Card games are often underestimated. Which is probably due to the fact that basically everyone has mastered at least one card game and saved it as a nice pastime. In addition, a stack of cardboard cards in a small box suggests less fun than the large strategy game box with lots of utensils. The same applies to parlor games: the inner values are often more important than the packaging. So it’s time to take a stand for card games – with ours recommendationswhich we are always happy to put on our gaming table.
Why card games deserve more attention
Skat and Schafkopf, Uno and Mau-Mau, Quartet and Schwarzer Peter, Rummy and Canasta, Poker and Black Jack – who has a list with known card games should put together does not have to think long. And yet in many game fans’ minds there is a distinction between card games and “real” games. The game of the year jury seems to feel the same way. If you look through the lists of award winners, it is striking that in the past 30 years only one card game has been voted “Game of the Year” – Hanabi* in the year 2013. It’s the same with the “Kennerspiel des Jahres”, although this award has only been given since 2011. Here was up to “The crew*” (Kenner game 2020) no deck of winners. On the List of winners of the German Games Prize you will also find “The Crew” at the top in 2020, but then you have to go back a long time to find “6 takes!*” (born in 1994) discovered another award-winning card game.
It’s actually a pity because game inventors go to a lot of trouble to develop innovative card games – which they sometimes succeed to a greater or lesser extent. From the point of view of the publishers, it is understandable that the umpteenth edition or variation of U.N* to publish. Or wait Mau Mau* as Extreme version*, for Bibi & Tina fans* – or with funny “poop“*. But we are usually much more happy about original ideas in the playing card area: In our opinion, this is currently the best trick-taking game Skull King* or the deck building battles with StarRealms*. Or the addictive card reveal game Skyjo* that even the die-hard game haters won’t say no to. And don’t forget the great push-your-luck game Port Royal, which is now also available in a Big Box*,
The same applies to all of these games as card games in general: They are easy to transport, are ideal as a small gift, are usually cheaper than large game sets and are attractive to occasional or infrequent players because they are usually explained and played quickly. That is our Card game tipswhich the editors particularly like at the moment:
1. Beasty Bar
Nice idea, funny design, varied and surprising – Beasty Bar can be great card fun for in between. However, the prerequisite is that the players do not take themselves too seriously.
Beasty Bar: Check out the game on Amazon
- info to beasty bar at a glance:
- Number of players: 2 to 4
- Age recommendation: from 8
- Duration: 20 minutes
- Publisher: Zoch
- Authors: Stefan Kloß and Anna Oppolzer
- Per:
- Whimsical card design
- Original animal effects
- short playing time
- Cons:
- nothing for tacticians and planners
- high potential for frustration
- Editor’s rating: 8 out of 10 points
Click here for the detailed review of Beasty Bar.
2. Coloretto
Coloretto is a card game with easy-to-understand rules that has delighted our players of all ages. Whether gambler or collector, everyone gets their money’s worth and therefore likes to shuffle the cards again for another game.
Coloretto: Watch the game on Amazon
- info to Coloretto at a glance:
- Number of players: 2 to 5
- Age recommendation: from 7 (publisher information from 8)
- Duration: 30 minutes
- Publisher: Abacusspiele
- Author: Michael Schacht
- Per:
- Very nicely illustrated cards
- For gamers and collectors
- Entertaining family game
- Cons:
- Not really suitable for groups of two
- Editor rating: 9 out of 10 points
You can find the detailed test for “Coloretto” here.
3. Frantic
We call it the black Uno or the evil Mau-Mau: “Frantic” is a fun nightcap or beginner’s game in a larger, happy group with preferably at least four players who like to make life difficult for each other and who also take a bit can without losing the fun.
Watch Frantic: The Devious Card Game on Amazon
- Information about “Frantic” at a glance:
- Number of players: 2 to 8
- Age recommendation: from 12
- Duration: 30 minutes
- Publisher: Game Factory
- Authors: Fabian Engeler, Pascal Frick, Stefan Weisskopf, Pierre Lippuner
- Per:
- Varied, cheeky special cards
- Easy entry
- Cons:
- Except for special cards, no innovation
- With two people, the whistle is missing
- Nothing for the faint-hearted
- Editor’s rating: 7 out of 10 points
Here you can find the detailed review of Frantic.
4. Contrast
Magic duels on the timeline – “Contrast” doesn’t deliver what this story promises, but scores with an original combination of mechanisms and a catchy way of playing. An insider tip for everyone who is in the arduous search for good card games for two people.
Contrast: Watch the card game on Amazon
- Information about “contrast“ at a glance:
- Number of players: 1 to 2 players
- Age recommendation: from 10
- Duration: 20 to 30 minutes
- Publisher: Frosted Games
- Author: John Baluci
- Per:
- Quickly explained and quickly played
- Resourceful gameplay
- more demanding than it first appears
- with expansion for solo players
- Cons:
- Inconspicuous design
- Patch Theme (Time Traveling Sorcerer’s Apprentices)
- Editor’s rating: 8 out of 10 points
Click here for the detailed test of Kontrast.
5. Half Pint Heroes
Even if getting started can be a bit tedious – in the right round the poker-trick-announcement-hybrid is a real hit. And: We love the look of “Half-Pint Heroes” so much that we give it an extra point.
Half-Pint Heroes: Watch the Game on Amazon
- info to “Half Pint Heroes” at a glance:
- Number of players: 2 to 7 players
- Age recommendation: from 9
- Duration: 30 minutes
- Publisher: Corax Games
- Authors: Roland Goslar, Johannes Goslar, Søren Schaffstein
- Per:
- Terrific graphics
- Great game material
- Suitable for full-length gaming
- Original poker/wizard mix
- Cons:
- Needs getting used to
- More difficult than ordinary trick-taking games
- Full of fun just for four or five
- Editor’s rating: 8 out of 10 points
We discuss “Half-Pint Heroes” in detail here.
6. Road Trip Europe
Visiting countries, getting to know the local cuisine, discovering cultural highlights and spectacular nature: “Road Trip Europe” comes with little material, but is a surprisingly interesting game that can also be played well with two people. However, it is more exciting with three to four players who like to be somewhat tactical.
Road Trip Europe: View the deck of cards on Amazon
- Information about “Road Trip Europe” at a glance:
- Number of players: 2 to 4
- Age recommendation: from 10 (publisher information from 8)
- Duration: 30 minutes
- Publisher: Game Factory
- Author: Scott Almes
- Per:
- Cards beautifully illustrated
- Scoring is well represented on the scorecards
- high interactivity between players
- good for take away
- Cons:
- Many rating options slow down the entry
- Pencils not ideal for marking
- Monotonous in the long run
- Editor’s rating: 7 out of 10 points
Click here for the detailed test by Road Trip Europe.
7. Scout
If you are looking for a good mix of tactics and card luck, this is the place for you. “Scout” brings an original and fun game principle to the table that works excellently and convinces with high-quality interaction with the opponents. It’s a great game that’s also fun for two.
Scout: Watch the Card Game on Amazon
- info to “scouts” at a glance
- Number of players: 2 to 5
- Age recommendation: from 12 (publisher information from 9)
- Duration: 20 minutes
- Publisher: Oink Games
- Author: Kei Kajino
- Per:
- Original new game principle
- Entertaining and fast
- Good to take away and in between
- Cons:
- topic is irrelevant
- Editor’s rating: 9 out of 10 points
You can find Scout’s test here.
More on the subject:
transparency notice: To test the games, the publishers provided us with review copies without further conditions (Abacusspiele: Coloretto; Corax Games: Half-Pint Heroes; Frosted Games: Gegen; Game Factory: Frantic, Road Trip Europa; Oink Games: Scout; Zoch : Beasty Bar).
release note: This is not a definitive version of the games overview on this topic. As long as this notice is read in the text, new games will be added to it regularly.
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