Trunk Book

Paper games I invented as a kid, penciled in a notebook Meemaw gave me.
Now they're back out of the trunk.

Easy to learn. Relaxing to play. More of a challenge than you might expect.

Pick up where you left off

From the Notebook

Games I invented as a kid — pick any card and jump right in. The rules can wait. Not sure which game to try? Hit surprise me above.

★ Editor's Pick

Corner 'Round

Drop pieces into a circular board and line up four in a row across rings, lanes, or spirals.

3–4 min · Tactical 1–2 players ♟ Ranked

≈ Fairest Fight

Hourglass

Connect three in a row across a pinched 4x3 board. Going first sounds like an easy win—until you discover the center trap.

1–2 min · Strategic 1–2 players

↻ Replayable

Crack'd Mirror

Trap your opponent on a mirrored board where every move restricts what can be played next — including your own.

3–5 min · Tactical 1–2 players ♟ Ranked

Nail-Biter

Dishpan Hands

Claim one or two board spaces—or pay to split an opponent's pair. Just don't be the one making the final move.

1–2 min · Strategic 1–2 players ♟ Ranked

⏱ Pick Your Moment

Odds and Evens

Match tile colors to tell how many pieces you must find room to play. Chain your turns or flip a tile to force your opponent into a dead end.

1–2 min · Forced 1–2 players ♟ Ranked

Last Slice

Take small or double-sized bites from a ring of donut slices. The strategy flips completely depending on whether you're trying to grab the last piece or avoid it.

1–2 min · Puzzle 1–2 players

Streaks

Place pieces along three connected paths to build the longest line—but watch your step, because taking the very last spot means instant defeat.

1–2 min · Strategic 1–2 players ♟ Ranked

Crossed Corners

Race to line up 4-in-a-row on an asymmetric board where one player starts with the corners and the other controls the center.

1–2 min · Forced 1–2 players

⚔ Double Threat

Four-Patch

Win by lining up four in a row—or by packing four pieces into a 2x2 square. Build lines or blocks, and catch your opponent off guard.

2–3 min · Forced 1–2 players

Classics Corner

The original classics — in case you'd rather try these than the homegrown games.

Four-in-a-Row

Drop pieces into a grid to stack four in a row —vertically, horizontally, or diagonally— before your opponent blocks you.

2–3 min · Tactical 1–2 players ♟ Ranked

★ Deepest Game

Dots and Boxes

Connect dots to claim territory. Close a square to earn a bonus turn— and set off a chain reaction that sweeps the board.

3–6 min · Tactical 1–2 players ♟ Ranked

◎ Fog of War

Battle Grid

Two hidden fleets, one grid. Fire blind, hunt down enemy coordinates, and sink their ships before they pinpoint yours.

4–7 min · Deduction 1–2 players

∴ Proof, Not Luck

Crossways

Race across staggered dot grids— Red connects top-to-bottom, Blue connects side-to-side. Every line you draw builds your path while cutting off theirs.

2–3 min · Tactical 1–2 players ♟ Ranked

√ Crack the Code