Fourteen Santas, one base, and steadily rising tension. The rules take four seconds to explain: stack them all without the tower coming down. Everything after that is nerve.
It's solid beech wood rather than printed plywood, which is why it works — the pieces have enough weight to settle rather than skitter, and they wobble honestly. The whole set is 328g, so the tower has real mass by the time you're four or five Santas up and someone nudges the table.
Balancing games earn their keep on the day itself, in that dead hour after lunch when nobody wants to start a board game that takes an hour to explain. It plays with two people or eight, works for a six-year-old and a grandparent equally, and a round is over in a few minutes.
Beech wood also means it survives being handled by everyone, and looks good enough to leave out on a coffee table rather than hiding in a cupboard. Come and have a go on the counter at 22 Burgate in Canterbury, or order online for UK delivery.
Key features
- Stacking and balancing game from Legami Milano
-
14 wooden Santa pieces plus a base
-
Material: beech wood
-
Weight: 328g
- Plays in a few minutes, any number of players
- Works across all ages, from children to grandparents
- Made in China for Legami S.p.A. SB
FAQ
How do you play?
Take turns adding a Santa to the stack. Whoever brings the tower down loses. That's the whole game.
How many pieces are there?
Fourteen Santas, stacked on the supplied base.
How many people can play?
Two upwards. There's no practical limit — more players just means a shorter wait between turns and more heckling.
Is it wooden all the way through?
Yes, beech wood. That's what gives the pieces the weight that makes balancing them satisfying rather than fiddly.
What age does it suit?
It's a dexterity game rather than a strategy one, so young children can play on equal terms with adults. No reading or rules knowledge needed.
Does it make a good gift?
A reliable one for a family, and a good thing to take to someone else's Christmas.
