- No. Drink & Dink is made for drinking matches, so give it only to adults of legal drinking age. Deal & Dink or Date & Dink suit everyone else.
What is a good game gift for couples?
- The BestSelf Intimacy Deck has 170 conversation cards for couples, and Deal and Dink's Date & Dink is a couples edition for pickleball players.
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Gift picks sold on Amazon. Products are sold and shipped by their sellers on Amazon; we don’t sell anything directly. Prices are rough guides from Amazon when we last checked, not quotes. Product details come from each product’s Amazon listing.