21+ Best Card Games for Kids: Our Top Picks for 2024
As a parent, you know how important it is to limit screen time and engage your kids in fun social activities. Playing card games is a great way to spend quality time together while exercising their developing minds.
You may remember classics like Go Fish, War, and Crazy Eights from your childhood. But today’s market offers far more exciting new options with clever themes and mechanics that kids love. In this article, we’ll explore 22 of the best card games for kids of all ages. Look through to select your pick of card games to foster bonding time with your little ones!
Top Card Games for Kids Just Starting Out
For younger kids with little experience in card games, you’ll want to start with easy-to-learn games. Crazy Eights, Go Fish, Old Maid, and Memory are some of the best card games for 7-year-olds and below.
1. Crazy Eights
Crazy Eights is a fun, simple game that helps kids practice their number skills while having fun. The goal is to match either the number or suit of the previous card played. Kids will learn how to recognize numbers and suits, take turns, and strategize to get rid of their cards first.
This classic game is perfect for kids aged 5 and up. Here is a detailed guide explaining how to play Crazy Eight.
2. Go Fish
Fish is another classic game for young kids. The goal is to collect sets of four of a kind. Kids will learn how to recognize numbers and suits, ask questions, take turns, and strategize to get the cards they need.
Fish helps build logic and reasoning skills in a really fun way. For more information, check out our detailed guide on how to play Go Fish.
3. Old Maid
Old Maid is a popular, engaging, and easy-to-understand card game for kids. The goal is to get pairs of cards while avoiding being left with the Old Maid card. Kids have to pay close attention to the cards being played to avoid getting stuck with the Old Maid.
This fun game helps build concentration and logical thinking skills for kids aged 4 and up. Here is a guide explaining how to play Old Maid.
4. Memory (or Concentration)
Memory, also known as Concentration, is a classic game that helps build memory and cognitive skills. The goal is to find matches between cards that have the same symbol or image. Kids have to remember where the matches are as more cards get flipped over.
Memory is great for developing visual perception and cognitive abilities in kids as young as 3 years old. For a walkthrough on how to play Memory, check out our published guide.
With so many great options, you’re sure to find a perfect first card game for your little one. These games provide opportunities for learning and development, all while having fun and spending quality time together. For more experienced kids, you’ll want to scale the complexity by choosing more strategic card games.
Awesome Card Games for Older Kids
For kids with more experience in card games, consider challenging yet easy card games with a deck of cards, such as Rummy, Hearts, Sushi Go!, and Speed.
5. Rummy
Rummy is a classic game of taking sets and runs. Players draw cards and discard unwanted ones, trying to get three-of-a-kind or three cards of the same rank, as well as sequences of three or more of the same suit. The goal is to get the lowest score by discarding unmatched cards.
Rummy is an easy game to learn but challenging to master — a perfect card game for kids and family gatherings. To play it the right way, check out our guide explaining how to play Rummy.
6. Hearts
Hearts is a trick-taking game where players avoid taking tricks containing hearts. Each heart is worth 1 point, and the queen of spades is worth 13 points. The goal is to have the lowest score by avoiding hearts.
Hearts is a game of risk management, reading your opponents, and a bit of luck. Kids will love the challenge of dodging those perilous hearts! If you want to learn more, we have a detailed guide on playing Hearts.
7. Sushi Go!
In this fast-paced drafting game, players are sushi-eating patrons trying to make the best sushi meal. Players choose from a variety of delectable sushi, such as Maki Rolls, Tempura, and Dumplings. Each type of sushi scores points in a different way.
Grab the tastiest combination of sushi to earn the most points! Sushi Go! This game plays in about 15 minutes and is perfect for kids and families.
8. Speed
Speed is one of the best card games for 8–10 year olds. In this game, players try to get rid of their cards by discarding them in central discard piles. Each discard pile can only contain cards that are one rank higher or lower than the previous discard. Players race to play their cards as fast as possible; the first player to get rid of all their cards wins!
Speed is a fast-paced game of quick thinking that will have kids laughing, shouting, and scrambling to win. You can learn more with this guide on how to play Speed.
With a variety of games ranging from strategic to silly, there’s a perfect card game for every kid. Gather friends and family, deal the cards, and let the fun begin! These awesome card games for families with kids are sure to create many cherished memories around the table. However, if the options of peers are not available, your kid can still enjoy quality time with a solo card game.
One-Player Card Games for a Solo Kid
Here are some fun card games for a single player:
9. Wish Solitaire
This simple game only requires a standard deck of cards. Deal out 32 cards in eight piles, with four cards in each pile. Turn the top card of each pile face up.
Discard any exposed pairs (two cards of the same rank) by removing them. Your goal is to pair up all the cards in the layout. Keep a careful eye out for any matches in the layout as new cards become exposed!
This fun, luck-based game is easy to learn but challenging to win. Here’s a more detailed guide explaining how to play Wish Solitaire.
10. Pyramid Solitaire
Pyramid is another classic patience game perfect for solo play. Deal out 52 face-up piles in a pyramid shape, with one card at the top, two below, and so on, down to five cards at the base. The remaining cards form a draw pile.
Discard any pairs of exposed cards that add up to 13. For example, a five and an eight would be removed as a pair. Your goal is to pair up all the cards in the pyramid. Draw one card at a time from the draw pile, discarding any pairs that add up to 13.
This game requires logic and planning to systematically clear the pyramid. For further reading, check out this guide on how to play Pyramid Solitaire.
11. Scoundrel
For the solo player looking for an extra challenge, Scoundrel is one of those fun card games for 12-year-olds that tests concentration and memory. Deal out four piles of five cards, each face down. These are your working piles. Deal one card face up to start the discard pile. On each turn, draw one card from the draw pile.
You have two options: discard the card in the discard pile or play the card in one of your working piles. If you play to a working pile, flip over the top card. If it matches in either suit or rank, you earn a point.
The goal is to get the most points before all cards have been played. But be careful — if you reveal a scoundrel (a face card), you lose all points for that round!
With so many options for solo card play, there’s no reason for your kid to be bored. These three classic games—Wish Solitaire, Pyramid, and Scoundrel—provide an entertaining challenge for players of all ages. If you choose to pair up with your kid to play a card game or seek options your little one and their friend can have fun with, check out our two-player card game recommendations.
Two-Player Card Games Kids Will Love
If you seek card games that can keep your kid and their sibling or friend busy, consider the following options:
12. Spite and Malice
This classic two-player game is easy to learn for younger children. Each player is dealt 20 cards, and the goal is to get rid of all your cards by playing them in sequence in the center pile. You can play cards that are one higher or one lower in rank than the top card.
Players take turns drawing from the stockpile and discarding, trying to get the cards they need to play. The first player out of the cards wins!
This game teaches number sequencing and strategic thinking. Here is a more detailed guide on how to play Spite and Malice.
13. Kings in the Corner
This game is perfect for young kids still learning their numbers and suits. Start by dealing seven cards to each player. The remaining cards are placed face down to form the stockpile.
The goal is to get all the cards dealt to you into the layout. Players take turns drawing a card from the stockpile and play cards to the middle layout when possible. You can only start a card in the corner if it is a king.
The first player to get rid of their cards wins. The following guide details how to play Kings in the Corner.
14. Double Solitaire
Double Solitaire is one of the best card games for 10-year-olds. This popular game allows two players to compete head-to-head. Start by dealing 28 cards to each player. The remaining cards are placed face down to form the stockpile.
The goal is to build four piles of cards of the same suit in ascending rank from ace to king. Players take turns drawing cards from the stockpile and discarding them. You can use cards in your hand or in your discard pile to build your solitaire piles.
The first player to complete their solitaire piles wins! This game helps with sequencing, sorting, and strategic planning.
With so many fun options, you’re sure to find a new favorite two-player card game to play with the kids! These classic games provide opportunities for learning and fun, bringing people together around the table. For even more fun within a gathering, you can go for card games suitable for groups.
Large Group Card Games for Kids Gathering
If you’re hosting a family game night and need some fun family card games to keep the scene engaging, consider the following family games with a deck of cards:
15. Six Card Golf
This simple card game is perfect for kids and families and can be played by 2 to 4 players. It starts by dealing each player six cards face down. Players take turns drawing one card from the deck and discarding one card from their layout, trying to get the lowest point total based on card values (A=1, Jo=-2, Q=10, K=0, Ja=10).
The player with the lowest score after nine holes (rounds) wins! For more information, here is a guide explaining how to play Six Card Golf.
16. Estimation
Also known as “Oh Hell!” Estimation is a trick-taking game where players bid on how many tricks they will take each round. The number of tricks changes each round, going up and down from 1 trick to the maximum number based on the amount of players. This adds an element of chance that kids will love.
The player who bids correctly and takes the same number of tricks they bid wins! This fast-paced game works with as many players as possible. We have a detailed guide on how to play Estimation you can check out!
For big gatherings, these two card games are some of the best family card games. With simple rules but great opportunities for strategy, they provide hours of entertainment for groups large and small.
What card game would you like to play first with your kids and family?
While you figure that out, remember that card games are great for building math skills. Instead of simply playing cards to provide entertainment, you can infuse some mathematical skills into your kids’ fun time.
Card Games That Build Math and Strategy Skills
Here are some of the best card games for 4-year-olds and above to build mathematical skills:
17. Addition Pyramid
Addition Pyramid helps kids build number sense and mental math skills. Start by dealing out cards evenly to 2–4 players. Each player arranges their cards in a pyramid shape, with one card at the top, two cards in the second row, three in the third row, and so on.
Players take turns calling out the total of any two cards in their pyramid. Get the sum right, keep the pair; get it wrong, return them. To win, players must collect the most pairs! This game strengthens addition fluency and number relationships in a fun, engaging way.
18. Subtraction Match-Up
Subtraction Match-Up is a fun card game that sharpens math skills. Each player receives a stack of cards kept face down. The dealer begins by placing one of their cards in the center and subtracting its value from 100.
Players flip their top card onto the center pile, continuously subtracting the new card’s value from the evolving total. This game not only hones subtraction skills and number sense but also encourages mental math agility in young players.
19. Gain or Loss
Gain or Loss is a great game that combines strategy and basic arithmetic. Each player starts with 16 points, and on their turn, they draw a card from the deck. Black cards signify gains, and their value is added to the player’s total points; red cards mean losses, and their value is subtracted.
If the deck is depleted, the cards are shuffled and reused. After 20 rounds, the player with the highest total points is declared the winner. This game is a fantastic way for kids to practice addition and subtraction while having fun.
These engaging card games build foundational math skills through strategic play and mental calculation. While many games are simple to learn, they provide an opportunity for kids to strengthen important skills like addition, subtraction, number comparison, and number sense. Lastly, we’ll consider some fast-moving card games that can stimulate your kids’ senses.
Fast-Paced Card Games to Get Kids Energy Out
The following fast-paced card games can help improve kids’ decision-making ability:
20. Joule!
In Joule!, players become scientists racing to make efficient energy combinations. Each round starts with the previous round’s ending player. Everyone flips over two grid cards, adding the values and the player with the highest total leads.
Players draw cards, deciding whether to swap with their grid or discard. Discarded cards mean flipping a grid card face up. The aim? To finish each round with the lowest possible score, turning strategy and quick thinking into a fun, educational experience.
21. Power Switch
Power Switch is one of the best card games for kids with cards. In this engaging game, strategy is key.
The game starts with a shuffled deck. Players are dealt face-down cards to form their generator pile, with the number of cards matching the player count. The rest are distributed to form the players’ hands.
Each player receives a power switch card, placed face-up before them. A roll of two dice sets the starting power card’s color and number, while another die roll decides the round’s dealer. From there, play proceeds clockwise as players tactically discard cards at opportune moments to win the game. Power Switch is.
22. Touchdown!
For some fast-paced football fun, try Touchdown! The Card Game. Players represent football teams trying to make it down the field, score touchdowns, and kick extra points. You’ll play offense and defense cards to march towards the end zone while trying to stop your opponents.
Touchdown! moves at lightning speed, so kids need to think on their feet. They’ll be running, passing, and blitzing in no time! The football theme and competitive gameplay make this a great option for sports fans and energetic kids.
Other fast favorites for high-energy kids include:
Slamwich!: A crazy card-stacking game that requires quick reflexes.
Set: The classic pattern recognition game that never slows down.
Dutch Blitz: A frantic card game where players race to get rid of their cards.
Red7: One of the highest-ranking card games with different rules for each color.
With so many fast-paced, high-energy card games, you’re sure to find an option to captivate kids and burn off some of that extra energy. These games provide an exciting outlet for their enthusiasm and restlessness while also helping build crucial skills.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best card game for a 7-year-old?
Go Fish is the best card game for a 7-year-old. It’s simple and quick, especially when playing in pairs instead of fours, keeping the game engaging and manageable for young minds. Also, “Spot It!” offers a fun visual challenge that sharpens observation and reflexes, making it an excellent choice for this age group.
What is the best card game for a 3-year-old?
Go Fish is the best card game for a 3-year-old. It’s straightforward and teaches turn-taking and set-making. “Monster Match” is also great, with its fun theme and focus on finding pairs. This game helps develop memory and matching skills in a playful, engaging manner suitable for kids.
What is the number 1 card game?
UNO!™ holds the title of the world’s number-one card game, offering a blend of simple rules and exciting gameplay. Its universal appeal lies in its ability to bring together players of all ages with its colorful deck and strategic play, making it a household favorite globally.
Are card games appropriate for preschoolers?
Absolutely, card games are appropriate for preschoolers. They’re not only a source of fun with the whole family but also a brilliant tool for nurturing essential social skills. These interactions help little ones prepare for school life and contribute to their development well into the future.
Conclusion
We hope our list of the best card games for kids helps you make game choices that keep your young ones entertained. With so many options, you’re sure to find several that match your child’s interests and abilities. Keep this list handy for the next time you’re looking for a new game to play with your little ones.
Card games provide great social interaction and strategy benefits for children. Plus, they’re fun! So deal out a hand and enjoy some quality time together. With a little creativity, even a simple deck of cards can lead to hours of laughter and lifelong memories.
Before you go, don’t forget to check out our shop for some awesome game resources.