As lovely as family game night is, it can get a bit vanilla after a while. Sometimes, you just want to let loose and drop the filter when you're among friends. Whether it's accusing them of debauchery, pointing out their weird habits, or just turning on each other, there are card games that add that extra bit of zing to game night.
Of course, not all of these games are targeted at breaking up your friendships, some of them are geared at getting you drunk and livening up the party. So, the next time you host a no-kids-allowed party, you can try out one of these card games to get things going. Just don't blame us if your friends don't call you the next day!
Updated on July 24, 2023 by Vaspaan Dastoor: We've updated this list with a few more card games that you can play while the kids are away. We've added one of the best Lovecraftian horror mystery games, as well as a murder mystery card game.
Unstable Unicorns Card Game
How can something so cute be so dangerous?
While it may sound cute, Unstable Unicorns is definitely not a game for kids. There's something sinister about putting adorable looking creatures into horrible situations. You can play with up 2–8 players, and the winner is ther one who assembles their Unicorn army the fastest.Spring for the NSFW expansions if you want things to get really spicy.
- Cute art.
- Number of expansion packs.
- Introduction to low-level deck building.
- Your kids might want to play it because it's cute.
- Requires a tabletop.
- Expansions are a bit expensive.
How can something with the unicorns in it be only for adults? Well, Unstable Unicorns takes these cute creatures and puts them in horrible situations. The fun of it is that it's so adorable while being cruel at the same time. But if you really want to liven things up, Unstable Unicorns also has an NSFW expansion among many others.
Joking Hazard
Leave your moral compass at home
Joking Hazard comes from the twisted minds behind of Cyanide & Happiness. That should be enough to tell you that this card game is NSFW. Players have to put down the card they think delivers the best punchline to the drawn card. The more inappropriate, the better your chances of winning the round.
- Creating your own Cyanide & Happiness comic strip.
- Twisted sense of humour is a plus.
- Large number of permutations and combinations.
- Jokes have a chance of falling flat.
- Not everyone gets this kind of humour.
- Could go stale after a few games.
Cyanide & Happiness' twisted sense of humour is also a card game thanks Joking Hazard. If you ever thought you could also make similar comics, here's your chance. Much like Cards Against Humanity, Joking Hazard tasks 3–8 players to place a card they think will deliver the funniest punchline to the cards on the table. It goes without saying, this one is only for adults.
These Cards Will Get You Drunk
As the name suggests
These Cards Will Get You Drunk keeps things simple, so you don't have to think too hard while you're drinking. Just pick up a card during your turn and follow the often silly instructions. If played well, you could get your friends pretty tipsy. Just remember to drink a lot of water and eat something too.
- Very simple rules.
- Can be played with a lot of people.
- Great for breaking the ice at parties.
- Some tasks could be boring.
- No point playing if you're not drinking.
- Some tasks are a bit awkward if you don't know everyone.
Of course, you can't have adult card games without at least one drinking game. Thankfully, These Cards Will Get You Drunk doesn't want you to think too hard while you're drinking - just follow the instructions on the card well enough, and you'll be getting your friends buzzed in no time. You can also purchase the expansion pack if you're the kind that hosts parties with a lot of people.
Drunk Stoned or Stupid: A Party Game
How well do your friends know you?
Drunk Stoned or Stupid is a great way for you to find out what your friends think of you. The rules are pretty simple - each player picks up a card from ther pile, and everyone votes which player the card best describes. Beware, you may have to face some harsh truths.
- Easy ruleset.
- Perfect for friends who know each other well.
- Ideal for larger groups.
- Can't be played with people you don't know well.
- Certain cards may offend some people.
- Can't be repeated with the same group.
Drunk Stoned or Stupid sounds like a drinking or smoking game, but it's not. Instead of getting you drunk, this card game gets you embarrassed. Players vote for which among them is described best by the card in hand; and most of the time, these descriptions aren't something that you'd exactly be proud of.
Exploding Kittens
The kittens have gone wild
While Exploding Kittens' original version is great for a nice family game night, you can crack open the NSFW version once the kids are asleep. Exploding Kittens NSFW is basically the same game, but the artwork has been changed to something even more horrible - yet funny - than in the base game.You can enjoy the same game but with a bit more horrible fun.
- Adds another layer of fun to a classic.
- Artwork is horribly cute.
- No new rules to learn.
- Not worth it if you already have the original game.
- Can get repetitive.
- Some cards may be a bit too grotesque.
Like most NSFW expansions, Exploding Kittens NSFW turns things up a notch. However, where other card games change the written content on their cards, this one keeps everything the same, only changing the artwork to depict something even more horrible and cute at the same time. While it's not a whole lot different from the original, the NSFW artwork gives you a good little chuckle.
Cards Against Humanity
The one that started it all
Of course Cards Against Humanity was going to be here. It set the bar as one of the most popular adult card games in the industry. Not only that, subsequent expansion packs have ensured that it maintains its place.If the base version isn't NSFW enough for you, it has more intense ones too.
- Multiple expansions if you're bored of the base pack
- Very simple rules.
- Offensively hilarious.
- Base set becomes predictable after a few games.
- Needs to be played with a select crowd.
- Some cards are not for the faint hearted.
Cards Against Humanity was always going to make it to the list. The original adult card game aims to put everyone's sick humour on display by giving players a choice on how to end the sentence on the card on the table with one in their hand. The card game has set a standard for adult party games, and has even launched multiple expansions to double down on it.
Arkham Horror
It's never a good time to introduce the kids to Lovecraft.
Arkham Horror is one of the best card-based RPGs you can play. Not only have the creators painstakingly recreated the RPG formula to fit a card-based gameplay system, but the premise is based on H.P. Lovecraft's work - and we know how much that guy liked psychological horror.
- Based on the works of H.P. Lovecraft.
- Can be played single-player.
- Features multiple editions and expansions.
It goes without saying that anything that's remotely connected to Lovecraft shouldn't be brought up around children, and Arkham Horror is one of them. Not only is it an excellent card-based RPG, but it also features a twisted and engaging narrative. You'll have to solve a mind-bending mystery while fighting off some iconic creatures for Lovecraft's legendarium.
There's Been A Murder
A classic whodunnit.
There's Been a Murder tasks all players to work together and find the murderer. There's no backstabbing or hidden roles here, so the whole group must cooperate to find thew killer. The stakes are raised due to the fact that if certain conditions are met, the killer can also escape.
- Rare combination of cooperation and whodunnit elements.
- Wide player count.
Unlike classic whodunnit adventures, There's Been a Murder requires all players to collaborate in order to win. Not only that, you may not get the satisfying reveal you want at the end, because there's a chance that the killer can escape as well. This raises the stakes a bit, and encourages everyone to communicate and cooperate.
FAQ
Are card games good for older adults?
Card games are not only a good way to spend time with other people, but they also stimulate brain activity and improve mental health.
What is the recommended age for adult card games?
This entirely depends upon you as a parent, but most of these games are recommended safe for children aged 16 and above. We recommend you play them yourself before getting them for your kids.
What is the most complex card game?
While there is no concrete way to measure this, Magic: The Gathering, with its in-depth ruleset, plethora of cards, and constant updates is definitely one of the most complex card games around.