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Best game gifts for roommates (2026) — a good roommate gift is cheap, small enough for a shared shelf and fun enough to turn a random Tuesday into a game night. It should work for the two of you and scale up when friends come over. Every pick below costs about $20 or less, fits in a dorm or apartment, and plays in under thirty minutes.
Our top roommate gift: Exploding Kittens
Works for two roommates on a weeknight and five friends on a weekend, costs about twenty dollars and fits on any shelf.
Price band: $10–$20 (about $20) · Check today’s price on Amazon
Roommate game gifts at a glance
Small, cheap and good for a shared apartment.
- Best overall: Exploding Kittens — draw, dodge and sabotage (about $20)
- Best for when friends come over: Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza — slap the matching card (about $10)
- Best for getting to know each other: Never Have I Ever: Party Game of Poor Life Decisions — confess or keep a straight face (about $16)
- Best cheap add-on: Monopoly Deal — Monopoly in fifteen minutes (about $8)
What makes a great roommate game
- It works with two. Many nights it will just be you and your roommate.
- It scales up. The same box should handle a few friends on the weekend.
- It fits a shared shelf. Small card boxes beat big board games in a tiny apartment.
- It is cheap. A gift for a roommate should not cost more than a month of streaming.
1. Exploding Kittens — best overall roommate gift
Players: 2 to 5 (ages 7+) · Price band: $10–$20 (about $20) · Pick for: Best overall roommate gift · See Exploding Kittens on Amazon
Take turns drawing from a deck that hides Exploding Kittens. Defuse cards save you, and action cards let you skip turns, peek at the top cards, attack someone into taking two turns or steal a card. The last player who has not exploded wins.
It is the best two-player option on this list and still fun with five. Want a grown-up version? See Exploding Kittens NSFW.
Skip it if: your roommate hates luck in games. Coup has more bluffing and less chance.
2. Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza — for when friends come over
Players: 2 to 8 (ages 7+) · Price band: Under $10 (about $10) · Pick for: For when friends come over · See Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza on Amazon
Players flip cards onto a pile while chanting “taco, cat, goat, cheese, pizza,” and slap when the card matches the word. The last hand down takes the pile. It is loud, fast and silly.
It shines when the apartment fills up, and at about ten dollars it is an easy add-on gift.
Skip it if: you share thin walls with grumpy neighbors. Slapping gets loud.
3. Never Have I Ever: Party Game of Poor Life Decisions — best for getting to know each other
Players: 4 to 12 (ages 17+) · Price band: $10–$20 (about $16) · Pick for: Best for getting to know each other · See Never Have I Ever: Party Game of Poor Life Decisions on Amazon
Players read cards that start “Never have I ever…” and admit whether they have done the thing. The box holds 550 cards, including rule cards that add twists. It is the fastest way to learn your roommate’s best stories. Background: how Never Have I Ever works.
Bring it out when roommates host their first get-together.
Skip it if: you only ever play with two. It needs a group of four or more.
4. New Phone, Who Dis? — for a funny night in
Players: 2 or more (ages 17+) · Price band: $10–$20 (about $19) · Pick for: For a funny night in · See New Phone, Who Dis? on Amazon
One player reads an inbox card and everyone answers with the funniest text reply from their hand. The reader picks the winner. It is quick, adult and very quotable.
Roommates who share a group chat will recognize every joke.
Skip it if: your roommate prefers family-friendly humor.
5. Flip 7 — best under-ten-dollar game
Players: 3 or more · Price band: Under $10 (about $8) · Pick for: Best under-ten-dollar game · See Flip 7 on Amazon
Flip cards one at a time and stop before you get a duplicate number. Grab seven different numbers for a bonus. First to 200 wins.
It costs less than a takeout order and is ideal for a pre-game with friends.
Skip it if: it is usually just the two of you. Flip 7 needs a third player.
6. Monopoly Deal — best cheap add-on
Players: 2 to 5 (ages 8+) · Price band: Under $10 (about $8) · Pick for: Best cheap add-on · See Monopoly Deal on Amazon
Collect three full property sets before anyone else, using rent, deal breakers and sly deals to swipe what you need. Games take about fifteen minutes. Rules: how to play Monopoly Deal.
It works head-to-head between roommates and turns friendly rivalry into a running score on the fridge.
Skip it if: you want to keep the peace. Stealing a property set can start a week-long feud.
Roommate game gifts by price band
| Price band | Game | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Under $10 | Monopoly Deal | Head-to-head rivalry |
| Under $10 | Flip 7 | Pre-games |
| Under $10 | Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza | Full apartment |
| $10–$20 | Never Have I Ever | Getting to know each other |
| $10–$20 | New Phone, Who Dis? | Funny nights in |
| $10–$20 | Exploding Kittens | Two to five players |
Roommate game night ideas
- Start a running tally. A scoreboard on the fridge makes every game count.
- Host a monthly game night. Each roommate invites one friend.
- Keep games by the couch. Out of sight means out of mind.
- Living in a dorm? Our best college dorm games covers small spaces, and best party games under $20 has more budget picks.
Roommate game gift questions
What is a good game for two roommates?
Exploding Kittens and Monopoly Deal both work well with two.
What is a cheap roommate gift?
Flip 7, Monopoly Deal and Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza all cost about ten dollars or less.
What game is good for a roommate party?
Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza for a loud crowd, or Never Have I Ever once everyone has relaxed.
