Gathering with friends is always fun, and it helps to bond and make lasting memories, so why not get the whole gang together for some classic card games? From smash hits like Go Fish to more modern variations like UNO, there’s something for everyone when collecting cards. Card games are quick and easy to learn, making them perfect for getting groups of people together in no time.
Whether you’re looking for team-building activities or just an entertaining evening with your favorite folks, get ready to shuffle up and deal out these popular card games that will bring a smile to everybody’s faces!
Top Card Game Choices for Groups of Friends
It’s best to have an activity whenever you and your friends get together. Instead of video games, why not settle for some iconic and timeless forms of entertainment that also used to keep our ancestors busy? Below are some examples of card games you should add to your gaming arsenal:
Go Fish
For those who are not yet familiar with card games, Go Fish is the perfect introductory game. It’s a simple game that requires no skill but offers plenty of excitement. The goal is to win the most books, or four-of-a-kind of any suit, such as four Aces, four Kings, and so on. The dealer distributes the cards to each player face-down.
The number of cards for each player depends on how many are playing—for instance, seven cards for two to three players and five cards for four to five players. The rest are placed in the middle as the fishpond. The player to the dealer’s left will begin by asking the next player for a specific rank. If the player has it, they must give it to the asker.
If not, they say, “go fish,” while referring to the fishpond. If the asker gets one or more cards of the same rank, they can continue asking the player for a card. Once they get the fourth card of a book, it’s placed on the table. The first player to reach 13 books wins!
Spades
Spades have always been the ultimate American crown favorite since its invention in the 1930s. It’s a trick-taking card game that’s laid back but it’s not without its own challenges, making it ideal for teen players. It champions straightforward gameplay, so even newbies will understand it. It only requires four participants in partnerships and uses a standard deck of cards.
How to play Spades:
- Each player receives 13 cards dealt one by one.
- Players will bid as to how many tricks they think they can capture.
- The player to the dealer’s left begins by laying down a card, and the next players follow suit.
- Spades are trump, and a player that doesn’t have the same suit can only play a trump or discard a card.
- Spades can only be played if it was previously led or if the player to lead only has Spades in their hand.
- The highest ranking trump or leading suit wins the trick, and the first team to win a combination of 500 points wins.
Although Spades can be a bit confusing at times, there’s no doubt that it’s one of the most exhilarating in the trick-taking genre. If you want to hone your skills first, try a free online Spades game to see if you can get a hang of it.
UNO
Based on Crazy Eights, UNO is one of the funniest card games on this list. It’s PERFECT for friend groups, especially those who like competing against each other. Remember! It’s all for fun, so there’s no need to break trust and friendship over UNO.
The objective is to be the first player to eliminate all their cards. Players can only accomplish this by following the color or number of the card in the discard pile. Players who can’t play the color or number will draw from the pile until they get one. However, the fun doesn’t stop there. It’s when the special cards start to appear.
Special cards include Wild Cards, Skips, Reverses, and Draw Two or Four Cards. For instance, you receive Wild Card Draw Four, which means the player that threw it can change the color of the card you will play next, and you will also need to draw four cards from the pile. It will be harder for you to eliminate your cards if this happens!
Gin Rummy
The easiest variation of Rummy is Gin Rummy, and it’s all about melding cards to get sets or sequences. Sets are three or four cards in the same rank. Meanwhile, sequences are three or more consecutive cards in the same suit. It will require two players, and each will be dealt ten cards.
How to play Gin Rummy:
- After both players get ten cards, the rest are placed in the middle as the stockpile.
- The top card is flipped over and used as the upcard offered to the non-dealer. If the non-dealer doesn’t want it, the dealer will use it.
- Players will take a card from the stockpile or the discard pile from the first draw onward.
- Players will discard a card after their turn.
- The objective is to eliminate the deadwood or cards that don’t belong to a meld by melding cards into sequences or sets to go Knock or Gin.
- Players only need to lay down cards once a player goes Knock.
Knocks are when a player lays down their card if their deadwood is ten or less in value. Gin is when a player removes all the deadwood in their hand.
Hearts
Last on our list is a true classic, which is Hearts. It’s a trick-taking card game, but the goal is to score the least points by avoiding tricks with unwanted cards. Depending on the variation, unwanted cards belong to the Hearts suit and the Queen of Spades (for the Black Lady variation).
Each player is dealt 13 cards in the game if there are four participants. The player holding the 2 Clubs leads the game. All players follow suit, but a Heart or Queen of Spades can’t be discarded if the player doesn’t have a Club during the first trick. The highest card of the leading suit wins the trick, and they lead the next trick. They also collect the trick, and the first player to reach 100 points gets eliminated.
Hearts is challenging but perfect for players who want something more complex than Spades. It’s also easy to learn, so getting the hang of it won’t take long. You can win and beat your opponents if you play your cards right!
Beat Your Friends with a Friendly Game of Cards
Now that you know some of the best card games, it’s time to gather your friends and enjoy a friendly game night. Whether you’re into strategy games or want to have fun, these five options are perfect for different groups with varied preferences.
