The 15 Best Card Games for Family Bonding

GameWright Splurt

4.5

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This quick-thinking (and speaking) game will bring the whole family together for fast-paced fun. The Splurt deck contains cards with a category on one side. On the other side are a letter and the spot in the word that letter designates, for example, "starting with f" or "ending in y."

The first person to yell out a word fitting both descriptions ("a movie start starting with w" or a "pizza topping beginning ending with t") wins that card. The game continues until all the cards are gone, and the player with the most cards wins.

This game is plenty of fun with just two players but is also perfect for large groups and parties. Every game, you draw new combinations of cards for a completely different experience each time, making for a high replay value. Users love the easy-to-learn instructions that make it easy for players of all ages to understand and enjoy.

Price at time of publish: $10

_{Number of Players: 2 or more | Duration: 15 minutes | Recommended Age: 10 years and up}

Hasbro Gaming Monopoly Deal Card Game

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If your family can never sit long enough to finish a full game of the classic board game Monopoly, opt for this quicker paced card version perfect for slipping in your backpack or suitcase. The objective of the game is the same with each player trying to buy real estate and collect money. Collect three complete property sets to win, but look out for debt collectors, forced deals, and deal breakers. With short gameplays, you can play multiple rounds back to back for a new winner each time.

Price at time of publish: $8

_{Number of Players: 2-5 | Duration: 15 minutes | Recommended Age: 8 years and up}

Exploding Kittens Card Game

4.9

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This popular, 15-minute game, which is described by its founders as "a highly strategic, kitty-powered version of Russian roulette," has sold millions of copies. How to play? You pick from the draw pile, and if you pull an exploding kitten card you're out, unless you can use another card in your hand to take action. That might mean defusing with a "kitten yoga" card, deploying the "weaponized back hair" card, or playing your "rub the belly of a pig-a-corn" card, which allows you to peek at the top three cards in the pile. Obviously there's a fair amount of luck and chance, but you'll also need to strategize as you figure out which cards to play when, and as the draw pile gets smaller, your chances of pulling an exploding kitten get larger, thus increasing the tension.  quickly.

Price at time of publish: $20

_{Number of Players: 2-5 | Duration: 15 minutes | Recommended Age: 7 years and up}

Exploding Kittens Hand to Hand Wombat

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From the makers of Exploding Kittens and On A Scale of One to T-Rex, Hand to Hand Wombat invites players to cover their eyes and either build towers, or destroy other player attempts to do so. Some cards add twists to the premise, so players are often kept on their toes. The lighthearted artwork and silly premise is sure to entice younger kids to play, while adults report have just as much fun. If you're a fan of any prior Exploding Kitten games, or need an excuse for some silliness, this is surely to be a fit for you and your fellow players. Pro-tip, keep some blindfolds on hand as it can make it easier for young players (or those who can't resist peeking) to keep their eyes covered.

Price at time of publish: $26

_{Number of Players: 3-6 | Duration: 15 minutes | Recommended Age: 7 years and up}

Libellud Dixit Odyssey Board Game

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This gorgeously illustrated game helps spark imaginative storytelling. The cards were illustrated by Marie Cardouat, known for her work on games like Steam Park and Marrakech, and have a dreamy, museum-worthy look to them. In Dixit Odyssey, a player is asked to make up a tale inspired by the imagery, and the others at the table must try to guess which card they're referencing. Although expansion packs are also available, the game's creator, Jean-Louis Roubira, has said that part of the challenge of the game is to find new and surprising associations even about pictures you've already seen. Some families might even decide to mix things up by creating their own rules, for example, all associations during a given round must be related to a favorite sport, movie, or vacation spot.

Price at time of publish: $28

_{Number of Players: 3-6 | Duration: 30 minutes | Recommended Age: 8 years and up}

Wizards of the Coast Dungeon Mayhem

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A fun and easy way to introduce kids to fantasy and the D&D world, or to simply have a good time, Dungeon Mayhem gives players the chance to take on character forms and battle each other using their character's strengths and skills to (hopefully!) overcome opponents. The set features four decks to choose from, each representing a D&D class (Paladin, Wizard, Barbarian, or Rogue), so there's plenty of variety to keep things interesting for as long as players want. The winner is determined as the last player to run out of hit points. Once players grasp the simple premise, rounds can be played one at a time, or back to back for hours of continued fun. Expansion sets are available, too.

Price at time of publish: $12

_{Number of Players: 2-4 | Duration: 5-10 minutes | Recommended Age: 8 years and up}

Mattel Games UNO: Classic Card Game

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Iconic and perennially beloved, Uno is a game that can be customized for the age and skill level of the players. There are many rule variations, and some families even create their own, but the basic outline is simple enough for younger kids to understand. The object is to rack up 500 points across several rounds, which one can do by getting rid of their cards first, since they'll earn points for whatever cards their opponents are left holding. As they play, kids and parents can discuss the different ways to strategize. If your kids don't have the stamina to play to 500 points, simply declare the winner at the end of each short round, which might also be the best strategy if you're playing with sensitive little ones.

Price at time of publish: $6

_{Number of Players: 2-10 | Duration: Not listed | Recommended Age: 7 years and up}

Mattel Games Apples to Apples

4.6

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In this fun and familiar game, players take turns being the judge, which little ones will appreciate as it helps balance out the power dynamics. The basic premise: Red cards list nouns (people, places, things, events) and green ones have adjectives. Each player is dealt seven red cards, while the green ones are left as the draw pile. The judge flips over the top green card, and reads it aloud. The other players must then put down the red card that they think fits best with the green one in play. Note that the goal is to wow the judge (you can argue your point), so that might mean picking a combination that you suspect they will appreciate—for example, "glamorous BigFoot" might trump "glamorous supermodel" for the right judge. If you win a round, you get to keep the green card, and the goal is to rack up a certain number of cards, which based on how many people are playing.

Price at time of publish: $17

_{Number of Players: 4-8 | Duration: 30-75 minutes | Recommended Age: 12 years and up}

Kids Against Maturity Card Game

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Are your kids ready to graduate from Apples to Apples but you don't dare show them Cards Against Humanity? This popular pick, which is heavy on the potty humor, is exactly the right compromise. The structure is similar: Players are each given 10 answer cards, and take turns playing the role of judge, which involves reading the question card and selecting the best answer—which, let's be honest, is usually the worst. Note that this game is not for the faint of heart: Parents should be prepared for references to things like "tipped-over Port-o-Potty," "turd burglar," and "the kid who wipes boogers under the desk." There are a few innuendos tossed in for the adults, but if you're concerned, you can always opt to edit the deck ahead of time.

Price at time of publish: $25

_{Number of Players: 4 or more | Duration: 30-90 minutes | Recommended Age: 10 years and up}

Hygge Games ...I Should Have Known That! Trivia Game

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Trivia games a nearly instruction-less option that anyone can get the hang of and enjoy no matter where you are. Perfect for road trips or dinner parties, I Should Have Known That from Hygge Games challenges you to questions you should already know the answer to including "How do you say Japan in Japanese" and "How long did Sleeping Beauty actually sleep?" The whole family will love facing off in this fast-paced test of random knowledge.

Price at time of publish: $20

_{Number of Players: 2 or more | Duration: Not Listed | Recommended Age: 14 years and up}

Exploding Kittens LLC On a Scale of One to T-Rex

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This hybrid of charades takes will get the whole family moving while still in a small portable case to bring to the beach, tailgate, or on vacation. Action cards are placed on the table and are not secret. These include an act like draw a circle in the air. Then, everyone selects an intensity card that tells you how intensely to perform that act on a scale from one to ten; these are kept secret. Everyone performs their actions at the same time and the goal is to find the player performing at the same intensity level as you.

Price at time of publish: $16

_{Number of Players: 2-8 | Duration: 15 minutes | Recommended Age: 7 years and up}

PlayMonster Relative Insanity

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Comedian Jeff Foxworthy's material now comes in an interactive card game perfect for families with tweens and teens that want a good laugh. One player acts as a judge and reads the setup to a joke. The rest of the party submits a punchline from their hand of cards and whoever the judge picks wins that round. Continue racking up cards until the one with the most is declared victorious (and a comedic genius). Some of the humor may come off crude or inappropriate for young players, so take that into account before purchasing.

Price at time of publish: $20

_{Number of Players: 4-12 | Duration: Not Listed | Recommended Age: 14 years and up}

Jax Sequence

4.5

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If dominoes and Gin Rummy had a baby, it might look something like this classic game, which has been popular for several decades. The object is to build straight rows of five chips (called sequences). As you do so, you'll need to also block other players and attempt to remove their pieces using certain cards, such as jacks. The game has an easy point of entry since reading isn't required: It can help kids develop skills such as logical thinking, cooperation, and strategizing.

Price at time of publish: $18

_{Number of Players: 2-12 | Duration: 30 minutes | Recommended Age: 7 years and up}

Atlas Games Gloom

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It can be hard enough to get your teens to join you for dinner, let alone an extended family game night, but this quirky, cleverly illustrated option just might be cool enough to lure them off FaceTime. Gloom is storyline-driven and the object is to inflict tragedy (and eventually death) on your own characters, while creating happiness and good cheer for your opponents. Each player is in charge of a family of eccentric types (characters include the Lurking Butler and the Creepy Clown), and the innovative design of the transparent plastic cards means everyone can easily see the score and progression of the game. 

Price at time of publish: $19

_{Number of Players: 2-4 | Duration: 60 minutes | Recommended Age: 13 years and up}