The key to finding the right kids card games is ensuring everyone who’s playing will have fun. Having multiple decks of cards available for game nights and family gatherings can enhance the gaming experience and accommodate larger groups. Many innovative companies have come to realize that these days, and now we’ve got a host of fabulously fun card games, kids can play and their grown-ups will also enjoy. This makes for the best game night, filler moment, or nightly ritual. And, thanks to our roundup, it’s easier than ever for you to create your collection of the best kids’ card games for your family.
Introduction to Playing Card Games for Kids
Playing card games is an excellent way to introduce children to the world of games and entertainment. Not only are card games fun and engaging, but they also offer numerous benefits for kids’ cognitive, social, and emotional development. Kids card games can help children develop problem-solving skills, strategy, and critical thinking, while also promoting social interaction, bonding, and good sportsmanship.
Imagine the joy on your child’s face as they master a new game, or the laughter shared around the table during a family game night. Card games provide a perfect blend of fun and learning, making them an ideal choice for kids of all ages. Whether it’s a quick game of Crazy Eights or a strategic round of Rummy, playing card games can turn any moment into a memorable experience. In this article, we will explore the world of card games for kids, including classic games, tips for playing with kids, and a list of fun and easy-to-learn games that are perfect for family game nights.
The Ten Best Kids’ Card Games the Whole Family Can Enjoy
Unstable Unicorns
Age: 8+ Players: 2-8 Time: 30-60 minutes
Who needs friends when you’ve got an army of Unstable Unicorns by your side? This goofy, strategy card game, perfect for grown-ups and kids alike, themes on one goal: destruction! The game starts out with one baby unicorn in each player’s stable – with over 20 magical unicorns to collect, each with its own special powers. As the game progresses, you build your unicorn army from that baby and seek to destroy fellow players.
Had your precious baby taken? Seek revenge! Or protect your growing herd using magic and wiles. Just build that army and claim the title of The Righteous Ruler of All Things Magical to win. The official gameplay length is 30-60 minutes, but many families report that a 2-player game takes about 15 minutes, with 20-30 minutes for 3- and 4-player games. Players also note that it’s pretty easy to teach, learn, and for kids to grasp, so it’s become a favorite among many families looking for a great game night for kids as young as 8.
Zombie Kittens
Age: 7+ (Community 10+) Players: 2-5 Time: 15 minutes
Based on the original Exploding Kittens card game, Zombie Kittens adds an extra twist: when you explode, you come back as the undead zombies to stay in the game. The delightful Russian Roulette-esque card game has been keeping people in stitches for years now, and this new twist means kids don’t get taken out of the game if they hit that explosion too early on – making this the ideal version of the game for kids.
Each game of Zombie Kittens plays for about 15 minutes, with 2 to 5 players competing against each other in the daring game to see who will explode, who will rise again, and who will win (even Zombie Kittens can win!). You can even combine this stand-alone game with other versions of Exploding Kittens if you want to expand the fun for up to 9 players.
Dutch Blitz (with Expansion)
Age: 8+ Players: 2-4 Time: 5-10 minutes per round
The classic card game Dutch Blitz remains one of the best kids’ card games of all time. The fast-paced fun tests strategy, speed, and more with simple, energized gameplay that anyone as young as 8 can easily grasp (6 or 7 in many cases). The interactive game gets kids engaging with each other and their friends and family, with rapid speed and energy they won’t get playing quiet games (i.e., It’s a great game about an hour before bed to burn some of that mental energy!).
The goal in Dutch Blitz is to play as many cards in sequence as possible (1 through 10), in the same respective colors as the Dutch piles – and use up as many cards in your hand as possible. These give points and speed you toward victory, for the first person to empty the Blitz pile ends the hand, and the first person with 75 points wins the game. Most rounds take 5 to 10 minutes, with a total game taking usually 45 minutes to an hour unless points are extremely evenly spread.
What Do You Meme? Family Edition
Age: 8+ (Community 6+) Players: 3-20 Time: 30-90 minutes
Designed with kids in mind, What Do You Meme? Family Edition is the perfect silly game night or filler activity choice when it comes to kids’ card games. The silly card game works great for kids 8 and up (the community says 6 and up), for silliness and fun for all. To play, you compete against each other to create the goofiest memes with the cards provided. Combine caption cards with image cards to come up with the wackiest combo and take the round.
Over 300 caption cards and 65 photo cards provide plenty of challenge and playability for the game over and over again. The winner of each round is decided by a rotating judge – so use your knowledge of the sitting judge to create the perfect caption to capture their sense of humor. Whoever wins the most rounds by the end of the game wins!
Kids Against Maturity
Age: 8+ Players: 4-10 Time: 30-90 minutes
Another popular game for grown-ups – now made kid-friendly, Kids Against Maturity is the superlative game night fun time for kids of all ages. The game takes all the best qualities of Cards Against Humanity and makes it family-friendly for all to enjoy, combining toilet humor for the kiddos (and kiddos at heart) with over-the-head innuendos that grown-ups and teens can giggle over. Ideally, you’ll want to play this with at least 4 people, as young as 8 (some say 6), for about 30 minutes to an hour and a half, depending on the size of your crowd.
The game includes 600 question-and-answer cards in a portable box, perfect for family nights, travel entertainment, family reunions, or just about anywhere. No setup required. Players each start out with 10 white answer cards and everyone takes turns answering the blue question cards. Players aim to create the funniest answer to the question – and whoever collects the most cards in the end (read: silliest answers), wins. Fair warning: there is lots of potty humor, so the squeamish may wish to remove some of those cards.
Trash Pandas
Age: 8+ (Community 6+) Players: 2-4 Time: 15-20 minutes
Who doesn’t love a good dumpster dive? These Trash Pandas certainly do, and with them, you and the kiddos will, too! The riotously silly kids’ card game is fun for kids and grown-ups alike, as you take on the role of trash pandas (or raccoons if you want to be boring). You’ll draw cards, roll dice, and aim to see who can tip over the best – and most – trash to win the most points. And of course, keep an eye out for those splendiferous shiny objects!
Reinforce visual differences, probability, and strategic thinking for everyone using the 54 cards, 6 wooden tokens, and the custom die. As you play through the rounds, each Trash Panda’s goal is to collect the most rubbish from the bins by stashing away the most cards for points by the end of the game.
During each turn, the active player rolls the die to see if they’ll gain trash or treasure. They can roll the die more than once, but the more the die rolls, the higher the probability of losing out if you don’t get lucky and roll the goods. Depending on the action offered by the die, players can draw cards, steal cards, or stash cards away to save for points at the end. And, ultimately, whoever winds up with the most stashed cards wins.
Triple Tongue Twisters
Age: 8+ Players: 2-6 Time: 15-45 minutes
Combine education, silliness, and tongue twisters into a card game, and you’ve got Triple Tongue Twisters, a GoFish-style game but with a big twist. This ridiculous 4-in-1 card game is ideal for families with kids as young as 8 (some say 6 if they’re decent readers), thanks to the easy-to-follow instructions. And it’s just bonkers enough that the grown-up kids will enjoy this tongue-twisting fun, too.
Players will collect sets of 3-word triple tongue twisters (that GoFish element), and say them aloud as fast as possible without twisting their tongues up as they speak. This game isn’t quiet – and it’s full of raucous fun as players compete to learn the words, collect them, and play through as quickly as possible to beat fellow players. Kids have as much (sometimes more!) chance of winning than the adults in the room, so get ready for some real competition. It’s a great choice for a game night, a nightly game ritual a few hours before bed, or for beating rainy day dreariness without turning to screens.
The Bears and the Bees
Age: 8+ (Community 6+) Players: 2-5 Time: 30 minutes
You’ll find the artwork is just one of the beautiful parts of this delightful game from Grandpa Beck: The Bears and the Bees. In this game, the hexagon-shaped cards make absolute natural sense, teaching kids about honeycomb, honey, bees, and bears. To play, link the hexagon-shaped cards to grow the hive, using the colors on the gorgeous cards to match and place. The more sides you match as you go, the better. Play a card down with at least two sides matching (red touching red, pink touching pink) or honey-sides (wilds). But watch out for the special cards: extra plays, stingers, bears, worker bees, flowers, and more.
The first player to lay down all their cards in the round scores 0, while others score their hands by the number of cards they’re left holding. The lowest score after 3 rounds of play wins the whole game.
Happy Salmon
Age: 6+ (Community 5+) Players: 3-8 Time: 2 minutes each round
So, technically, each round of play lasts only 90 to 120 seconds. But no one can play just one round of Happy Salmon, the ridiculously fun, travel-friendly kids’ card game that the whole family – no matter the age – will love. That’s because there are no set rounds and ultimately, the game can go for 10 minutes to an hour, depending on how lucky you draw. And it’s perfectly suited for 3 to 8 players, kids 5 and up. Lots of folks play this with their kids at home but also bring it along for office parties, camping trips, and other settings where just as many adults need some entertainment as kids.
The simple rules are this: Each player begins with a stack of Happy Salmon cards. Each of the cards requires a simple action to be taken, assisted by a partner. Players then must shout out their actions and look for people who have the matching action to find their partners. When you find your match, you complete the action, discard the card, and keep going until you run out of cards or someone else beats you.
The ridiculously fun game uses simple actions to boost social skills and engage with folks they just met (read: Icebreaker!), and have fun with anyone and everyone no matter the relationships. Some folks find this is an especially great game for family reunions so cousins can get to know each other, along with the aunts and uncles they may not be as close to./
Blink
Age: 7+ (Community 5+) Players: 2-4 Time: 10 minutes
For super fast fun with the kids, grab your affordable copy of Blink, dubbed the “fastest game in the world.” It literally just takes 2-3 minutes to play a full game, but most folks play several rounds to make a fuller gameplay. The game works for 2 to 4 players, for kids 7 and up (5 and up, according to the community), and speeds through almost as fast as you blink, thus the name.
For two players, without taking turns, you’ll each race to empty your hand of cards by matching shapes, colors, or numbers of symbols on the cards. The game starts when the top of the deck is laid down, revealing the first card to play on. You then slap down your cards as quickly as you can match them, drawing more cards if neither of you have anything to match, with a hand up to 3 cards at a time. The game varies slightly for three- or four-player games, but basically plays the same way./
Classic Card Games for Children
Classic card games are a great way to introduce kids to the world of card games. These games are simple, easy to learn, and fun to play, making them perfect for kids of all ages. Here are some popular classic card games for kids:
Crazy Eights: This simple game involves players trying to get rid of all their cards by playing them in numerical order. It’s a fantastic way to teach kids about numbers and sequences while having a blast.
Go Fish: In this classic game, players try to collect sets of four cards by asking other players for specific cards. It’s a great game for teaching kids about matching and memory skills.
War: A straightforward game where players compete to see who has the highest card. It’s perfect for younger children as it requires no strategy, just a bit of luck and excitement.
Blackjack (Twenty-One): A game where players try to get a hand value closest to 21 without going over. It’s a fun way to introduce kids to basic addition and probability.
Rummy: Players try to get rid of all their cards by forming valid sets and runs. This game helps kids develop strategic thinking and planning skills.
These classic card games are not only entertaining but also educational, helping kids develop important skills while promoting bonding and family fun.
Tips for Playing Card Games with Kids
Playing card games with kids can be a fun and rewarding experience, but it’s essential to keep a few tips in mind to ensure everyone has a great time. Here are some tips for playing card games with kids:
Start with simple games: Begin with games that are easy to learn and understand, such as Crazy Eights or Go Fish. These games are perfect for introducing kids to the world of card games without overwhelming them.
Use a reduced deck: For younger players, consider using a reduced deck of cards to make the game more manageable and fun. This can help keep the game moving quickly and maintain their interest.
Practice the rules: Before starting a new game, take some time to practice the rules with your kids to ensure everyone understands how to play. This can prevent confusion and make the game more enjoyable for everyone.
Encourage good sportsmanship: Teach your kids the importance of good sportsmanship, such as congratulating the winner and being gracious in defeat. This helps create a positive and supportive gaming environment.
Make it fun: Most importantly, remember to have fun! Card games are a great way to spend quality time with your kids and create lasting memories. Whether you’re playing a quick game of Fish or a longer game of Rummy, the goal is to enjoy the time together.
By following these tips, you can create a fun and engaging card game experience for your kids that will leave them eager to play again and again.
Also Read: The Best Board Games For Kids
Conclusion
Grab your collection of these kids card games and you should be set for any game night, long trip, family reunion, or filler moments with the kiddos. The games range from super fast play like Blink or Happy Salmon to lengthy play with Unstable Unicorns or What Do You Meme? Family Edition. The best part is, that all these games are uber fun for teens and grown-ups, too, so the games will become family favorites that last a lifetime.
FAQ: Kids’ Card Games
What age range are these card games suitable for?
Most of the games in this list are suitable for children aged 8 and up, with some community recommendations suggesting they can be played by children as young as 5 or 6, depending on the game.
How long do these card games typically take to play?
The play time varies widely between games. Some, like Blink or Happy Salmon, can be played in just a few minutes, while others like Unstable Unicorns or What Do You Meme? Family Edition can last 30-90 minutes.
Are these games enjoyable for adults as well as children?
Yes, all of these games are designed to be fun for both children and adults, making them great choices for family game nights or multi-generational gatherings.
How many players do these games accommodate?
The number of players varies by game. Some games like Dutch Blitz are for 2-4 players, while others like What Do You Meme? Family Edition can accommodate up to 20 players.
Are these games educational as well as fun?
Many of these games offer educational benefits alongside entertainment. For example, Dutch Blitz helps with strategy and speed, Triple Tongue Twisters improves language skills, and The Bears and the Bees teaches about nature while developing matching skills.