The Best Family Card Games

The card game has been a staple of family evenings spent indoors since kids ran around the prairie. It unites us in our long-standing urge to come together at the end of the day and battle it out (in friendly competition) for a couple of hours.

Buying Guide for Family Card Games

Why should you buy a game for the family?

Simply put: playing card games with the family is just plain fun, and since there’s no shortage of them, you’re bound to find one or several that the whole family can get the hang of within a few minutes. Additionally, playing games actually promotes healthy brain development in users of all ages. So, even if you missed out on buying Boardwalk Avenue, you’re still winning in the long run.

What should you look for in a game for the family?

• Play Style: First and foremost, a key factor you must consider when selecting your card game is its playstyle and how comfortable you and your family are committing to it. Games have come a long way from “draw one card, then roll the dice.” Today, we’re chucking things at each other, strategizing before each move, and screaming clues at each other from across the room, so it’s important that you know what you’re getting yourself into.
• Player Capacity: Know how many people your preferred card game can accommodate. Sometimes, games just can’t accommodate every member of the extended family. Large card-based games get around this issue with the best results. Games that require you to take on a character role still provide a top-tier experience but are best for smaller groups of people.
• Appropriateness: Finally, if you’re buying a card game for the family, remember to keep things family-friendly in more than the obvious way. Yes, avoiding offputting content is important for kids joining; however, finding a game that’s roughly suited to every player’s skill set is also a crucial way to keep the fun rolling.

Is there a game you should avoid for younger children?

There aren’t “bad” card games, only games that don’t mesh well with the play style of your peers and family. When it comes to accommodating the kiddos, avoid card games that even older players still pull the occasional rage quit over. Something that requires a lot of mental attention/strain can be confusing instead of fun for younger users.

Our Picks for the Best Family Card Games

Pros: This is the rare trivia game where senior citizens and youngsters can chime in. It’s a massive trivia card game that brings plenty of irreverent fun to multiple ages. There are different cards for different generations, from Baby Boomers to Generation Z, so every player only has to answer questions relative to their own age. Included in this card game are over 500 cards that cover five different categories for more than 2,500 questions. As there’s no shortage of cards to be found here, so you can play in groups with as few as four.

Cons: This game is really only suitable for kids 12 years and up, so your younger kids will have to wait this one out.

Bottom Line: Trivia card games are a family game night staple, and this particular trivia game is the rare version that doesn’t favor one generation’s knowledge over the other; grandparents won’t have to know the latest hit pop song, and teens won’t lose points for not knowing who Tony Curtis is.

 

Pros: If you’re looking for a fun way to spend time with friends and family, pick up Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza! It takes only a minute to learn how to play. Everyone takes a turn putting their card in the middle of the table while saying either “taco,” “cat,” “goat,” “cheese,” or “pizza,” in that order. If your card matches the word you say, you have to slap your hand on the pile of cards. Whoever’s hand is last must take the pile of cards and add them to their stack.

Cons: Adults may not find this game as challenging and engaging as kids might. Also, if you’re not careful when slapping the cards, someone could get their hand hurt. Be sure to remove rings, bracelets, and watches before play!

Bottom Line: This card game is a perfect choice for fun and laughs to take to parties, game nights, picnics, lines, and more.

 

Pros: This is another massive family card game that gets funnier when more people jump in, though it can be played and enjoyed with as few as three people. It’s an easy-to-learn yet side-splitting game where the person reading the card has to wear a mouthguard that hilariously garbles their words while everyone else tries to guess what they’re saying before time runs out. Despite having over 1,000 phrases, they’re all age-appropriate for even young kids. There’s also an adult-only version that’s more risque, as well as a deluxe extended version with expansion packs for even bigger groups.

Cons: The mouthguards will have to be properly cleaned and sanitized after each game to avoid spreading germs. The mouthguards are dishwasher safe to make this task easier, but it’s still an extra step that most family games don’t require.

Bottom Line: If you’re ready to laugh the night away with the fam, check out this hilarious game.

 

Pros: Both mentally and physically exciting, this card game is all about thinking on your feet. The game is simple enough to pick up, as users collect cards and throw plushy burritos at one another. It allows for up to seven players to join a single game while accommodating smaller parties of two or three people as well.

Cons: The high-intensity gameplay demands a bit of ducking and dodging, and sometimes even running. If you’re playing in close quarters, this type of activity could lead to a problem.

Bottom Line: If you’re looking for a game that embraces the ridiculous side of family get-togethers, this Throw Throw Burrito: A Dodgeball Card Game will have you leaping and laughing all evening long.

 

Pros: UNO gets a prehistoric makeover with Giant UNO Jurassic World Dominion. It’s the classic UNO card game, but with giant cards and a Jurassic World Dominion theme. Like in the regular UNO game, players match cards by color or number in a race to eliminate all their cards. Play continues until someone calls UNO and gets to lay down their last card. It’s a great game night choice for two to 10 players, seven years old and up, with the added excitement of oversized cards and dinosaur images.

Cons: These giant cards can be a bit more cumbersome to shuffle, organize, and hold than standard-sized cards.

Bottom Line: Consider these Jurassic-inspired UNO cards if you like the idea of playing a familiar game in an out-of-the-ordinary way! This set can make an ideal gift for fans of Jurassic World films, collectors, or any dinosaur enthusiasts you may know.

Final Thoughts

There are few better ways to bring the family together than through a couple of hours of welcome competition. These card games can cut through all of the jibber-jabber and help us enjoy time with loved ones.