Matthew BaileyIf there’s one thing I love, it’s the sheer joy (and occasional chaos) of a good stacking game. They’re one of the most common types of dexterity games, and they’re equally great for young players since they’re usually easy to understand. They also work well with non-gamer family members and parents who pop over for playdates—especially when you want to pry their kids away from Minecraft or Fortnite for five seconds.
One piece of feedback I’ve received since launching the new website is that people would love to see more lists of games to play—especially ones with a slightly more niche focus. This will also complement Nicolas’ wonderful Mechanism Monday series.
So, here are some fantastic stacking games worth playing, with links to full reviews if you want to dig a little deeper.
“Nekojima” – The One With Cats Hanging Off Poles (And a Rollercoaster on the Box That Isn’t in the Game?!)
“Nekojima” is the newest game on this list and has been an absolute hit in our house over the last few months. The game essentially involves constructing a network of electricity pylons across different zones in the city—while precariously hanging cats off them when needed.
It’s fun, and surprisingly tricky, but can easily be adapted for younger players. Really fun stuff.
“Catch the Moon” – The One That Feels Like a Dream… Until It’s Not
“Catch the Moon” has been my favourite dexterity game for a long time. It’s suitable for all ages and, unlike many stacking games, it’s incredibly forgiving. Even when you place something badly and everything wobbles, the tangled mess of ladders often saves the day.
The rules are super simple, it’s beautifully produced, and everything just works. I still have the original release, but the newer Kosmos version includes a co-op variant, which is a nice addition.
“Beasts of Balance” – The One That Lets You Play God (Sort Of)
This one is part stacking game, part magical creature simulator. You’re carefully balancing chunky animal pieces onto a plinth, but there’s a digital twist—each new piece changes creatures in a virtual world.
If digital integration isn’t your thing, this might not be for you. But Beasts of Balance is a high-quality game that offers something a little different—more than your usual dexterity stacking challenge.
“Cards vs Gravity” – The One That Turns a Drinking Trick into a Game
“Cards vs Gravity” is another favourite of mine, and what makes it particularly great is how well it works in small spaces and for travel. Dexterity games are often a nightmare to take anywhere—one piece falls, everything collapses, and suddenly you’re crawling under tables looking for bits. But Cards vs Gravity avoids that problem. The pieces are chunky, and there aren’t too many of them, so losing anything is unlikely.
It works by balancing cards on top of a bottle, so you do need a beer, wine, or similar bottle to play. But let’s be honest—if you’re on holiday with kids, there’s probably a bottle of something nearby for the post-bedtime wind-down!
“High-Rise Penguins” – The One That Feels Like a Kids’ Cartoon in Board Game Form
I was so pleased when High-Rise Penguins finally got a UK release this year! It’s been a long-time favourite of ours as an import, and it’s definitely worth picking up.
One thing that sets this game apart from the others on this list is that it’s part dexterity game, part Uno-style deck-shedding game. That gives it a fresh twist. The UK release also shrinks everything down a bit, which makes it more portable. In the original version, the Uno-style element played a bigger role, but this edition tweaks things slightly so that both the stacking and deck-shedding are equally important.
“Rhino Hero” – The One That Turns You Into an Architect (And a Demolition Crew) in Seconds
“Rhino Hero” is an absolute classic, and definitely one on the list for younger board gamers. You take turns stacking cards to build a wobbly tower, following specific placement rules, while occasionally having to move a chunky little rhino token up the levels—which makes everything even more precarious.
It’s easy to learn, wildly fun, and works for both kids and adults. There’s also Rhino Hero: Super Battle, which adds an extra layer of chaos with multiple towers and battling rhinos. But for sheer pure stacking fun, the original is hard to beat.
Final Thoughts
All of these games bring something different to the table, but they all share that delicious sense of anticipation—you place a piece, step back, hold your breath… And then… maybe it stays. Maybe it doesn’t. Either way, it’s fantastic.
If you love a good mix of skill, strategy, and absolute madness, you can’t go wrong with any of these stacking games. Just maybe don’t play them near a table full of drinks.
Which of these is your favourite? Let me know—preferably before your latest tower comes crashing down!, and absolute madness, you can’t go wrong with any of these stacking games. Just maybe don’t play them near a table full of drinks.
