Card games can be some of the easiest games to learn and most fun games to play. The problem is that there are a few very popular ones that we have all heard of, have played a million times and are now sick of playing. I wanted to make a list of games that are unique and fun to play, that most people haven’t ever played before.
For the purposes of this post, we define card-based board games as any tabletop games that use cards as the primary thing happening (game mechanics) in the game. Some are more like board games than others, but they all fit our definition of a board game.
So what are the 11 best card-based board games
- Dominion
- Quiddler
- Machi Koro
- Codenames
- Sushi go!
- Citadels
- Pit
- LAMA
- Dutch Blitz
- Splendor
- Sheriff of Nottingham
What makes each of these games fun is unique to each specific game. So we’ve described them in more detail below, as well as descriptions of how the games play, why we like them and who they are ideal for. Let’s take a look at them below.
1) Dominion
Specs
| Players | Duration | Age | Difficulty | Type | Price | 1-10 rating |
| 2-4 | 30 minutes | 13+ | Medium | Hand management | $30-$40 | 9 |
How it plays
Dominion is probably the most complicated game on the list, so we’ll get it out of the way first. This is a game where players purchase cards that help them buy better cards throughout the game—and ultimately buy victory points at the end of the game. Some cards cause players to lose abilities, while other cards enhance a player’s own ability to purchase victory points. The player that has the most points when the last “province” card is taken is the winner.
Why I like it
Dominion is one of my favorite games to play of all time. I love that it has so many types of cards that work in so many combinations. There are so many strategies a player can use to win, that the game doesn’t get old. That may make it sound complicated, but once you get the general flow of the game down, it isn’t hard to learn the different combinations.
Ideal for who?
This game is ideal for people that like playing strategic games. It is complicated by a beginner’s standards; but if you play games a lot, this is a great card game to get. It is even better for those that love the challenge of drawing cards (in this case, from your own pile of cards previously bought) and working only with those cards.
2) Quiddler
Specs
| Players | Duration | Age | Difficulty | Type | Price | 1-10 Rating |
| 1-8 | 30 minutes | 8+ | Easy | Card, Set collection | $10 | 8 |
How it plays
Quiddler is a word-centered card game where players create words with combinations of cards they are dealt. Each player starts with 3 cards in hand and adds a card each round until each player has 10 cards. Each card has one (or sometimes two) letters on it. The player with the most points, by making the best combinations, at the end of the 10 rounds is the winner.
Why I like it
I like quiddler because I always feel like I am reaching into the recesses of my brain to come up with words according to the letters I have in my hand. Sometimes you are dealt letters where there aren’t many word combinations available; which is where the creativity comes in. You have to figure out words to use, or you lose points.
Ideal for who?
Quiddler is ideal for people that love simple word games that still make you think. There aren’t many rules, and you can learn as you play the first round; yet you still need to work your brain to play effectively. That is a hard balance to find when creating a game, and the makers of Quiddler nailed it. So if you like to use your brain, buy this game!
3) Machi Koro
Specs
| Players | Duration | Age | Difficulty | Type | Price | 1-10 rating |
| 2-4+ | 30 minutes | 10+ | Easy/medium | Dice, Card drafting | $25-$35 | 10 |
How it plays
Machi Koro is an economic-based game where players are competing to build cities. Players take turns rolling dice and buying cards. Those cards are then used to earn more money throughout the game. The ultimate purpose is to build all the required parts of the city before everyone else. Some cards earn points on anyone’s roll; some cards earn points only on your roll; while still other cards earn points only on someone else’s turn. The player that purchases the best cards in the best combination will earn the most points, and ultimately build their city the fastest.
Why I like it
Machi Koro is actually one of my all-time favorite games. What I like so much about it, is that it melds luck and skill perfectly. The first major element is dice rolling—which is pure luck. The second major element is “drafting cards”—which is skill based. And all that means is that players take turns buying cards that interact with the outcomes of the dice.
So many games are purely skill based, while others are complete luck; most games, however, are some crappy combination in between that doesn’t work well. It’s rare for games to find the perfect middle ground where everyone is happy. Machi Koro is that middle ground.
Ideal for who?
This game is ideal for players that like to purchase resources (in the form of cards in this game), where each has a unique ability. And, by choosing wisely, you can produce better results than others. Choosing poorly hurts the chances of winning—all with luck playing a part in who does well and who doesn’t. It’s a great way to bring players that like all types of games together for some fun.
4) Codenames
Specs
| Players | Duration | Age | Difficulty | Type | Price | 1-10 rating |
| 2-8. More if desired | 15-20 minutes | 14+ | Very easy | Word, Party | $15-$21 | 8 |
How it plays
Codenames is a word-based game where players are split into two teams. Each team has a lead player that takes turns giving clues to their individual teams from a set of 25 words laid out on the table. With a one-word clue (anything other than the words printed on the cards) they must indicate to their team which words are assigned to them, while avoiding all the other words. First team to identify all their words wins.
Why I like it
I love that Codenames is so easy to learn and a lot of people can play. No, it’s not meant for 20+ people, but it is good for 8-10. The only real limit is how many people can fit around the table. It’s also great because you can teach it as you play. There isn’t any time wasted by taking 5-10 minutes to lay the groundwork before the can even begin. The only hard part is thinking of the clues to give your team throughout the game. But that kind of challenge is good. It makes the game fun to play.
Ideal for who?
Codenames is great for people that like word games as well as party games; it is the perfect mix of the two. It gets players thinking and being creative as they connect words together, but it also allows players to sit and talk while the other team is taking its turn. It’s not too hard and not too dull.
5) Sushi Go!
Specs
| Players | Duration | Age | Difficulty | Type | Price | 1-10 rating |
| 2-5 | 15 minutes | 8+ | Very easy | Set collection | $10 | 7.5 |
How it plays
Sushi Go is a very easy game of selecting cards to earn points. Players are each dealt cards and simultaneously choose a single card to add to their set in front of them. They then pass the remaining cards to the player next to them. This is continued until all cards are exhausted and points are totaled. The player with the most points at the end of three rounds wins.
Why I like it
Like a few other games on this list, I love the simplicity of Sushi Go. The actual gameplay is extremely easy to learn and the scoring isn’t too complicated either. Though it does take a “bit of work” to remember how each card scores. I love playing simple and complex games alike, but I love games like Sushi Go, especially because I can get people to play that wouldn’t normally play games. So if that’s your problem too, this is a good game to pull out.
Ideal for who?
Sushi Go is perfect for groups looking for a light, easy game that isn’t completely luck based. It has enough strategy and skill to keep everyone entertained, but not too much that everyone is so focused on the game instead of talking and socializing. People can still chat as they choose cards and strategize. It’s definitely a game to get!
6) Citadels
Specs
| Players | Duration | Age | Difficulty | Type | Price | 1-10 rating |
| 2-8 | 45-60 minutes | 10+ | Easy/Medium | Bluffing/Hand management | $25-$30 | 7.5 |
How it plays
Citadels is an awesome game where players compete to earn the most victory points through building districts within your city. Players take turns drafting different characters each round that have special abilities. The individual abilities facilitate earning money and building districts, or preventing others from doing so.
Why I like it
What I love the most about this game, hands down, is that you choose which character you want to be each round. If you really like a certain character, you can keep choosing it. For example, if you want to lead the next round, you can choose the King character and take control. There is some randomness to it, though. A few of the characters are removed from play each round to create variation and unpredictability, which makes it even more fun. I love this game!
Ideal for who?
Even though this game isn’t a true bluffing game, it is great for those that enjoy games where their identity is unknown to the other players throughout the game. They secretly choose their character and reveal it only on their turn. It’s also great for those that enjoy games with characters and special abilities. When they have a certain character, others don’t; they get to use that ability, others don’t.
7) Pit
Specs
| Players | Duration | Age | Difficulty | Type | Price | 1-10 rating |
| 3-8 | 60 minutes | 7+ | Very easy | Party/Trading | $10-$15 | 7 |
How it plays
Pit is a loud party game where players attempt to make sets of commodities by yelling out the number of cards they need. The only problem is that they aren’t allowed to specify which commodity it is. They just have to request the number they need and find someone that is willing to trade that same number of an unknown commodity. As soon as one player gets all of the same commodity, they have cornered the market. The first player to earn 500 points wins!
Why I like it
Pit gets exciting! I love playing Pit with friends and family. It always tends to get goofy and loud as players compete to get their commodities. Inevitably someone will start yelling louder than everyone else. Then someone else starts even louder. I love that it’s a race to the finish with no complexity. Be the most, most enthusiastic to get your commodities and you just may win.
Ideal for who?
This game is ideal for parties of family and friends. The game can get weird if people don’t know each other and aren’t comfortable getting goofy. So choose the right crowd when pulling this game out, but definitely get it out!
8) Lama
Specs
| Players | Duration | Age | Difficulty | Type | Price | 1-10 rating |
| 2-6 | 20 Minutes | 8+ | Very Easy | Party, Card | $10-$15 | 7.5 |
How it plays
LAMA is a game about scoring the least amount of points possible. Players take turns playing cards from their hands from a stack in the middle. Cards number 1-6, with LAMA cards mixed in the deck as well. Players must match the card last played or play a card with one number higher. They can also play a LAMA card which resets the deck back to number 1. When a player gets rid of all cards in hand, the round ends and players take points based on what cards are left in their hands. Player with the lowest score, when another reaches 40 points wins.
Why I like it
I really enjoy LAMA because it is so easy to play, and yet there are a few elements of strategy. It is just so adaptable to the group playing the game. I find that I gravitate toward these types of games because so many people are willing to play them. The game can be cutthroat or it can be laid back; it’s up to the group.
Ideal for who?
I would echo what I just mentioned. This game is ideal for a few audiences. It can be played very simply with small kids that are learning numbers; but it can also be played by a group of friends that are looking for a quick-playing competitive game. It isn’t limited to one or the other, like many other games are.
9) Dutch Blitz
Specs
| Players | Duration | Age | Difficulty | Type | Price | Dutch Blitz |
| 2-4 | 30 minutes | 8+ | Very easy | Speed, Pattern | $10-$15 | 8 |
How it plays
Dutch Blitz is a multi-player speed game. In Dutch Blitz, each player is competing to get rid of a stack of 10 cards in front of them before the others get rid of theirs. The only way to do that is to start communal stacks of cards in the middle; 1’s are played to start each stack. 2’s of the same color are stacked on top—which can continue in ascending order up to 10. The first player to get rid of their stack of 10 cards wins that round. All other players receive negative numbers for the remaining cards in their stacks. The first player to 100 wins.
Why I like it
I initially hated this game. The first time I played, I ended the game with negative points. It didn’t help that I was playing with people that had been playing their whole lives; but still! It didn’t take long for me to catch on to how the game plays though. It’s really simple.
What I like most about Duth Blitz is that it plays fast (go figure!). The game starts and each round is over in just a minute or two. The entire game takes longer, but still happens in 20-30 minutes. Though I like longer games, I definitely enjoy playing shorter, simpler games—especially when my guests do too.
Ideal for who?
Dutch Blitz is ideal for people that like speedy, competitive games. I have come across many people that do not like them one bit; they’re stressed out when playing them more than they are entertained. Others love these types of games more than anything else and are always looking for a fun speed game to play with friends. This is the perfect multi-player speed game for as many players as you have cards. The game recommends 2-4, but you could theoretically have any number of players—as long as you have cards for them.
10) Splendor
Specs
| Players | Duration | Age | Difficulty | Type | Price | 1-10 rating |
| 2-4 | 30 minutes | 10+ | Easy | Card, Resource | $19-$25 | 8.5 |
How it plays
Splendor is an awesome strategic game about competing for limited resources. Players take turns collecting tokens and cards in order to earn points. The more cards a player owns, the better cards (worth more points) they can buy later. 15 points triggers the last round, and the player with the most points at the end of the game wins.
Why I like it
I love the building nature of this game. Initially, you just collect tokens. Using those tokens enables you to buy cards, which you keep for the rest of the game. Those cards then allow you to buy even more expensive cards that are actually worth points. Everything builds on itself; it starts slow (though not too slow) and it gets faster and faster as the game progresses—until someone triggers the end of the game with 15 points. Usually the end score is closer to 20 points as players take their last turns. I love it!
Ideal for who?
This game is ideal for people that love building games, where they have to manage the limited resources they have. Where every turn they take is important in moving them toward winning. It isn’t a very complicated game though. So learning how to do all of that is a pretty quick process.
11) Sheriff of Nottingham
Specs
| Players | Duration | Age | Difficulty | Type | Price | 1-10 rating |
| 3-5 | 60 minutes | 14+ | Easy | Card, Bluffing | $27-$30 | 7 |
How it plays
Sheriff of Nottingham is a bluffing card game where players are transporting goods into the city. Each player takes a turn as Sheriff while the other players attempt to get their goods into the city. Some of the goods end up being legal, while others are contraband. It’s the Sheriff’s responsibility to sniff out the contraband. The player that gets the most goods into the city (by the time everyone has been the Sheriff 2 times) to sell—whether legal goods or contraband—wins the game.
Why I like it
I have to admit that I LIKE Sheriff of Nottingham—everyone I play with LOVES it. They always want to play whenever we get together; so I’m willing to admit that it really deserves a spot on the list.
What I like most about Sheriff is that it is a bluffing game, but it doesn’t have to be a bluffing game. Some people hate bluffing games enough that they won’t play them. In Sheriff, if a player doesn’t want to bluff, they can just tell the truth and not have to fool anyone; but for those that want to bluff this is the game to play. It is all about lying, cheating and bribing. The reason I don’t love this game as much as other people is probably because I don’t love bluffing games in general.
Ideal for who?
This game is ideal for people that prefer bluffing games. This game’s purpose is literally to try to not only lie your way through, but bribe the Sheriff to let you pass discreetly. It gets so playful as players get creative when coming up with ways to get their contraband into the city. There are rules that can’t be broken, but everything else is free game.
Conclusion
There are so many great games out there are primarily use cards! We included only a few on this list. You can see a full list of the card games we recommend by clicking here, or by navigating to the resource page on the menu at the top.