10 Fun Card Games for Kids

A deck of cards is all it takes to turn a rainy afternoon or a family game night into a ton of fun. These classic card games are easy to learn, great for kids, and sneak in a little math and strategy too!

1. Crazy Eights

Ages: 5+
Players: 2–4
Deck: Standard 52-card deck

How to Play:
Deal 7 cards each for 2 players or 5 cards each for 3–4 players. Place the rest of the deck face down, and flip one card up next to it to start the discard pile.
Players take turns placing a card from their hand that matches either the suit or number of the top card in the discard pile. Don’t have a match? Draw from the pile until you get one.
Eights are wild and can be played on any card. When played, the next player must match the suit the eight represents. First player to get rid of all their cards wins.
If the deck runs out, reshuffle the discard pile.

2. Go Fish

Ages: 7+
Players: 2 or more
Deck: Standard deck or a Go Fish-themed deck

How to Play:
Deal 7 cards each for 2–3 players; deal 5 cards each for more. The remaining cards go face down in the "fish pond."
Players take turns asking another player for a specific card rank (like “Do you have any kings?”). If the player has them, they must hand them over. If not, they say “Go fish,” and the asker draws a card.
Collect four of a kind to form a set and place it face down. The game ends when all sets are collected. The player with the most sets wins.

3. War

Ages: 6+
Players: 2
Deck: Standard deck

How to Play:
Divide the deck evenly between two players. Keep cards face down. Each player flips over their top card—highest card wins both and adds them to the bottom of their pile.
If both cards are equal, it’s war! Each player puts one card face down, then one face up. Higher face-up card wins all six cards.
Play continues until one player has all the cards.

4. Old Maid

Ages: 5+
Players: 3 or more
Deck: Standard deck (remove one queen to make an odd number)

How to Play:
Deal out all the cards. Players form and place down matching pairs. Then, each player takes a random card from the next person’s hand. If they make a new pair, they place it down.
The game continues until all cards are paired—except the lone “Old Maid.” Whoever ends up with it loses.

5. Concentration (Memory)

Ages: 3+
Players: 2 or more
Deck: Use pairs from a standard deck or a memory card set

How to Play:
Lay all cards face down in a grid. Players take turns flipping over two cards, trying to find a match. If they match, the player keeps the pair and takes another turn.
If not, turn them back over. The game ends when all pairs are found. Player with the most pairs wins.

6. Snap

Ages: 6+
Players: 2 or more
Deck: Standard 52-card deck; add another deck for 3+ players

How to Play:
Deal out all cards. Players keep them face down in a stack. Going around the circle, each player flips a card into their own face-up pile.
If two face-up cards match, the first person to shout “Snap!” wins both piles.
If two players shout at the same time, those cards go to the middle to form a “snap pool.” The next time someone flips a matching card, whoever yells “Snap pool!” first wins the pile.
Mistaken snaps have penalties, and the last player with cards wins the game.

7. Rummy

Ages: 7+
Players: 2–6
Deck: Standard deck

How to Play:
Goal is to form "melds"—either sets (3 or 4 of a kind) or runs (3+ in sequence of the same suit).
Deal 10 cards for 2 players, 7 for 3–4, and 6 for 5–6. The rest form a stockpile; turn one card up for the discard pile.
On each turn, draw a card (from the stock or discard), try to lay down melds, and discard one card.
You can also add to existing melds. First to lay down all their cards wins the round. Play to five rounds to win the game.

8. I Doubt It

Ages: 6+
Players: 6–12
Deck: Standard deck

How to Play:
Deal all cards. The first player plays face-down and says, for example, “two Aces”—truthfully or not. The next must say “twos,” and so on, cycling through ranks.
Anyone can challenge by saying “I doubt it!” If the player was bluffing, they pick up the pile. If not, the challenger picks it up.
The first to get rid of all cards wins.

9. Slapjack

Ages: 4+
Players: 2–5
Deck: Standard deck

How to Play:
Deal all cards face down. Players flip the top card from their pile into a center pile, one at a time.
When a Jack appears, everyone races to slap the pile. First to slap it wins the stack and adds it to their pile.
If you run out of cards, you get one chance to slap the next Jack to stay in the game. Last player left wins.

10. Pig

Ages: 6+
Players: 3–13
Deck: Use 4 matching cards per player

How to Play:
Each player gets four cards (from a matching set like four queens, four fives, etc.). Everyone picks one card to pass left, picks up a new card from the right, and repeats.
When a player gets four of a kind, they quietly put a finger on their nose. Others must notice and do the same.
The last to react gets a letter: P, then I, then G. First to spell “PIG” is out!

No Batteries, Just Cards!
Card games are timeless, simple, and endlessly entertaining. They teach kids everything from memory and math to social skills and patience—plus, they’re a great way to bond. So grab a deck and deal in the fun!

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