My 5 Favorite 3D-Printable Games & Fidgets (and Why You Need Them in Your Life)

If you’re anything like me, you didn’t get into 3D printing just to make brackets and tool holders. You came here for the good stuff. The ridiculous. The over-engineered. The “this definitely counts as productivity because it’s technically printing” type of projects (works so well on parents. Just ask my brother if you don’t believe me). 

I’ve gathered five of my current favorite 3D-printed games and fidgets, ranging from super easy to “cancel your plans for the weekend”. Whether you want a five-minute fidget (almost wrote “craft” in there omg) or a full-blown masterpiece, you’ll find your next print project right here.

(P.S. I’m linking all of them, so you can either buy them printed from us or grab the files and in true DIY 5 Minute Crafts fashion, make them yourself.)

🌀 1. Mini Passthrough Vortex Spiral Fidget — Beginner-Friendly Bliss

🔗 View it here

I’m starting with the gateway drug of the 3D printing world: the humble fidget. Small, simple, oddly satisfying, and way more addictive than anyone thinks before they have one.

This spiral vortex design is quick to print, fits on practically any printer bed, and doesn’t require support structures (aka: fewer ways to mess it up). It’s the perfect warm-up project for beginners or a lazy afternoon print for veterans.

💡 Printing Tip: PLA is more than enough here. Go with a 0.2 mm layer height for a smooth spin and slow down your print speed a little if you want those curves to look extra slick.

🎯 2. Ring Toss Game

🔗 Check it out here

This one’s technically a toy, but I kind of think of it like a game, which I also fully believe is the right way to think of it and if you don’t think of it this way you should maybe do some self-reflection (a loving suggestion, of course). Easy to print, fun to use, and just the right size for your desk, your lawn, your bed, your pool (yes it floats), wherever you want it. this ring toss game is as much about fidgeting as it is about competition. Perfect for annoying your coworkers or proving that, yes, you do indeed have better aim than your little brother (like me). 

💡 Printing Tip: Use bright filament colors to make the rings easier to find when you inevitably fling them across the room. If you want extra sturdiness, bump up your infill to 30%.

🍣 3. Sushi Chess 

🔗 See here

Who needs boring kings and queens when you can have maki and nigiri battling it out for world domination? Sushi Chess is one of those projects that’s just complicated enough to make you feel accomplished, but not so intense that you regret your life choices.

Each piece is beautifully designed, and printing them is half the fun. You can even mix filament colors for a more realistic sushi look. This one is a fantastic gift idea, or a conversation piece for your coffee table. Or an actual game you play which is what I encourage here. I hate useless decor like why just have things that collect dust when you can print things like this that are pretty and also useful? 

💡 Printing Tip: Multicolor prints are your friend here. If your printer doesn’t support filament changes mid-print, print the components separately and assemble them. Also, take your time with bed adhesion — some of the smaller pieces need precision.

🟣 4. Connect 4 Vortex Edition

🔗 Find it here

Printing a board game is one thing. Printing a board game that looks like it was designed by a sci-fi architect is another. This version of Connect 4 isn’t just functional, it’s art. With its vortex-style passthrough design, it’s visually stunning and just complex enough to test your printing chops.

Expect a longer print time and some careful post-processing here, but the payoff? A showpiece game that’s way more impressive than the one you grew up with.

💡 Printing Tip: Use supports where indicated — the curved geometry can get tricky without them. Also, a slightly higher infill (around 25%) helps with sturdiness, especially if you plan on aggressively celebrating your victories.

🍬 5. Snack Attack Board Game

🔗 Check it out here

And here it is — the pièce de résistance. The project that will have you clearing your print schedule and making sure you’ve got plenty of filament. Snack Attack isn’t a “quick print”,it’s an experience. From the board to the tokens to the tiny food-themed pieces, this is the kind of project that turns your 3D printer into a full-on game factory.

The complexity is worth every second. When it’s done, you’ll have a beautiful, fully functional family board game and the bragging rights that come with printing the whole thing yourself. This is also my favourite thing ever I think. 

💡 Printing Tip: This is a multi-day print, so plan ahead. Use different filament colors for each snack piece for extra visual punch, and don’t skip test fitting parts before final assembly.

🍭 Final Thoughts

Whether you’re brand new to 3D printing or a seasoned filament whisperer, these projects prove one thing: 3D printing isn’t just about useful stuff. It’s about joy. It’s about creativity. It’s about that smug satisfaction of telling your friends, “Yeah, I made this.”

Start with the easy ones, work your way up to Snack Attack, and by the end you won’t just have a collection of games and fidgets, you’ll have proof that you and your printer are capable of way more than brackets and phone holders.

All of the objects showcased in this post are offered on our website either as a file, or both a file and a printed model you can order. So, make sure to check it out. 

That’s a wrap! See you next time. 

… I said NEXT TIME why are you still here? Go away omg.