Make Your Own Custom Matching Card Game: a DIY Alternative to Dobble & Spot It
Everything you need to design and print your own custom matching card game — your take on classics like Dobble and Spot It, with your photos, your symbols, your story. Beginner-friendly, ten minutes to first deck.
What is Dobble / Spot It?
Dobble (also sold as Spot It! in North America) is one of the best-selling party card games of the last decade. The mechanic is dead simple: every two cards in the deck share exactly one symbol. Flip two cards, find the match faster than anyone else, win the round.
Behind that simple game is some beautiful math — finite projective planes — which is why the deck always works out to 13, 31, 55, or 57 cards. We'll get to the math in a minute.
Not affiliated with Asmodee Group. DOBBLE and SPOT IT! are trademarks of Asmodee Group.
Why make your own?
The original game uses cute cartoon symbols — but a deck made from photos of your family, your team, your kid's drawings, or your wedding guests is a whole different kind of fun. Personalized matching decks are great as:
- Birthday or wedding favors
- Brand giveaways with your logos and product photos
- Language-learning flashcards (English words ↔ pictures)
- Classroom tools — alphabet, shapes, animals
- Team onboarding icebreakers (faces of your colleagues)
- Holiday gifts that nobody else has
The math behind it (no formulas)
The "any two cards share exactly one symbol" property isn't a happy accident — it comes from a structure called a finite projective plane. The short version: for any prime number n, you can build a deck with n² + n + 1 cards, each having n + 1 symbols, and the matching property holds.
- n = 3 → 13 cards, 4 symbols per card
- n = 5 → 31 cards, 6 symbols per card
- n = 7 → 57 cards, 8 symbols per card (or 55 for a print-friendly cut)
You don't need to do any of this math. MatchedCards does it for you and just shows you which symbols go on which card.
Set sizes — which one to pick
| Set | Cards | Symbols / card | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mini | 13 | 4 | Quick games, kids under 5, party favors |
| Medium | 31 | 6 | Family game night, classroom flashcards |
| Standard | 55 | 8 | Full play, fits standard playing-card boxes |
| Full | 57 | 8 | Mathematically complete set |
Step-by-step: from photos to printed deck
- 1
Create a project
Open the editor, name your deck, and pick a set size (13, 31, 55, or 57 cards).
- 2
Upload your images
Drag in photos, drawings, or emoji. One-click AI removes the background so symbols sit clean on each card.
- 3
Pick a layout
We use a math-perfect projective plane algorithm — any two cards share exactly one symbol. No setup needed.
- 4
Customize cards
Resize, rotate, and reposition symbols. Swap symbols between cards with drag-and-drop until the deck looks right.
- 5
Design the back
Choose a back from our templates, pick a solid or gradient color, or upload your own image.
- 6
Export & print
Download a print-ready PDF for home or a pro print shop. SVG export for Figma, Illustrator, or Canva.
Printing tips
- Paper: 300 gsm card stock at home, or 350 gsm matte cardboard at a print shop.
- Card size: every deck is round, and you choose the diameter in the editor — anywhere from 40 mm to 100 mm (85 mm matches the best-known matching-card games).
- Cutting the circles: match a circle (round) paper punch to the diameter you exported — search "circle paper punch" plus your size (e.g. "85 mm", or in inches 1″ ≈ 25 mm, 2″ ≈ 50 mm, 3″ ≈ 76 mm). Center it over each printed card and punch out a clean circle. For in-between sizes a craft cutting machine (Cricut, Silhouette) or a compass circle cutter handles any diameter.
- Bleed: add 2–3 mm of bleed if your printer requires it. Our PDF export already includes it.
- Sleeves: 65×90 mm "mini American" sleeves fit most home-printed decks and add years of life.
- Pro print shops: ask about circle die-cutting and double-sided alignment — that's where home printing usually struggles.
Ready to make your own deck?
Free to start — no account needed until you export.
Start your DIY deckFrequently asked questions
Is it legal to make my own matching card game like Dobble?
Yes. The matching mechanic itself isn't protected — only the Dobble and Spot It! names and logos (trademarks of Asmodee Group) are. As long as you don't sell decks calling them 'Dobble' or 'Spot It!' or copy the original symbols and trade dress, you're free to make your own version with your own images.
Can I sell decks I make with MatchedCards?
We don't restrict commercial use of the decks you create — the exported PDFs and SVGs are yours. However, you're responsible for not infringing third-party trademarks (don't call your deck 'Dobble' or 'Spot It!') and for owning the rights to every image you upload.
How many symbols per card?
It depends on the set size. 13 cards = 4 symbols per card. 31 cards = 6 symbols. 55 or 57 cards = 8 symbols. The math (finite projective planes) guarantees that any two cards in a valid set share exactly one symbol.
Can I use AI-generated images?
Yes. AI-generated images work well, especially with our background-removal tool. Just make sure the AI tool's license permits commercial use if you plan to sell or distribute your deck.
What size and paper work best for printing?
Cards are round, and you set the diameter in the editor — 40 to 100 mm, with 85 mm being the size used by the best-known matching-card games. For home printing, 300 gsm card stock plus a circle (round) paper punch matching your size gives clean, repeatable cuts — search 'circle paper punch' with your diameter. A pro print shop can die-cut any size with full bleed.
Do you store the images I upload?
Images you upload while logged in are stored in your project so you can come back and edit. If you create a deck as a guest (no account), everything stays in your browser. See our Privacy Policy for details.