Let’s talk card games, there's something really satisfying in concealing a great hand of cards from your opponents.  Card games are small and easily carried around; think outdoor picnics, patio tables or packing them away for a weekend at the cottage.

If you are looking for some card drafting, set collection and hand management fun for all ages, keep reading to find out Board Game Bandit’s top family card games!

10. Dealt!

In Dealt!, players don’t necessarily win by going out first, but at least you do not lose the game.

To kick off, each player randomly gets 3 life tokens and 2 reserve cards, which they place face up. They then get a hand of cards, the order of which can’t be change. The first player for a round starts by playing a combination of up to 3 cards, which must be next to one another in their hand. A player can place a single card, a pair, a triple, or a run of 2 or 3 consecutive cards. Each player following must beat the combination, with pairs being beaten by a higher pair or a triple. If you can’t play or choose to pass, in its place you pick up one of your reserve cards, placing it anywhere in your hand. If you out of reserve cards, then you must dispose of a life token.

When all players have played or passed, the player with the greatest combination wins the round and opens the next round. If a player discards a life token but has none, the player loses the game and everyone else wins.

Dealt! Is a family card game for 3-5 players with lots of hand management, and trick taking, playing in 30 minutes.

Buy Dealt! online now!

9. Saboteur

In Saboteur, players are dwarves, acting as miners, hunting for gold. Unexpectedly, a pick axe swings down and smashes the mine lamp. The saboteur has hit. But which of the players are saboteurs? Will you locate the gold, or will the fiendish actions of the saboteurs take them to it first? After 3 rounds, the player with the most gold wins.

With the assistance of Dwarf Cards, players are assigned their role: miner or saboteur. The roles are secret, and only revealed at the end of the round.

The Start Card and the 3 Goal Cards are set onto the table, each 7 cards away from the start and 1 card between each Goal Card. The Goal Cards are arranged face-down. The gold is on one of the Goal Cards, but which one is a mystery to all.

On a player's turn, they must do one of 3 actions: place a Path Card into the mine, play an Action Card in front of a player, or pass.

The Path Cards shape paths leading to the Goal Cards. Miners are attempting to build an uninterrupted path from the Start Card to a Goal Card, while the saboteurs are aiming to stop this. But try not to be too obvious about it, to prevent being discovered.

Action Cards can be positioned in front of any player, including yourself, letting players assist or obstruct one another, as well as gain information about the Goal Cards.

Once a player plays a Path Card that achieves the gold, the round is over. The miners have won and collect cards with gold pieces as their reward. If the gold could not be reached, the round is also over, with the saboteurs winning and collecting the gold pieces.

The game is finished at the completion of the third round. The Player with the most gold pieces is the winner.

Buy Saboteur online now!

8. Fluxx

The popular game of Fluxx is available in oh so many options! You can stick with the original or check out other themed games such as; Marvel Fluxx, Oz Fluxx, Martian Fluxx, Fairy Tale Fluxx and many many more.

The card game where the cards themselves define the current rules of the game. By playing cards, you alter many aspects of the game: how to draw cards, how to play cards, and even how to win.

At the beginning of the game, each player has 3 cards, a player draws 1 card, then plays 1 card. By playing cards, you can set new rules into play that shift several aspects of the game: how many cards to draw or play, how many cards held in hand or kept on the table in front of you, and how to win the game!

Fluxx is a light weight game for 2-6 players and plays in as little as 5-30 minutes.

Buy Fluxx online now!

Looking for a themed version of Fluxx? There are a wide number of themed versions of the game, from Star Trek to Anatomy and everything in between, check out all of the versions of Fluxx here.

7. Point Salad

Point Salad is a popular light weight card game for 2-6 players, from ages 8+.

This fast (playing in 15-30 minutes) and fun card drafting game is suitable for the whole family. With over 100 ways to score, players can use an array of strategies with every game of Point Salad being unique!

Cards come in 6 different types of veggies, with the back of each card having a different scoring technique. For example, awarding 2 points for every carrot you have, but subtracting a point for every onion. By drafting combinations of veggies and point cards that fit your strategy, you can collect the most points and win.

Buy Point Salad online now!

6. Hanabi

The family card game Hanabi is a cooperative game that brings deduction and memory to your table.

In Hanabi players attempt to create the perfect fireworks show – Hanabi means “fireworks" in Japanese.  To do this you must place cards on the table in the correct order.

The card deck contains 5 different colors of cards, each numbered 1–5. For each color, the players aim to place a row in the correct order from 1–5. Sounds easy, I know, however, you hold your cards so that they're visible only to other players. Remember this is a cooperative game! So in order to assist other players in playing a card, you must provide them hints involving the numbers or the colors of their cards. Players act as a team to prevent errors and complete the fireworks display before they run out of cards.

An extra suit of rainbow colored cards, is also included for advanced or variant play.

Buy Hanabi online now!

5. Dungeon Mayhem

If you’re a fan of Dungeons & Dragons, or fantasy and fighting in general, check out the 2-4 player Dungeon Mayhem card game.  This quick-playing (10 minutes) light weight game is full of variable powers, and player elimination. An added bonus is that it integrates with Dungeon Mayhem: Monster Madness.

In this action-packed card game, you win by being the last explorer standing.

Play as a barbarian, paladin, rogue, or wizard — battling it out in a dungeon filled of treasure! With magic missiles slinging, dual daggers flinging, and spiked shields ringing, it's up to you to prove your character has the guts to bring home the glory!

Choose a character and play their mighty power cards such as Azzan's Vampiric Touch to switch hit points with an opponent or Sutha's Whirling Axes to mend yourself while dealing crushing harm to the rest of the party.

Buy Dungeon Mayhem online now!

4. 5-Minute Marvel

Marvel superheroes are not just for kids! People of all ages love the Marvel characters. In the family/party card game 5-Minute Marvel, the Marvel superheroes must work together to beat the clock in a hectic race to beat the villains.

This light weight game is for 2-5 players, plays in only 5 minutes and is suitable for ages 8 and up.

The Marvel adaptation of the chaotically quick-paced cooperative card game 5-Minute Dungeon that allows a group of Marvel heroes battle past Marvel bosses all in less than 5 minutes! Fast and frenetic gameplay ensures everyone is involved and engaged. Cooperative gameplay promotes communication, interpersonal interaction, and teamwork. The game includes 10 Marvel heroes to pick from and 6 progressively difficult Marvel bosses for robust re-playability.

Players take on the role of a superhero, each with special cards and abilities. Once the Jarvis-hosted five-minute timer begins, the race is on to beat all the villains in the mission. To defeat a villain, players need to match symbols from their hand with ones on the villain's card. At the end of each mission is a mighty super villain — and after the first super villain is beaten, the campaign continues to the second super villain. Each super villain, and each randomized mission, gets tougher until players reach Thanos, the ultimate super villain.

Buy 5-Minute Marvel online now!

3. Arboretum

This game has quickly became a personal favorite, with it’s colorful artwork and quick play time of approximately 30 minutes.  Arboretum is for 2-4 players aged 8 and up. While the game play is quite simple, it takes a few games to wrap your head around this strategic pattern building and tile placement game.

Players attempt to have the most points at the end of the game by forming beautiful garden paths for visitors.

The deck has 80 cards in 10 colors, each color highlighting a different species of tree, numbered 1 through 8.  Players begin with 7 cards. On each turn, players takes two cards either from the deck or a discard pile, and places a card on the table as part of their arboretum, while discarding a card.

When the deck is depleted, players assess the cards left in their hands to establish who can score each color, which is dictated by the player with the highest value of cards in their hand allowing that color to score for their path of trees. A path must begin and end with the same color, a path is an orthogonally adjacent sequence of cards with increasing values. For each card in a path that scores, the player receives one point; if the path contains entirely of trees of the color being scored, the player gets two points per card. If a player doesn't hold the most value for a color in their hand, they score 0 points for a path, making the game a tricky balance of what to lay for maximum scoring and what to hold back to ensure end game scoring eligibility.

Buy Arboretum online now!

2. The Mind

This family, party game is all about team work, but without any information exchanged. This popular cooperative game brings a twist to conventional card games.

The Mind uses a deck of cards numbered 1-100, and during the game you aim to complete 12, 10, or 8 levels of play with 2- 4 players (aged 8+). In a level, each player gets a hand of cards equivalent to the number of the level: one card in level 1, two cards in level 2, etc. Together you must play these cards into the middle on a discard pile in ascending order however players cannot communicate with each other as to what cards they have. When you think the time is best, you play your lowest card. If no one has a card lower than you, the game continues! If someone does hold a lower card, players discard face up lower cards than that played, and you lose one life.

You begin the game with several lives equivalent to the number of players. Once you lose your lives, you lose the game. You begin with one shuriken too, and if everyone chooses to use a shuriken, each player discards their lowest card face up, giving everyone information and moving you closer to completing the level. As you complete levels, you may receive a reward of a shuriken or an extra life. Complete all the levels to win!

Buy The Mind online now!

1. Sushi Go!

This popular game comes in an attractive tin to hold your cards, it plays in only 15 minutes and is great for 2-5 players aged 8 years and up with minimum rules.

Sushi Go! is a super-fast sushi card game where players are eating at a sushi restaurant and attempting to grab the best combination of sushi dishes as they whiz by. Score points by collecting the most sushi rolls or creating a full set of sashimi. Dip your beloved nigiri in wasabi to triple its value! Don’t forget all the pudding! Watch the sushi you let your friends take; it could exactly what they need to beat you!

After the first few hands of cards, players must swiftly evaluate the make-up of the round and choose what type of sushi to go for. Each turn you will want to consider which cards to keep and which to pass on. Different scoring sequences allow for some crafty plays and vicious blocks. Players must also pay attention to the goal of having the most pudding cards at the end of the game!

Buy Sushi Go! online now!

If you've already tried Sushi Go! and want to take your experience to the next level, give Sushi Go Party! a try.

Honorable Mentions

BLANK

BLANK is a light, quick 10-15 minute game for players as young as 6, and plays with 2-6 players. It is the perfect card party game allowing you to create new rules and card effects as you play, so your copy of BLANK is completely unique!

The goal is to be the first to rid yourself of all cards. Look out for the Rule Cards or you might endure a Penalty. Keep your eyes open for Game Card effects that can change the direction of the game. Not only does the winner relish the glory of winning, they also get to make a new Rule Card or customize a Game Card. Winning involves you getting to make your mark, changing the game forever!

The game contains 72 Game Cards, 6 which come pre-filled with illustrations and game effects. 30 are fully illustrated, and the remaining 36 are prepared to be customized by winning players. 38 Rule Cards are also included, with 14 prepared to get you started, and 24 blank for you to add to the game as you play.

As the games goes on and more cards are included, your copy of BLANK will change into a unique picture of your gaming group or family. Share your favorite and they might even end up in future versions of the game!

Buy BLANK online now!

Herbaceous

Compete with fellow herb collectors to grow and store a variety of herbs in Herbaceous. Players begin with four containers, each allowing a separate action such as; grouping same types of herbs, group different types, group pairs and group any three types whether they be the same or different.

During your turn, draw an herb, and choose to keep it in your collection or place it into the shared pile. If kept, the next card is put into the communal pile; if put in the communal pile, the next card goes into your personal collection.

When beginning your turn, you can choose to use a container. If so, you gather cards from personal and communal spaces, grouping them, and turning them all over. You have then "collected" those and cannot use the container again.

At games end, collectors reveal the best collected works as a combination of value from their collection, matching herbs, and herb sets.

Buy Herbaceous online now!