Card games aren’t just for the casino; they’re also perfect for some prime family time that won’t break the bank. Here’s a list of 37 card games for your family to try the next time you need to unplug and reconnect. With plenty of variety to suit everyone’s age and interests, you’re sure to find a new favorite or two. So, without further adieu, pop some popcorn, round up your family, and get ready for a good old-fashioned game night!
1. Uno
Everyone loves this classic, family-friendly card game—and for good reason! It’s the perfect game for groups of all sizes. It’s also a great starter game for young children since it can be played by focusing on colors and small numbers.
Learn More: Amazon
2. Uno Attack Mega Hit Card Game
This unique spin on the original family favorite will add an extra element of surprise and fun. Your kids with love this suspenseful game—no matter their ages! With a machine that sprays cards without notice, the excitement of anticipation is always there.
Learn More: Amazon
3. Ripple
This is a great game for families of up to six people. All you need is a regular deck of cards and at least two people. The game starts with each player receiving 10 cards, which must be arranged—without looking at them—face down in two rows of five. You’ll each flip over three of your cards. Then, you’ll take turns drawing new cards and choosing whether or not to exchange them with any of your own cards. The goal is to have the highest number of points visible at the end of the game—the first player to 100 wins!
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4. Spoons
This simple but fast-paced game is great for larger groups. Players each receive four cards. Sitting in a circle, they’ll pass their cards around one at a time. They can choose to exchange a card that’s passed to them, but the goal is to accumulate four of a kind. Where do the spoons come in? At the beginning of the game, players will place them in the center of the table; being sure that there’s one less than the number of people playing). The first player to get four of a kind will grab a spoon and everyone else must follow trying to not be the one left without a spoon!
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5. Boom Goes the Dynamite
This game is all about getting rid of all your cards by matching them up, but with an added twist of math. Sure, 5 and 5 match… but so do 5 and 7 if you combine them with a “+2” card! It’s best for ages seven and up and works well for two to six players.
Learn More: Amazon
6. My Ship Sales
This game is very similar to Spoons, although play tends to take a little longer. It’s fast-paced and best for children over the age of six. Every player will start with seven cards. Sitting in a circle, they’ll then pass cards around one at a time; exchanging a new card for one from their hand if desired. The goal is to be the first player with seven cards from the same suit.
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7. Go Boom
If you love Uno but don’t have an Uno game handy, this is the perfect game for you. The goal is to get rid of your hand first by discarding your cards if they match the one on top of the discard pile. If you don’t have a matching card, you’re out of luck and will have to draw a new one. What sets this game apart from similar games like Uno and Crazy Eight is that at the end of each round—after each player has played a card—the player who played the highest card wins “the trick” and gets to collect all the cards played.
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8. Pig
Here’s another sure favorite that includes an element of secrecy. The cards should be passed in a circle with the goal of getting four of a kind and quietly placing a finger on the side of your nose when this is achieved. Once the first person does this, the rest of the players must follow along as they notice. The last person to place their finger on their nose loses.
Learn More: Activity Village
9. Snap
This is a game of focus. Unlike many card games that want you to get rid of your cards, the goal in Snap is to be the first to take all the cards from the other players. Each player takes turns turning a card over. If you notice that someone else has turned over a card of the same value as yours, yell “Snap!” As a reward, you’ll then get to collect all of the face-up cards from the group.
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10. James Bond: A Family Card Game
This is a competitive game that requires a lot of patience. Cards are dealt out in groups of four with the goal being to swap cards from the middle in order to turn as many of your suits as possible into four of a kind. This is best played with four players and is best suited to older kids.
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11. Crazy Eight
This classic game is wildly fun! The goal is to be the first to discard all of your cards. Along the same lines as Uno and Go Boom, this card game relies on matching cards that are based on suit or value: you can only discard cards that match what the player before you has discarded—except for eights; which are wild cards!
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12. Math Pyramid
This game is a quick and easy way to get your kids practicing their number bonds! It can be played alone or with multiple players. Start by removing all the face cards and jokers. Then, arrange the remaining cards in a pyramid formation with their numbers facing up. The goal is to eliminate all of the cards by removing pairs that add up to ten.
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13. Phase Ten
The multi-leveled, rummy-style game is perfect for kids ages seven and up. Problem-solving skills are very important in order to move through the 10 levels, but there’s also an undeniable element of luck to keep things interesting! With this pick, be ready to put your whole family’s minds to the test.
Learn More: Amazon
14. Kings Corner
Your kids eight and up will enjoy this patterning game that is essentially a head-to-head version of solitaire. Two, three, or four players compete to place their cards—in alternating color and descending order—on top of four stacks in the middle. The first player to run out of cards wins!
Learn More: Wiki How
15. Slap Jack
This is a great choice if you have younger kids as it can be played by little ones as young as three. Players will take turns flipping their cards over one at a time. Watch closely because if anyone flips a jack the race is on to be the first to slap it! Successfully slapping a jack first will win you the whole pile of cards that have already been turned over.
Learn More: wikiHow
16. Skyjo
Who has the fewest points? That’s the goal in this game which includes 150 playing cards! Reduce your points to win by trading, flipping, and collecting cards, but watch out—if someone else flips over all their cards before you do, the round ends!
Learn More: Amazon
17. Spades
Spades is a bit more on the complex side and would be a good fit for your family if you have older kids and enjoy more competition. The game is scored in hands, and you’ll bid on how many tricks you’ll win. Win a trick by playing the highest trump—or the highest card if no trump was played. It takes a few tries to get the hang of it—but once you do, your family won’t want to stop!
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18. Golf
Let’s play golf… inside…with cards? It’s totally possible with this card game. It’s intended for two or more players and requires some serious decision making so it’s best played with older kids. Each player gets six cards—at the start of the game, four should be positioned face down and two face up. You’ll slowly flip your cards over as you choose to swap them with ones from the middle. Like a traditional game of golf, the goal is to have the lowest score based on the value of your face-up cards.
Learn More: Grandma Ideas
19. Bears vs. Babies
The packaging is not the only silly thing about this game! Use the cards to build super-creative monsters and then pit your monsters against the ones that your family members have built to host head-to-head battles! The more outrageous your monster, the more points you’ll earn. This is best played with kids aged ten and up.
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20. War
This two-person game is great if you have very young kids. It’s also great for practicing number comparison. Gameplay is simple: each player must lay down a card from their pile and the player with the highest card will win both. The player who collects all the cards in the end will be crowned the winner!
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21. Cards Vs Reality
This game is a blast for families where everyone can read! It comes with 500 cards—120 question cards and 380 answer cards. You’ll play by selecting the best answer card from your hand to respond to the question card from the dealer. The best (or funniest) answer will win!
Learn More: Amazon
22. Snip Snap Snorem
Snip Snap Snorem brings high-energy fun to a family game night! The rules are simple—you’ll place cards within the same suit down in order. Once your family has mastered the classic rules, try out any of the many variations.
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23. Sequence
Sequence is a straightforward but unique game that combines cards and a board. It involves placing chips on the board based on the cards you have in your hand—with the goal of placing five of your own chips in a row. Depending on your family members’ ages and interests, you can play cooperatively or competitively. Engage everyone in strategic thinking and fun to create a one-of-a-kind experience for your next game night.
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24. Rummy 500
Embark on a journey of strategy and luck with Rummy 500! Your family will race to discard all of their cards by “melding” or matching consecutive cards together. Engaging and addictive, it provides a playground for logical thinking and cooperative play.
Learn More: Game Rules
25. Euchre
Invite your family into the world of Euchre! This is a trick-based game that’s simple to grasp but offers a wealth of strategic elements. Your family will form pairs to defeat their opponents in a battle of wits so if you’re on the hunt for a fast and tactical option, this is it!
Learn More: YouTube
26. Old Maid
Who doesn’t love a game of Old Maid? Perfect if you have younger children, the goal is to make pairs and avoid the “old maid” card. It’s a good way to evenly pit young kids against parents because it’s primarily luck-based.
Learn More: wikiHow
27. Black Jack
Black Jack or “21,” anyone? If your kids are old enough to add numbers to 21, they’ll love the thrill of this fast-paced game. Aiming to have a hand totaling 21, it’s a thrilling option that balances luck and strategic thinking.
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28. Whist
Take your family back in time with a game of Whist! Whist was the direct predecessor of Bridge, and is very similar in play—but a bit simpler. Like Bridge, it’s an excellent way to build teamwork and strategy skills for older children. If your family enjoys Bridge—or even if you find it a bit too involved—consider giving Whist a try!
Learn More: YouTube
29. Mau-Mau
Ready for some high-speed fun? Introduce your family to Mau-Mau; a German game that’s similar to UNO or Crazy Eight. Easy to learn and fast-paced, you’ll discard cards by suit or number with the goal of eliminating your entire hand. Just like in Uno and Crazy Eight, Mau-Mau includes some “power cards”—so watch out!
Learn More: YouTube
30. Bridge
Time for a Bridge challenge! If you have older kids who enjoy strategy and teamwork, Bridge could be a great fit for your family. Played in partners, Bridge is a complex game that involves bidding and winning tricks. Once your family has grasped the basics, ongoing practice will improve everyone’s technique—and their love of the game!
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31. Hearts
Hearts is a trick-taking game with a unique twist of avoiding penalty points which simply requires a dash of cunning and careful planning. This is another good option if you have older kids who enjoy strategy and competition.
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32. Cheat
This is one game where you won’t mind if your kids cheat! The goal in Cheat is to discard all of your cards—by lying and bluffing if necessary! On each turn, you’ll discard matching sets—and if you don’t have any, it’s time to cheat. But be on guard; cheaters who get caught in the act will be penalized with extra cards.
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33. Memory
Time for a family memory test! A classic game of Memory can be played with any deck of cards for a fun challenge to improve concentration and cognitive abilities. All you have to do is collect matched pairs—if you can remember where they are!
Learn More: YouTube
34. Pinochle
Pinochle is a blend of Bridge and Euchre. It requires strategic thinking and planning and would be great if you have teens who are already familiar with those games.
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35. Canasta
Canasta, anyone? This two- or four-player game is a great choice if your family enjoys strategic thinking and planning. It’s a rummy-style game that’s great for older children and adults, and adds a further dimension of anticipation and intellect to traditional card games.
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36. Dutch Blitz
Let’s race with Dutch Blitz! This is a fast-paced game for families who love high-energy fun. You’ll race to get rid of your “blitz pile” by playing cards in order from one to 10. Be sure to keep an eye on everyone else’s cards so as to not let the other players steal the spots you need!
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37. Go Fish
Who can resist a game of Go Fish? Simple yet engaging, it’s a classic that can be enjoyed by the youngest and oldest members of your family alike. Everyone must work to collect sets of four cards of the same rank by drawing them from the center or getting them from their opponents. This easy game is also very adaptable—as your kids get older or more proficient you can change things up by introducing your own variations to the rules.
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