Looking for a simple way to get everyone together without a screen? Grab a deck of cards and let the games begin! Card games are inexpensive, easy to take anywhere, and can be adapted for different ages and skill levels.
Whether you have preschoolers learning to match, elementary-age kids ready for a little friendly competition, or tweens and teens who want a game with more strategy, there’s a card game for your family.
Easy Card Games for Younger Kids
1. Go Fish
Players: 2–6
Ages: 4+
You'll need: One standard deck of cards
Go Fish is a classic for a reason! Players take turns asking another player if they have a particular number or rank of card. If they do, they hand over the cards; if not, it's time to “Go Fish!”
It’s a great game for younger children because it helps them practice matching, taking turns, and remembering which cards other players have requested.
2. War
Players: 2
Ages: 5+
You'll need: One standard deck of cards
Divide the deck evenly between the players. Everyone flips over their top card at the same time, and the player with the highest card takes the cards.
If there's a tie, it's time for a “war”! Each player places additional cards down before revealing another card.
War is incredibly easy to learn, making it a good choice when younger kids want to play but aren't ready for complicated rules.
3. Old Maid
Players: 2–6
Ages: 4+
You'll need: An Old Maid deck or a standard deck
Remove one queen from a standard deck. Deal the remaining cards, then have players take turns drawing a card from another player's hand. Whenever a player makes a matching pair, the pair is set aside.
The goal is to make pairs without being left holding the unmatched queen—the Old Maid!
4. Crazy Eights
Players: 2–5
Ages: 5+
You'll need: One standard deck
Players take turns matching the card on top of the discard pile by rank or suit. Eights are wild and can be played at any time, allowing the player to choose the new suit.
The first player to get rid of all their cards wins.
Card Games for Elementary-Age Kids
5. Spoons
Players: 3+
Ages: 7+
You'll need: One standard deck and spoons
Place spoons in the center of the table—one fewer spoon than the number of players.
Players try to collect four cards of the same rank. When someone gets four of a kind, they grab a spoon. Once one spoon is grabbed, everyone else races to grab one, too.
The player left without a spoon gets a letter. Keep playing until someone spells S-P-O-O-N-S.
Warning: Things can get a little competitive when those spoons hit the table!
6. Garbage
Players: 2+
Ages: 6+
You'll need: One standard deck
Each player gets a row of 10 face-down cards. The goal is to get cards numbered 1 through 10 into the correct positions.
Players draw cards and decide whether they can use them to replace one of their face-down cards. Once you learn the basic rules, it's an easy game to play again and again.
7. Slapjack
Players: 2–8
Ages: 6+
You'll need: One standard deck
Deal the cards evenly among the players. Everyone takes turns placing one card face-up in the center.
When a Jack appears, everyone tries to slap the pile. The first player to slap it collects the cards.
This one is fast, silly, and guaranteed to get everyone's attention!
8. Speed
Players: 2
Ages: 7+
You'll need: One standard deck
As the name suggests, Speed is all about playing quickly. Players race to get rid of their cards by playing cards that are one number higher or lower than the cards in the center.
It's a fun choice for kids who like fast-paced games and a little friendly competition.
Card Games for Tweens, Teens & Adults
9. Gin Rummy
Players: 2
Ages: 8+
You'll need: One standard deck
Gin Rummy is a great next step when your family is ready for a game that involves a little more strategy.
Players work to create sets of matching cards or runs of cards in the same suit. The goal is to organize your hand and score points while keeping an eye on what your opponent is collecting.
10. Hearts
Players: 3–4
Ages: 8+
You'll need: One standard deck
In Hearts, players try to avoid collecting certain cards because they are worth points—and in this game, fewer points is better.
There's more strategy involved than in some of the simpler card games, making Hearts a fun option for older kids and adults.
11. Spades
Players: 4
Ages: 10+
You'll need: One standard deck
Spades is a trick-taking game generally played with two teams of two. Players bid on how many tricks they think their team can win, and spades are always trump.
It takes a little practice to learn, but once everyone knows the basics, it can become a family favorite.
12. Rummy
Players: 2–6
Ages: 8+
You'll need: One standard deck
Rummy is all about building combinations of cards—either sets of the same rank or runs of consecutive cards in the same suit.
It's easy enough to learn but gives players plenty of opportunities to develop strategy as they decide which cards to keep and which to discard.
More Family Favorites to Try
13. Egyptian Rat Screw
Players: 2+
Ages: 8+
You'll need: One standard deck
This fast-paced game combines card play with quick reactions. Players take turns placing cards into a center pile, and certain combinations allow players to slap the pile.
The exact rules can vary from family to family, so decide on your “slap” rules before you start.
14. President
Players: 4+
Ages: 8+
You'll need: One standard deck
The goal is simple: be the first player to get rid of all your cards.
Players take turns playing cards of the same rank, trying to beat the previous play. The first person out becomes the President, while the last person out takes the less glamorous title of... well, you can decide!
There are lots of variations, so this is another game where families can create their own house rules.
15. Fan Tan
Players: 3+
Ages: 7+
You'll need: One standard deck
Fan Tan is a simple sequencing game. Players take turns placing cards in order, building each suit outward from the 7.
The goal is to be the first player to play all of your cards.
It's easy to learn and works especially well when you have several players around the table.
You don't need a fancy game room or a shelf full of board games to have a fun family game night. Pick a few games from this list, grab a deck of cards, and let everyone choose what to play.
And if the weather has everyone stuck inside, there are plenty of other ways to keep the family busy! Check out our ideas for STEAM activities, board games, and even an indoor snowball fight—then check the Macaroni KID Fredericksburg calendar for family-friendly events happening around Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania, and Stafford.
Sometimes the simplest activities are the ones that turn into the best family memories!
