Whether you're looking for inspiration for family game night or ways to pass the time when traveling with children, there are some great card games for kids that you and your family can play together. You can play classic card games for some easy fun or try a completely new card game for a different experience.
Here, we've gathered the best card games that kids will enjoy, ranging from small groups of players to large ones, and games suitable for younger and older children. There's something here for everyone to enjoy, no matter whether you're looking for quick games or longer challenges!
Best Card Games For Kids And Families
The Game Of Life Goals
Build your own life story!
Based on the board game The Game of Life, this game involves building a Life Story with various cards. Score points by living your life to the fullest!
- Play a game in under 30 minutes
- Cards prompt conversations
- Play the beloved board game in quick bursts
You may recognize the name The Game of Life as it's also available as a board game, but The Game of Life Goals condenses the experience into a fun card game that's more casual and quick to play. Similar to the board game, your aim is to build a life story using the cards you're given.
For each game, you receive a Lifestyle card, which determines how many points you earn for playing Choice cards. To win, you must gain the most points and stay true to your lifestyle. This card game is great for family game nights as the cards often prompt you to discuss your decisions, which is sure to lead to some hilarious answers!
Exploding Kittens
Fun and games until the kitten explodes!
The goal is this card game is simple - avoid the exploding kitten! Each card has the rule written on it, so it's easy to follow along for everyone.
- Rules are quick and easy to learn
- Includes cards to avoid the exploding kitten to help beginners
- Quick game to replay over and over
The aim of Exploding Kittens is simple — avoid drawing the exploding kitten card! Each turn, you draw a card from the pile, hoping not to pull an exploding kitten card. If you do, you're out. Everyone can also use the additional cards to help them mitigate an exploding kitten. You can play a card to see what the next cards are, skip your turn, and more.
To make sure you aren't out of the game immediately upon drawing an exploding kitten for the first time, there are a select few Defuse cards included in the deck, which will save you from the explosion. This is great for new players learning to understand the rules, and for returning players who get unlucky!
UNO
It's a classic for a reason!
Be the first to set down all your cards in this fun game for up to ten players. Once you're down to your last card, remember to shout, "UNO!"
- Easy to pick up and play
- Simple rules for the whole family
- Fun for younger and older kids
UNO is a simple game, but this single deck of cards will provide hours of fun. At the beginning of the game, everyone is dealt seven cards, and the aim is to be the first to have played all of them. However, you can only play a card if it's the same color or number as the one that was just played, and there are additional cards in the deck that can impact your fellow players. Play a +4 card, and the next person has to draw four cards and add them to their deck.
Once you get down to your final card, you must shout "UNO!" If you don't, and someone catches you out on it... you'll have to pick up another card, meaning you may have lost your shot at winning. Ouch. The rules are easy to pick up, there's room for up to ten players, and the rounds are quick, so, overall, it's pretty versatile all round.
Kids Against Maturity
Be the worst to be the best!
Get ready for a night of laughter with Kids Against Maturity. Pick out a question card, and choose your funniest answer. The pack includes 600 question and answer cards, so there won't be repeats any time soon.
- 600 cards means endless question and answer combinations
- Quick and easy to play
- Family-friendly humor
You may have heard of the infamous Cards Against Humanity — while it's great fun for adults, the content isn't appropriate for children. Kids Against Maturity is a child-friendly spin on this game, with a similar concept. Every player picks out ten answer cards, and then takes turns picking out a question card. Use your answer cards to fill in the blanks with the funniest response possible! If the person who read the question chooses your answer, you win that round.
The card game includes 600 cards, so you're unlikely to run into repeats any time soon, allowing you and your family to craft hilarious answers again and again. Each game takes around 30-90 minutes, but you're sure to want to go for another round!
Unstable Unicorns For Kids
Bring a touch of magic to family game night!
Featuring adorable artwork, Unstable Unicorns For Kids is a fun introduction to strategy card games.During a 15-45 minute game, cast magic spells and build your own stable of unicorns.
- Fun introduction to strategy-based games
- Gameplay is simple for younger players
- Adorable artwork to charm kids
If you're looking for a card game for kids that requires a bit more strategic thinking, Unstable Unicorns for Kids is perfect. Your goal is to collect seven unicorns in your stable by playing Magic cards, which allow you to swap cards or hands with other players. While it may take a little more time to learn to play this game, it's ideal for introducing younger children into more strategy-based card games.
A full game may take you between 15-45 minutes, but you could easily extend the fun by increasing the number of unicorns you need in your stable — this is also a good way to heighten the difficulty for older children playing the game too.
Doomlings
Can you survive through the ages and catastrophes?
To win Doomlings, you'll need to score the most points before the world ends. Use cards to play traits for your Doomlings species, giving them the best chance of survival.
- Quick and easy to learn
- Fun strategy game for older children
- No two games are the same
For kids aged ten or older, Doomlings is an exciting strategy game where you must try to survive to the end of the world. Play your cards right to give your Doomlings beneficial traits, such as resilience and adaptability. Each round is called an age, and within these ages, there may be catastrophes! To make it through the catastrophe, you'll need to think quickly and adapt your strategy. After the third catastrophe, the world ends, and the player with the most points will win.
A game will take you around 20-45 minutes, and each one will be a unique adventure thanks to the random setups and card effects. You can replay the game as many times as you like, but you'll need a one-of-a-kind strategy to win each time!
Fish 'N' Flip
Sea if you can work together!
Fish 'n' Flip has you playing in teams to cut fishing nets across the ocean floor. Save a variety of fish and marine mammals by using the power of animals to perform combos.
- Enjoyable team game
- Teach kids about protecting ocean life
- Thought-provoking puzzle-like gameplay
While most strategy games have you working against your fellow players, Fish 'n' Flip encourages you to work together, making it a fantastic co-operative game for all the family. Together, you'll need to play cards to achieve combos, which will help clear the ocean of fishing nets and rescue fish and marine mammals. The more empty the nets are, the more points you earn.
This game is great for quick, short bursts of fun, as it will only take you about 20 minutes to play. The puzzle-like gameplay will get your children thinking, and they'll learn about the importance of keeping our oceans clean too.
FAQ
What card games are easy to play?
Learning the rules of card games can often deter children from playing them in the first place, so it's important to find games that are easy to pick up and play. UNO, Exploding Kittens, and Kids Against Maturity are all games with simple rules you'll pick up as you play.
Why are card games good for children?
Card games are a great way to have fun and spend time together as a family, and they have other benefits too. As children play, they learn to think strategically and plan out their decisions. Depending on the game, they may also learn how to adapt their strategies and make quick decisions.
Is UNO a good family game?
Thanks to its simple rules and easy format, UNO is the ideal family game. You can play with two to ten players, and the individual games are usually quick and snappy, so you can play for a number of rounds. Lots of families have their own unique rules when they play, so make sure you establish yours before getting started!