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The Spruce / Amelia Manley
Encourage less screen time by treating your kiddos to an entertaining card game everyone will love to boost memory skills, critical thinking, and quality time.
We researched the best card games for kids of all ages, considering their recommended age, player count, and educational value.
Here are the best card games for kids.
Taco vs. Burrito LLC Taco vs. Burrito
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Taco vs. Burrito
Hilarious cards and drawings
Quick gameplay—can be played over and over again
Expansion packs available for extended play
Some cards may be unsuitable for younger kids
A 7-year-old created this surprisingly strategic card game, but it makes fun for the whole family. Each player builds a taco or burrito with the ingredients on their cards. Reduce the value of the meal with a tummy ache card or increase it with some hot sauce. If you don't have the card you need, play an action card to take cards from other players or the trash pile until you have your ideal hand.
Once everyone is out of cards, the player with the most points on their taco or burrito wins in this quick but hilarious card game. Each game only takes about 10 to 15 minutes, so you can play multiple rounds in one sitting for fast-paced, never-ending fun.
Thousands of users love this pick's hilarious content and replay value, dubbing it perfect for family game night. It's important to note that some parents may deem some content unsuitable for young kids, so be sure to use your discretion before picking this up for your family.
Price at time of publish: $25
Number of Players: 2-4 | Duration: 10-15 minutes | Recommended Age: 7 years and up
Zygomatic Spot It! Junior
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Zygomatic
Five variations of gameplay
Quick to learn
Fast-paced
Can get repetitive after a while
This visual game tests young one's observational skills and requires lightning-fast reflexes. Each turn, two cards are turned over with one picture in common between them. The first player to identify the matching picture that appears on both cards wins that round and the gameplay continues. Players of all ages will love this fast-paced and easy to learn game. Once your little ones grow older, switch over to classic Spot It! for a new challenge.
Price at time of publish: $10
Number of Players: 2-5 | Duration: 10 minutes | Recommended Age: 4 years and up
Stages Learning Materials Picture Memory Pets Card Game
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Courtesy of Walmart
Vivid pictures
No reading required
Doubles as deck for Old Maid or Go Fish
A bit overpriced compared to competitors
Pet lovers will adore this memory game that’s fun for the whole family. You don’t have to be able to read or count to play—it’s all about how well you can remember. The set contains 50 cards featuring adorable pets like kittens, puppies and hamsters. There are two of each, and the goal is to find and match them when they’re turned over and mixed up. The player with the most matches wins. While the pets can be easily identified through the sweet photographs, the word for each is also printed on the card, which is a great way to introduce early learning skills too while you’re having fun.
Price at time of publish: $9
Number of Players: 2-6 | Duration: Not listed | Recommended Age: 3 years and up
Hasbro Clue Card Game
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Hasbro
Less pieces than classic Clue
Same strategy required as original
Portable
Instructions can be unclear at first
The classic mystery board game has fun new twists in this portable card version. The Clue Card Game challenges players to gather information and eliminate suspects through evidence cards and case files. Players ask questions and make accusations to guess the culprit. The player who guesses correctly who committed the crime, where it was committed, and with what weapon wins the game.
Price at time of publish: $6
Number of Players: 3-4 | Duration: 15 minutes | Recommended Age: 8 years and up
Mattel Games UNO: Classic Card Game
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Courtesy of Target
Suitable for various ages
Easy to follow directions
Energetic and fast-paced
Cards can become flimsy after repeated use
Uno is the perfect example of a card game that kids will love and reach for until they are adults. The rules are simple to grasp and follow the same flow as the classic card game Crazy Eights. Players place the same color or number cards on the pile, aiming to get rid of all of their cards first. However, wild cards keep players on their toes and keep the game exciting and fast-paced. Just don't forget to yell "Uno!" when you have one card left.
Price at time of publish: $9
Number of Players: 2-10 | Duration: Not listed | Recommended Age: 7 years and up
Big Potato The Muddles
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Big Potato
Comes with a picture book
Adorable and wacky illustrations
Can help teach sounds and letters
Can be too difficult for some kids
This curious and creative card game questions what kinds of species are possible when combining creatures together. Kids create different "muddles" throughout the game to earn points. For example, a pig and a frog become a "pog." The more rare your muddle is, the more points you will get, and the closer you are to winning. Another great feature of this game is that it comes with an illustrated picture book to read after playing.
Price at time of publish: $15
Number of Players: 2-4 | Duration: 20 minutes | Recommended Age: 6 years and up
Front Porch Classics Deer in the Headlights Game
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Front Porch Classics
Suitable for the whole family
Not much strategy required
No complicated setup
Difficult to remember all of the rules at first
Bring the whole family together to play Deer in the Headlights, where the objective is to discard all of your cards first. Roll a "car" and discard cards to other players, but look out for the deer in headlights: They can force you to lose a turn, freeze you out of the game, or cut down on your discards. Each box comes with custom cards, a score pad, and two wooden dice.
Price at time of publish: $16
Number of Players: 2 or more | Duration: Not listed | Recommended Age: 8 years and up
What Do You Meme? Grounded for Life
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What Do You Meme?
Laughter ensues
Fun for the whole family
Some cards are not appropriate for younger players
From What Do You Meme? comes Grounded for Life aimed at families for hours of fun. Players combine one blue card with one red card to create the most hilarious sentence possible. Everyone takes turn being the judge and picking the funniest concoction. Whoever is deemed the funniest gets a point, and the player with the most points at the end wins. To ensure a laugh, play to the judge's sense of humor.
Price at time of publish: $20
Number of Players: 3 or more | Duration: Not listed | Recommended Age: 8 years and up
Gamewright Sushi Go! Card Game
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Courtesy of Amazon
Easy to understand
Adorable design
Fast paced
Small deck can make the game go by quickly
In this high-speed card game, the goal is to create the best combination of sushi dishes while mixing and matching ingredients on your cards as they whiz by. All players choose a card at the same time, then pass their hands to the left until all cards are dealt. You can score points by making maki rolls or collecting a full set of sashimi. The player with the most points becomes the sushi master. Add on expansion packs for more small plates to collect and earn points with.
Price at time of publish: $16
Number of Players: 2-5 | Duration: 15 minutes | Recommended Age: 8 years and up
National Geographic Rock and Mineral Card Games
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National Geographic
Multiple games possible
Educational
Gemstones add extra element
Trading game
No specific game included
Play all of your favorite classic card games with this deck from National Geographic that is anything but ordinary. Each card features a different gem or mineral along with fun facts about that stone to learn more about the world around you. Also, this set comes with 75 genuine gemstone specimens to trade, identify, and collect. Kids will love matching their new gems to the ones on the cards in between rounds of Go Fish and Gin Rummy.
Price at time of publish: $15
Number of Players: Not listed | Duration: Not listed | Recommended Age: Not listed
Pandasaurus Games Illusion
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Pandasaurus Games
Simple rules
Suitable for various ages
Unique concept
Can become repetitive after multiple rounds
Don't let these optical illusions fool you. Illusion from Pandasaurus Games is a fun, lightweight game designed to play tricks on your eyes. Players need to arrange their cards based on how much of a certain color is showing. However, the visual illusions on the cards make it difficult to tell what is real and what is fake. On your turn, you can add a new card the arrangement or call out another player who you think made a mistake.
Price at time of publish: $12
Number of Players: 2-5 | Duration: 15 Minutes | Recommended Age: 8 years and up
Looney Labs Fluxx 5.0 Card Game
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Looney Labs
Portable
Instructions are simple to follow
Fast-paced
Constantly changing rules may be difficult for young ones to follow
The beloved card game Fluxx starts simply: Draw one card and play one card. Each player starts with three cards and follows the directions on each card they draw, which means the rules of the game are constantly changing with each turn. The rules of the game may change how many cards are drawn or how many you hold at the end of your turn. Follow all the rules to reach the finish line in this family friendly game.
Price at time of publish: $20
Number of Players: 2-6 | Duration: 5-30 minutes | Recommended Age: 8 years and up
Best Travel
Briarpatch Travel Scavenger Hunt Card Game
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Courtesy of Amazon
Portable
Perfect for passing time on road trips
Suitable for various ages
May be more difficult when traveling through remote regions
Road trips can be a headache, so why not keep the family entertained with some old-school travel fun—a scavenger hunt! Fifty-four question cards have you looking for license plates with the letter Z, a home with clothes hanging outside, and much more. This Amazon best-seller has tons of rave reviews from parents who said this helped burn through the miles while keeping kids (and parents) distracted throughout traffic and endless roads.
Price at time of publish: $10
Number of Players: 2-4 | Duration: Not listed | Recommended Age: 7 years and up
Hasbro Gaming Monopoly Deal Card Game
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Amazon
Each gameplay is different
Fast-paced
Less pieces than traditional Monopoly
Can be difficult to grasp at first
If your family has a bit of a competitive streak, they'll flip for the card version of the classic board game Monopoly. Unlike the board game, each game only takes around 10-15 minutes, so you can play as many rounds as you like without going into the wee hours of the night. The objective is the same—buy real estate and collect money—but you'll have to be smart while you build your empire.
Price at time of publish: $8
Number of Players: 2-5 | Duration: 15 minutes | Recommended Age: 8 years and up
ThinkFun Roll and Play Game
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Courtesy of Amazon
Suitable for young toddlers
Easy to follow
Educational
Kids will need adults' help to play
For the youngest card sharks, this Roll & Play game is a hit. Included are one plush, a colorful cube, and 48 game cards. Players roll the cube, then choose a card that matches the color to find out which activity they will have to perform. The cards fall into one of six categories, each of which promotes a specific area of learning, including emotions, body parts, animals sounds, counting, colors and actions. The actions are simple and fun, such as “Moo like a cow” or “Find something blue.”
Price at time of publish: $25
Number of Players: Not listed | Duration: 10-15 minutes | Recommended Age: 18 months and up
Arizona GameCo Smack it Card Game
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Courtesy of Amazon
Easy to learn
Helpful for learning numbers
Quick playtime
Cards can be flimsy
This fast-paced, fun card game is designed for ages 6 and up, but it's as much fun for the kids as it is for mom and dad. It’s somewhat of a cross between the classic card games War and Slap Jack. Players take turns laying down cards in the middle until a “Smack It” card is overturned. That’s when the smacking begins, and the one with the fastest hand wins. “Challenge Cards” also throw a twist into things. Customers say this game is fun, simple, and a great addition to game night.
Price at time of publish: $11
Number of Players: 2-7 | Duration: 12 minutes | Recommended Age: 6 years and up
Gatwick Games Goat Lords
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Courtesy of Amazon
Cute and hilarious illustrations
Suitable for various ages
Portable
Reviewers found it was not suitable for 2 players
The goal of this hilarious game is simple: become the Goat Lord. To do this, you stack pairs of matching goats with varying point values to build your goatherd. But, there are opportunities to attack, magical flower goatees, atomic goats, cards that give you magical goat powers, and more crazy twists. The first one to 1,000 points wins. The game promises much whooping, shrieking, and general goat good times. While there may be a little ramp-up time, once everyone learns the rules, there’s nothing but fun to be had.
Price at time of publish: $25
Number of Players: 2-6 | Duration: 20-40 minutes | Recommended Age: 8 years and up
TaliCor Ungame Families
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Courtesy of Amazon
Non-competitive
Designed to spark meaningful conversation
Suitable for kids and adults
No game elements
When you’ve got nothing but miles ahead of you, this fun Pocket Ungame can make the miles pass more quickly. It’s just the thing to get everyone to unplug and interact to make those fun memories family vacations are all about. There are no winners, it’s all about answering intriguing questions, such as “Who do you look up to most in your family?” and “What is the proudest moment of your life?” Kids will surprise you with their fascinating answers, and they’ll probably find yours interesting as well.
Price at time of publish: $10
Number of Players: 2-6 | Duration: Not listed | Recommended Age: 5 years and up
Nexci Scrimish Strategy Card Game 2 Pack
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Courtesy of Amazon
Can combine decks to accommodate more players
Quick gameplay
Lots of possibilities for replay
Can take multiple rounds to develop strategy
If you’re up for a challenge, this Scrimish strategy card game delivers. Two decks of cards are included, each of which contains 50 cards so that multiple people can play. The goal: Uncover and attack the other players’ Crown Card. To outsmart other players, it takes strategy and memory skills. Customers say the game is easy to learn and great fun. It's comparable to a card version of the board game Stratego.
Price at time of publish: $15
Number of Players: 2-4 | Duration: 10 minutes | Recommended Age: 8 years and up
Hoyle Fun Pack Kids Card Games
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Courtesy of Amazon
Six games in one
Affordable
Small size may be difficult for older kids/ adults to use
When you want to go old school and back to the basics of fun, this set from Hoyle will take you there. It comes with six decks of themed cards to play classics like Go Fish, Memory, Old Maid, Crazy Eights and more. Keep a deck or two in the car for road trips and you'll always be prepared.
Price at time of publish: $12
Number of Players: 2 or more | Duration: Varies by game | Recommended Age: 3 years and up
What to Look for in Card Games for Kids
Recommended Age
Even though every little one thinks they're a big kid, glance at the age rating on the card game you’re considering to make sure it’s an appropriate fit. If you age up too much, the kiddos could become disinterested or discouraged by complex rules or above-their-heads topics. Imagine the disappointment they'll have when they realize you gifted them something they don't understand. On the flip side, keep in mind that older kids might want more of a challenge and could fall easily bored with games that feel too young.
Educational Value
Find the delicate balance of fun and education in your kiddo's card games, so they can become more confident in reading, counting, and strategy—all while having a blast. Memory card games or games with a mystery element are excellent examples of activities that keep little minds moving. Best of all, they'll be having such a great time playing, they won't even notice they're learning. Win/win.
Multiple Players
One-on-one time with a kid and a card game is something special, no doubt about that. But playing with one or more additional players further develops social play, healthy competition, and teamwork. Just be cautious that all players fit within the age range specified in the user guide.
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Can kids play card games on their own?
Whether kids can play card games on their own really depends on the age of the child and how hard the game is. You can find out if a game might be too tough by looking at the recommended age range on the box. If a child's age falls in that age range, they should be able to play it without adult help. With any kids card game, you may need to take the time to go over the directions and show your child how to play. After they learn the rules, they should be more than ready to play on their own.
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What card games might kids enjoy?
Kids enjoy card games that are laugh-out-loud fun and fast-paced. The rules should be easy to understand and the kids should feel like they have a good handle on gameplay. Kids may not like to admit it, but educational card games can bring a lot of enjoyment, and they'll get the bonus of learning something while playing the game. Kids are looking to have a good time when playing a card game, so they game must be exciting and just challenging enough to keep them hooked.
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How can you help kids pick a card game?
To help your kids pick out a card game they're going to love, start by steering them towards games that are appropriate for their age. This will make sure that the game is geared towards how old your child is. Once you've found a few of these, take a good look at the game box with your child. Here you'll be able to find a description of the game, some examples of gameplay, and lots of colorful photos to show you just how fun the game can be. Help you child pick the game that looks the most fun to them.
Why Trust The Spruce?
This article was written by Julia Fields, a lifestyle writer for The Spruce covering all things surrounding toys, gifts, and the holidays. She's also covered similar topics in other roles, including toy reviews, product roundups, interviews with expert-focused articles, and more. Additional research was done by Megan McCarty, a writer for The Spruce and MyDomaine with more than 13 years of experience in both print and digital media. She regularly contributes to design-focused outlets such as Architectural Digest, Domino, House & Home, and Hunker.