5 Best Card Games for the Next Family Game Night

If you want to liven up the next family game night, why not try one of these fun and exciting card games? From timeless classics like Go Fish to modern favorites such as Crazy Eights, there’s a card game for everyone!

With plenty of choices that are sure to please both adults and kids alike, an evening playing card will keep the entire family entertained. Get ready to laugh out loud, think on your toes, and challenge each other with our list of the five best card games for your next family get-together.

Keep Your Family Engaged with Some Classic Card Games

Card games will never fail to keep everybody entertained, so everybody must know at least one of the five games listed below. If you’re unfamiliar with any card games, learn them today before your gathering!

Spades

A classic game that has been around since the 1930s, you can now enjoy Spades online without the hassle through a free smartphone app. You may also browse some platforms offering Spades without downloading anything on your smartphone.

This game requires strategy and teamwork, as two teams typically play it with two players. It also employs a standard deck of 52 cards with some bidding and bluffing. The goal is to be the first team to reach a certain number of tricks determined during the bid before the game starts.

Some basics to remember:

• Players bid before the play starts
• One team is called the declarer/dummy, while the other is the defender team
• Defenders must prevent the opponents from reaching the required tricks based on their bids
• Most games are played until 500 points

Search for some free browser-based platforms, and enjoy a free online Spades game. It’s the best way to master the game for those who don’t have any form of mobile device.

Crazy Eights Countdown

For beginners who want to take it slow, Crazy Eights Countdown is an exciting and easy game to learn. It’s also the perfect way to introduce kids to the basics of card playing. All you need is a standard deck of 52 cards, and you’re ready to get started. 

The goal is for each player to remove all their cards by matching numbers or suits on their played cards with those on top of a central stack in the middle. The countdown feature made this game more interesting than the classic version. Even your grandparents will feel alive with this exhilarating twist!

Check out Crazy Eights 3D to practice and develop your pairing skills. It’s free, and you can download it on your mobile device to prepare yourself before the upcoming game night.

Go Fish 

Go Fish is a classic card game that has stood the test of time. It’s ideal for families with kids since learning and playing is easy. You’ll need a standard deck of 52 cards, and you’re ready to go! 

The game aims for each player to get four of a kind with their hand. The players then ask other opponents if they have a card that matches their desire. If the opponent has it, they must give it to the player who asked. If not, they must respond, “Go Fish,” which refers to drawing a card from the pile in the middle.

The play is repeated until the player has four of a kind. They will then get to put the set aside and start all over again until there are no more cards in a pile. The one with the most sets wins! Go Fish will surely be a hit amongst your younger family members, so add it to the list for your next game night! The best part is that up to ten players can play it.

Rummy

Rummy is a group of games notable for their gameplay, which is to match cards of the same rank or suit into a sequence. The basic gameplay is to form melds of sets or runs, and the player must do this before their opponents. The game originated in the United States and is still popular amongst card players today.

Some notable variations of Rummy:

• Gin Rummy
• Rummikub
• 500 rum
• Indian Rummy
• Canasta
• Contract Rummy
• Shanghai rum
• Kalooki
• Dummy rummy
• Pool Rummy
• Ten pennies
• Three Thirteen

Rummy requires much more strategy than most games, as it involves discarding cards to improve one’s hand or to hinder opposing players. It is an incredible game for developing cognitive planning skills and predicting your opponents’ subsequent actions. Make sure to download variations, such as Gin Rummy Plus, for a modern twist to the traditional Rummy while developing your Rummy skills before the big night!

Spoons

Lastly, we have Spoons. It’s also known as Pig, played by two to eight players. Most players who will love this are kids, but adults can join in on the fun too. It employs the French pack of 52 cards. It’s also fast-paced, where players must try to get four-of-a-kind from their hands before the opponents do.

The goal is to be the first to acquire four cards of the same rank by passing them from their hands to the player next to them. It’s like musical chairs, where players will attempt to grab the spoons before the person with four-of-a-kind cards. Each round that the player with four-of-a-kind doesn’t get the spoon, they will get a letter instead. Once they complete the word SPOON, they are out of the game. The last player remaining wins!

So while playing Spoons, be fast and quick on your toes. Keep the other layers from getting the spoons, and prevent them from winning the game. You don’t need to practice this game, as it’s effortless to play.

Become the Game Master with Our Selection of Card Games

Family game night is a great way to spend quality time together and have fun. With our selection of the five best card games, you will become the game master for your next gathering. Whether Crazy Eights Countdown, Spades, Go Fish, Rummy, or Spoons, everybody will have the time of their lives with these card games.