Obviously we love to play games here, but when you put a prize like candy on line? Watch out because our competitive streak really comes out. Sounds silly but what can we say? We love a good competition. So for today we’ve put together the Big List of Games to Play with Candy.
These games make the holidays extra special– Easter, Halloween, Christams, Valentine’s Day and birthdays. Of course you can play at any time of the year with any candy you have.
We find that using the candy as wagers is a great way to extend the holidays when the kids get too old, um mature, to get excited about a few chocolate eggs. It’s also a great way to play with adults and extended family. I mean who doesn’t want to hear Grandpa’s overly dramatic “hey” when you take his foil covered Easter egg?
We have split the list up to include cards games and dice games with one extra that kids simply adore.
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What kind of Candy to Use
Most of the time we like to play with wrapped candies ones like Starbursts, Hershey’s mini chocolate bars, Tootsie Rolls and Werther’s. You can shop wrapped candy here. Canadians can shop here.
We also get some of our candy from the dollar store and the Bulk Barn.
But our favorite candy to play with is holiday candy! Chocolate hearts for Valentine’s Day, gold coins for St Patrick’s Day, foil Easter eggs, all types of Halloween candy and the never ending supply of Christmas candy.
Card Games to Play with Candy
31
This is the first card game that I can remember ever playing for stakes. I remember my mom setting us down with three candies each and then explain that you had to put a candy in to play. 31 quickly became a favorite card game (oh the HOURS spent playing…) Most of the time we didn’t play with candy but it’s always fun to play for stakes. 31 is a simple game with each player having three cards and trying to get to 31 points or the highest they can. Learn how to play 31 card game here.
99
99 is another family favorite. This game also has each player starting with three candies and three cards. It’s a fast paced game where players lay cards that are added together until someone makes it 99 and then the special cards come flying out. If you’re the player who can’t lay a card down, you lose the round and a candy. Get all the rules for 99 card game here.
Chase the Ace
This is another very simple game. Players have one card and can decide to exchange it with the player to their left or keep what they have. The player with the lowest number card has to play the price. Learn how to play Chase the Ace here.
Play or Pay
Our next card game that you can play with candy is Play or Pay. This is another easy card game where players take turns putting a card on the center stacks, but if you can’t play then you’ll have to pay. This game isn’t just luck, there’s some strategy to it and the feeling when you figure it out and cause someone to pay… it’s a little addictive. Learn all the rules to Play or Pay here.
Horse Race
This might be the simplest of all the card games and the one that feels the most like betting. To play you line up the aces like horses. Next, players bid with candy what “horse” they think will win. Then you flip over cards one at a time and move the horse that is in that suit. Kids love this game of luck. Learn how to play Horse Race here.
Blind Poker
This might be my favorite game that you can play with candy. Blind Poker is incredibly silly and prefect for a group. Everyone gets one card that they can’t see. However, you can see other player’s cards. Next you have to decide if your card is higher or lower than the other cards. Candies are put in at the beginning of each round and then another one added to the pot if you think you can beat everyone else. This game always ends up with peals of laughter and silliness. To get the low down on Blind Poker read the post here.
Dice Games to Play with Candy
Aces in the Pot
The first game that you can play with candy is a simple one. You roll two dice, if there is a six you pass a candy to the player on your left. If there is a one you put a candy in the middle. To win the loot you need to be the last player in and roll three times. This is a great group game. Get the rules for Aces in the Pot here.
Threes Dice Game
Threes is another simple game. The aim is to be the player with the lowest score with threes counting as zero points. Learn how to play Threes here, you’ll need to scroll to the bottom in the variations section to learn how to play with candy.
Whacky Putt
Whacky Putt is our original mini golf dice game. You can play with candy like this: when a player gets the whole stroke score for the hole and wins the whole, she gets a candy to keep. We have 18 cute, fun holes for everyday fun and we have special holes for Easter, Halloween, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, St Patrick’s Day and more. Doubling up on a Whacky Putt holiday edition with holiday candy will make a holiday to remember! To learn all about Whacky Putt check out the post here. To jump right in and get your copy of this hilarious game, visit our Whacky Putt section in our store.
Sevens Dice
This dice game is a little more complicated than the other games you can play with candy but it’s not hard to play. Players roll dice and remove pairs that add up to 7, leaving a score of the sum of all dice not removed. There are a few ways to play and you’ll need to scroll down to the variation Winner Takes All. Learn how to play Sevens here.
BOO Dice game
This candy playing game is prefect for Halloween. Players try to earn candy by rolling dice and scaring other players. Learn how to play this Family Game Shelf original game here.
Mafia Dice
Mafia dice is similar to some of the other games you can play with candy but it has it’s own twist. Players roll their dice trying to shed all of them. When a player is successful, all other players have to pay her a candy. Like the other games, you’ll have to scroll down to the variation call Chip Mafia. To learn how to play Mafia Dice see the post here.
Volcano
The next dice game you can play with candy is another Family Game Shelf original. Players try to roll the next number in the sequence or risk being sacrificed to the volcano. To play with candy substitute the poker chips with candy. Learn how to play Volcano here.
Bonus Game to Play with Candy
Don’t Eat Pete
This game is as simple as you can get. You will need a Don’t Eat Pete board. We have many themed board to choose from in our Fun Library including summer, Easter, Valentine’s Day and many more. All players but one will choose a character to be Pete. Then the player will pick a candy up off a character square. If it’s not Pete, she gets to eat it. On the other hand, if it’s Pete all other player yell “Don’t Eat Pete” and her turn is over. It really is that simple, but trust me, kids of all ages LOVE this game. Go to the Don’t Eat Pete post here to get all the details. You can get your password to the Fun Library by singing up in the black box below.
Sweet Fun
No matter if you’re playing cards or dice, it’s always fun to add candy as the prize—especially holiday candy. Do you have a game you love to play with candy that I missed? I’d love to hear about it; tell me the name of the game in the comments.
If you liked these games, be sure to check out our Family Game Shelf Shop for tons of fun with seasonal and original games for all occasions.
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