Card games are always a fun way to catch up with loved ones while playing a game that keeps everyone engaged. There are so many options for card games out there, many beloved by players of all ages, but some card games take it up a notch, more suited for older players. Whether you’re looking for an intense competition or a social card game, Game Farm has just what you need.
If you’re looking for a solid selection of card games perfect for the next game night, look no further— try one of Game Farm’s recommended card games.
Best Competitive Card Games for Adults
Egyptian Ratscrew
If you’re looking for a competitive game that will keep everyone on their toes, Egyptian Ratscrew is the game for you. The objective of Egyptian Ratscrew is to gather all the cards in the deck. Whoever does so is crowned the winner, but it isn’t simple. While alternating card plays, players capture cards by keeping an eye on Doubles, Sandwiches, Face Cards, and more to slap and conquer that round. Players be warned the slaps can get heated once the winner is close to seizing the entire deck.
Speed
Like Egyptian Ratscrew, Speed is one of the most competitive card games around, which requires attention and some strategy. The goal of Speed is simple — be the first to get rid of all of your cards and you’re the winner!
Crazy Eights
If you want to keep players on their toes, Crazy Eights is a must-play card game. The objective of Crazy Eights is to be the first player to get rid of all your cards. If you can’t manage that, at least try to keep cards in your hand low so as to not add to the opponent’s points. The first player to a predetermined amount of points wins!
Euchre
As one of the most beloved and competitive games in the Midwest, we’d be remiss not to mention Euchre. Euchre is perfect for game night because players can play on teams. The objective of euchre is for you and your partner to score 10 points before the other team manages to do so. The first team to reach ten points wins the game.
Best Drinking Card Games for Adults
King’s Cup
If you’re hosting a card night with some drinks, King’s Cup is a fun-filled drinking game that will get players in high spirits in no time. The game gets friends together with a deck of 52 cards, all holding actions and silly tasks once they’ve been drawn. Each draw corresponds to a different King’s Cup rule, from touching the floor to creating brand-new rules, which makes for endless replayability.
Ride the Bus
Another popular card-drinking game is Ride the Bus, a hilariously competitive drinking game based on luck and strategy. The objective of Ride the Bus is for players to use a deck of cards to participate in three rounds: Card Dealing, Pyramid Building, and, for the unfortunate loser of the game — a third and final round of Ride the Bus.
Horse Race
Another fun card-based drinking game is Horse Race, a game inspired by a day at the Kentucky Derby. Just like an actual horse race, players take turns betting on which suit they believe will win the race. Instead of betting with cash, players bet with a number of drinks. As cards are flipped at random, the “Horses” start their race until a suit is called nine times. The player that bet on the suit pulled eight times wins the horse race and the game.
Irish Poker
Irish Poker may require some gameplay study before starting, but it’s a great hybrid of poker and drinking game. The goal of Irish Poker is to guess the cards in your hand correctly. Starting to the dealer’s left, players guess whether their first card (the one farthest left) is red or black. If their guess is correct, they can assign two drinks to another player (or split among several). If they are wrong, they take two drinks. Once everyone’s cards are face up, the game is over, and the next round can begin!
Best Card Games for Large Groups
Screw Your Neighbor
A classic card game for bigger groups of friends is Screw Your Neighbor. Each round, the player with the least cards loses a token that is donated to a community pot that the winner earns. Before the game begins, you must determine how many tokens each player can use. Whoever is the last remaining player with tokens wins Screw Your Neighbor.
Kemps
Kemps is great for larger groups of players because you can play with teams with eight total players. The objective of kemps is to get four of a kind in your hand. Once a player does, they’ll send a secret signal to their partner. Once a partner yells out, “Kemps,” you win! if another team intercepts your signal and calls out “Kemps” before your partner, their team earns a point. They lose a point if they are incorrectly accused (ie. if you don’t have four-of-a-kind).
Snap
Snap can be played with up to six players. The objective of the card game Snap is to win all the cards. Going clockwise, players take turns placing one of their cards face-up in the middle to form a pile. The following person then places their card on top of the pile, and so on. A “Snap” occurs when two of the cards on top match in rank. If a player shouts “Snap” and is mistaken, they must give one card from their own stack to the person who last played before them. When two players call out “Snap!” both piles of cards merge and are set face up in the middle of the table. This is called a “Snap Pot.” The game resumes with the player to the left of the last person who played. If a player sees a card in the Snap Pot that matches the top card of the Snap Pot, they can yell “Snap Pot!” and collect all the cards, winning the game.
Spoons
Great for card game lovers of all ages, Spoons is a classic on game night. The goal of Spoons is to get four of a kind in your hand. Once that happens, players can grab a spoon from the middle. As soon as they grab one, the rest of the table can scramble to grab theirs. Like musical chairs, whichever player fails to grab a spoon in time earns a letter. Once a player spells out S-P-O-O-N, they are eliminated from the game. The last player standing wins!
