We’re continuing to help you find toys, gadgets, or kits that make great gifts for curious and creative kids. These gifts are designed to spark curiosity and support learning. If you’re searching for the perfect gift for geeky kids, you’re in the right place. Not sure where to begin? Start by exploring some of our previous recommendations: the programmable Sphero Bolt+, the interactive Nex Playground, or the Quidditch Pinball by Ugears.

Today, we’re bringing you the perfect gift: a battle of wits, a test of strategy, and a dash of creative genius—all wrapped up in one timeless classic. Yep, it’s a board game.

This game has already made it onto the list of the best on TheGeekyThings pages. Splendor turns gemstones into currency, urging players to outmaneuver rivals and catch the eyes of powerful nobles. Since its debut in 2014, it has been nominated and awarded numerous times. Splendor has sold an impressive three million copies across its base game, expansions, and variants like Duel, Marvel, and Pokémon editions. This milestone was achieved with significant support from its digital versions on platforms like BoardGameArena, which boosted the game's recognition and popularity.

Splendor is a strategy board game set in the Renaissance era, where players take on the roles of gem merchants building their trading empires. Designed by Marc André, a game designer from the South of France who grew up surrounded by thinking games and roleplaying adventures, Splendor reflects his lifelong passion for strategy and creativity. The goal is to be the first to earn 15 prestige points by collecting gems, purchasing development cards, and impressing nobles. The board game is designed for 2–4 players, with a recommended age of 10+. The game typically lasts around 30 minutes, offering a light complexity level rated at 1.78/5 at the Board Game Geek.

Here’s how the game works:

1. Collect Gem Tokens - On your turn, you can gather gem tokens, which are used to buy development cards.
2. Purchase Development Cards - Use your tokens to buy cards that grant resources and prestige points. The cards also provide permanent bonuses, making it easier to acquire more valuable cards later on.
3. Reserve Cards - You can reserve a card for future use and receive a gold joker token, which acts as a wildcard.
4. Earn Prestige Points - Some cards and noble tiles award prestige points, bringing you closer to victory.

Splendor is easy to learn, making it a good choice for beginners. Its strategic depth, however, ensures it remains engaging for experienced players. With quick gameplay, polished design, and endless replay value, it’s an excellent option for families and strategy game fans.

Your main goal is to collect gem tokens, grab powerful development cards, and earn the admiration of nobles to rack up enough prestige points to win. The gameplay is simple to pick up but packed with strategic decisions that keep every turn interesting.

Splendor’s tokens represent the essential resources you’ll use to purchase development cards:

• Gem Tokens: Emerald (green), Sapphire (blue), Ruby (red), Diamond (white), and Onyx (black).
• Gold Tokens: Gold (yellow) acts as a wildcard, substituting any gem type when needed.

Each type of token plays a crucial role in building your strategy.

Development cards (rectangular) are the heart of Splendor’s strategy. They serve two purposes—help you amass bonuses for discounts on future turns and potentially award you prestige points.

• Level I: Affordable entry-point cards that grant bonuses, perfect for kickstarting your resource engine. They seldom offer prestige points but set you up for future purchases.
• Level II: These cards are moderately priced, give solid bonuses, and often come with a sprinkling of prestige points.
• Level III: The high rollers of the deck—pricier but worth it for the huge prestige payouts. These can help you seal the victory.

Each card shows its cost, the bonus type it provides, and any prestige points it’s worth. Smart card selection leads to big rewards down the line!

The nobles (square cards) add an exciting layer to the game. They represent influential figures who will “visit” you and award bonus points—so long as your development cards meet their specific requirements.

• Each noble gives 3 prestige points.
• Noble tiles are claimed automatically if the bonuses from your cards fulfill their conditions.
• Here's the kicker—you don’t need tokens to claim them. Just plan wisely to meet their criteria.

Each turn is straightforward, with players choosing from one of three actions. You can choose to collect gem tokens, buy a development card (and immediately gain its bonuses), or reserve a card for future use (locking it away from your opponents and getting a helpful gold token).

Your choices on each turn will build into a larger strategy. Collect enough tokens to buy cards, which then reduce the costs of future card purchases. Use these cards and bonuses to win over the nobles. When someone reaches 15 prestige points, the current round ends so each player takes an equal number of turns. The final winner is the player with the most points, with ties going to the one with fewer cards bought.

While the gameplay is simple, a few important rules can influence your choices:

• You can’t hold more than 10 tokens at once, so plan purchases accordingly.
• Noble visits happen automatically at the end of your turn if you meet requirements—no need for extra actions.
• If you take 2 tokens of a single type, at least 4 of that gem must still be available in the supply.

Success in Splendor comes down to balancing your resources carefully. Here are a few tips to guide your strategy:

1. Don’t hoard tokens—invest them early into Level I cards to start generating bonuses. These discounts will save you tokens in the long run.
2. Keep your eye on noble tiles and their requirements. Cards that give you the right bonuses to earn nobles are double the reward since nobles add easy prestige points without spending tokens.
3. Don’t overlook reserving cards. It’s a great way to block opponents from getting a card they desperately need or to guarantee yourself future purchases.
4. Watch your opponents closely. If someone seems close to snagging a noble or high-level card, adjust your strategy to counter them.

Full Rulebook

Check out the unboxing of the modern edition and how to win tips in the video!

Looking to surprise your geeky kid with the game Splendor? Good news—it’s on Amazon with a 20% discount (at least when this review was written)!

The Splendor is a great gift for kids who enjoy strategy and geek culture. Its simple rules and strategic depth make it easy to learn while still offering engaging decision-making. The game provides a fun, mentally stimulating experience as players work to become the most successful merchant of the Renaissance, sparking creativity and excitement with every move. By the way, I love board games, and here are descriptions of the ones I find interesting.