Best Card Games for Families

Looking for the best card games for families? We’ve got you covered for game night, whether it’s just the family or you’re inviting the kids’ friends over, too.

While video games are certainly uber popular and family board games have never gone out of style, card games have stood the test of time — since the 9th century in China! There’s something special about playing cards around the table that you just don’t get with the Nintendo Switch or Playstation.

So, let’s shuffle the deck and talk about the best card games for families. But first…

Why play card games?

Card games are easily portable. Most card games travel well and can be played almost anywhere. The smart mom has a box of Uno cards in her purse or diaper bag for the long waits in doctor’s offices and airports.

Card games are screen free. It’s always a good thing to shut down the devices. With card games you have a group activity the whole family can share. These are great for summer vacation, but don’t forget to include them in your fall activities for kids!

Card games are cheap. Compared to video games and board games, card games are affordable for most people. Near Christmas especially, you’ll find card games for super cheap prices on Amazon or at Target and Walmart. They make very frugal gifts to give.

Card games are fun! There are always new card games being created, playable by all ages. You’re bound to love these best card games for families.

Where to play card games

You can play card games at home, at parties, and when you travel. To make them more portable, I often remove them from their boxes and put them in a small travel packing cube.

I typically pack a few card games when we go overseas because you never know when you’ll have some down time to play. Our kids have played in train stations and at cafe tables while we waited for food.

It’s also handy to have a card game in the car for other wait times. It’s better than everyone scrolling on his own device.

For home, it’s always nice to have card holders for playing cards on hand so that littles with small hands, grandparents with arthritis, or moms nursing babies can all play.

The Best Card Games for Families

Here are some of our favorite card games for families:

Exploding Kittens – This silly card game for those 7 and up is always a hoot. Last player standing wins as you all try to keep the kittens from exploding.

Quiddler – Quiddler is the card game version of Scrabble. It’s super fun; the beautiful cards with illustrated letters will bring out the Shakespeare in everyone.

Spot It – Spot It, in its dozens of variations, is the perfect card game for all ages. Quickly spot matching symbols before your opponents and garner the most cards to win. There are variations for all interests, including sports and foreign languages. We’ve found that these games are great ice breakers for new friends and shy cousins and that play can span a large range of ages and generations. An added bonus is the compact metal storage tin that’s easy to pack for the road.

Blink – Blink is a two-minute matching game that’s perfect for grade school kids. It’s a great game for improving your reflexes.

Uno – Uno is probably the classic universal card game that has spanned decades and generations. Invented in 1971 it’s seen dozen of iterations and continues to be popular with Gen Z.

Code Names – Code Names, available in several variations, is a party game where teams are given clues by a spymaster to determine who their secret agents are based on a grid of cards.

Sushi Go – Sushi Go is a fun card game where you combine different sushi restaurant food items to earn points. Get the most points to win the game.

Dutch Blitz – Get rid of your ten cards, in simultaneous play with others. Card play is based on ascending order of colored cards.

classic deck of cards – Don’t underestimate the vesatility of the classic deck of cards. Alongside a book like Best of Classic Card Games, you can teach your kids old school card games like Slapjack and Crazy Eights. Bicycle has a super cute selection of licensed and Disney-inspired playing decks, like this Alice in Wonderland set.

(This pictured set is not the Disney Alice, but styled more like the book’s original illustrations.)

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