Looking for a fun, screen-free way to entertain your kids? Card games are a timeless favorite!
At home, on vacation, or for quick family fun, these card games are perfect for kids of all ages. All you need is a standard deck of cards or a few creative card games designed just for kids!
From timeless classics like Go Fish to modern family hits like Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza, this list of 20 card games for kids combines learning, laughter, and connection, all in one simple deck (or box)!
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15 Classic & Easy Card Games Using One Deck of Cards
These card games for kids only require a standard 52-card deck. So grab a deck and let the fun begin!
1. Go Fish
Players: 2+
Goal: Collect the most sets of four matching cards.
How to Play: Players take turns asking each other for specific cards. If the other player has it, they must hand it over. If not, they say “Go fish!” and the asking player draws from the deck. The game continues until a player runs out of cards or the draw pile runs out. The winner is the player who has the most sets of four.
2. Old Maid
Players: 2+
Goal: Avoid being stuck with the “Old Maid” card.
How to Play: Remove one queen from the deck. Deal out the remaining cards and have players match and discard any pairs. Take turns drawing from the person to your left to try and make pairs. The person left holding the Old Maid loses!
3. War
Players: 2
Goal: Win all the cards by playing the highest card each round.
How to Play: Split the deck evenly. Players flip over one card at a time, and the higher card wins both. If it’s a tie, it’s “war”! Each player lays down three face-down cards and a fourth face-up. The higher fourth card wins all the cards in the pile. Keep playing until one player has the entire deck.
4. Slapjack
Players: 2–4
Goal: Be the first to slap the jack and win all the cards.
How to Play: Deal the cards face-down. Players take turns placing one card at a time face-up in a pile. When a jack appears, the first to slap it wins the pile. Keep playing until one player has all the cards!
5. Crazy Eights
Players: 2–4
Goal: Be the first to discard all your cards.
How to Play: Deal 5 cards to each player. Place the rest face-down with the top card turned over beside it. Players take turns playing a card that matches by number or suit. Eights are wild and can be played anytime. If you can’t play, draw from the pile.
6. Memory Match
Players: 1+
Goal: Match the most pairs of cards.
How to Play: Use half the deck. Lay the cards face-down and take turns flipping two cards over at a time to find matches. If a match is found, keep the pair and take another turn. The player with the most matches at the end wins.
Grab a free 4th of July Memory Game to print and play!
7. Snap
Players: 2-8
Goal: Win all the cards.
How to Play: Deal out the cards evenly to all players. Each player places their cards in a face-down pile in front of them. Players take turns flipping the top card of their pile and placing it face-up by their pile. Keep taking turns quickly and watch closely. When two cards of the same rank (e.g., two Jacks) appear, the first player to shout “Snap!” wins the matching cards. The game continues until one player wins all the cards or players decide to stop.
8. Pig
Players: 3+
Goal: Be the first to collect four of a kind.
How to Play: Players are dealt four cards each. Players simultaneously discard one card face down to the player on their left and pick up the card passed to them from the player on their right. Once someone gets four of a kind, they silently touch their nose. Others must do the same. Last one to notice loses.
9. Golf
Players: 2-4
Goal: Finish with the lowest total score.
How to Play: Each player has four cards in front of them face down, but only gets to look at two of them one time. On your turn, draw a card from the deck or discard pile. Swap it with one of your 4 cards or discard it. Once you think your cards are all lower than your partner’s, the round ends and you flip them over. Number cards count as their value, face cards are 10, Aces are 1, and Jokers are 0! After 9 rounds, the lowest total score wins!
10. Rummy (Simplified)
Players: 2–4
Goal: Create sets or runs to get rid of all your cards.
How to Play: Deal 7 cards each. On each turn, players draw from the deck or discard pile and try to form sets (3+ cards of the same number) or runs (3+ cards in sequence and same suit). The first to empty their hand wins the round.
Tips for Kids:
- Use jokers as wild cards to complete sets/runs.
- Allow younger players to lay down partial sets to make it easier.
- Simplify by only requiring sets (no runs).
11. Solitaire
Players: 1
Goal: Move all cards to four foundation piles (Ace to King, by suit).
How to Play: To play Solitaire, deal seven piles of cards in increasing order from left to right, with only the top card of each pile face-up. The goal is to move all cards to four foundation piles by suit, starting with the Ace and building up to the King. You can move cards between piles in descending order, alternating colors (e.g., red 7 on black 8), and only Kings can be moved to empty spaces. Draw from the remaining deck when no moves are available. The game is won when all cards are correctly placed in the foundation piles.
Get step-by-step instructions on how to play Solitaire, perfect for beginners learning the game.
12. Math War
Players: 2+
Goal: Be the first to solve the math problem and win the most cards.
How to Play: Divide the deck evenly. Each player flips one card. Add, subtract, or multiply the numbers. The first to shout the correct answer wins the round. Most cards at the end wins!
13. Blackjack (Twenty-One)
Players: 2+
Goal: Get as close to 21 as possible without going over.
How to Play: Each player is dealt two cards. Choose to “hit” (get another card) or “stay” (keep your total). Number cards are face value, face cards = 10, Aces = 1 or 11. Closest to 21 wins. Go over and you’re out for that round!
14. Card Towers
Players: 1+
Goal: Build the tallest freestanding card tower.
How to Play: Use a standard deck and challenge kids to stack cards into creative towers. Boosts patience, focus, and fine motor skills. Compete for height or style!
15. 52 Card Pickup
Players: 1+
Goal: Pick up all the cards as fast as you can!
How to Play: Turn this into a funnny minute to win it challenge! Toss a full deck onto the floor and start the timer! See who can pick them up and stack them the fastest. Great for laughs and quick cleanup.
Related: Easy Games To Play While Camping
5 Most Popular Card Games for Kids You Can Buy
Looking for something colorful and ready-to-play? These kid-approved card games come in fun boxes with easy instructions and themes children adore. Perfect for birthdays, rainy days, or travel!
16. UNO
Ages: 6+ | Players: 2–10
Uno is a classic game of colors and numbers that kids and adults love. Wild cards, skips, and reverses keep the action moving fast.
17. Guess in 10: Animal Planet
Ages: 6+ | Players: 2–6
Kids ask up to 10 yes-or-no questions to guess the mystery animal. Builds logic and critical thinking skills in a fun, fast-paced way.
18. Exploding Kittens
Ages: 7+ | Players: 2–5
This zany game has kids dodging exploding kittens with silly cards and luck-based strategy.
19. Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza
Ages: 7+ | Players: 3–8
This fun card game is fast, silly, and a bit chaotic! Kids shout and slap in a race to match silly card names.
20. Monopoly Deal Card Game
Ages: 8+ | Players: 2–5
All the fun of Monopoly in 15 minutes! Collect property sets, play action cards, and steal from other players.
Related Game Fun
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