Riverside, California (NAPSI) - More and more shoppers are trying to stuff some family time into their Christmas stockings.

How? With games. They are an inexpensive gift that gives back to the family.

Gathering around the table with a fast-paced game is a perfect prescription for happier holiday memories. Some of the best new board games don’t even come with a board—they come with things like action-packed dice or playful letter tiles. Today’s games are often designed for speed of play and versatility, and have something for players of practically all ages.

Some are also made to be played on a smartphone against others so you can stay connected and turn those holiday laughs into ongoing fun from afar. Two of the latest are Square Shooters and Dabble.

Shake Things Up With Cards On Dice

If you love card games, Square Shooters is a game that shakes up the action. It features the world’s first deck of playing cards printed on nine dice. This award winner is fun enough in its basic form—players vie for points by rolling the dice to match poker hands—but what makes it special are the endless possibilities. Players can try a dice version of almost any card game, from poker to rummy. The game is available at Walmart, Walgreens and Target—and free on the iPhone.

Bring Generations Together With A New Word Game

Want something everyone in the family can enjoy? Consider Dabble, an award-winning game that’s great for children and adults. At the core of the game lies a fast-paced word game that will help children develop many useful skills—including vocabulary, spelling and quick thinking. Each player gets 20 tiles, and the first player to make five words using his or her 20 tiles wins. You can learn how to play in seconds yet be challenged for a lifetime. Dabble is available at Barnes & Noble and Amazon. There’s an app for it for the iPhone, iPad, Google Play, Kindle Fire, Nook and free on Facebook.

Learn More

To learn more, visit www.squareshooters.com and www.dabblegame.com.