Card games are the perfect frugal activity. Not only are decks of cards ridiculously cheap- I’ve seen them being sold for 50 cents a pack or less, one set can be used to play so many different games, so it has multiple uses for the same frugal item. I grew up playing card games with my classmates, friends, and siblings, and now my children play with their friends. While I love the board games we have, there simply is nothing like a deck of cards for diversity and breadth of entertainment. Here are some easy card games you can teach your children for hours of entertainment.
Let’s be honest, card games can seem super intimidating when you hear names like “Cribbage” or “Pinochle” tossed around like everyone was born knowing how to play. But not all card games require a PhD in trick-taking or a spreadsheet of scoring rules. Some are wonderfully simple, fun, and perfect for killing time at family get-togethers, road trips, or whenever your phone dies and you’re forced to socialize like it’s 1995.
Card games are also great for passing time when you’re commuting, have some downtime at work, or are simply catching some air by yourself. Don’t have a deck of cards? Not to worry! Simply grab your phone and head over to Bonusfinder Canada to find the best card games online.
So, if you’re looking for a few card games that don’t require an encyclopedia to understand, you’re in the right place. Here are some of the simplest card games you can learn in about five minutes or less.
War
This one’s a classic, and it’s so simple it’s almost funny.
What you need: A standard deck of cards
Players: 2
Objective: Win all the cards.
Here’s how it works: You split the deck evenly between two players. Each player flips over the top card of their pile at the same time. The higher card wins both and adds them to the bottom of their deck. If there’s a tie, it’s “war” – each player puts down three cards face down and one face up. The higher face-up card wins the whole pile. Rinse, repeat.
There’s no strategy. Zero. It’s all luck. But it’s oddly satisfying and can go on for hours. Or minutes, depending on your attention span.
Go Fish
Ah, childhood memories. Go Fish is great for kids, but adults can totally enjoy it too—especially when you get way too competitive about it.
What you need: A standard deck (or you can use special Go Fish cards if you’re fancy)
Players: 2-6
Objective: Collect the most sets of four matching cards.
Deal 5 cards to each player (7 if only two players). The rest of the deck goes in a draw pile. Take turns asking another player for a specific rank (like, “Do you have any threes?”). If they do, they hand over all their 3s. If not, they say, “Go fish,” and you draw a card. When you collect four of a kind, lay it down. When the deck runs out, the player with the most sets wins.
It’s casual, easy, and has the added bonus of saying “Go fish” a lot, which never stops being fun for some reason.
Slapjack
This one is part card game, part reflex test, part chaos. Perfect for people with fast hands (or too much coffee).
What you need: A standard deck
Players: 2-6
Objective: Win all the cards by being the first to slap a jack.
Shuffle and deal the whole deck out evenly. Players take turns flipping their top card into a center pile. If someone flips a jack, everyone slaps the pile. First person to slap it wins the pile and adds it to the bottom of their stack. If you slap when there’s no jack, you have to give up a card. It’s loud, it’s fast, and it will 100% make someone yell.
Tip: Maybe don’t play this on a glass table.
Memory (a.k.a. Concentration)
Technically a matching game, but hey—it uses cards, and it’s simple enough to teach to a toddler or your most easily distracted friend.
What you need: A standard deck (just use one suit or remove face cards for fewer matches)
Players: 1+
Objective: Find the most matching pairs.
Lay all the cards face down in a grid. Players take turns flipping over two cards at a time. If they match, you keep them and go again. If not, flip them back over and try to remember where they are. The game continues until all cards are matched. Most pairs win.
Great for your brain and shockingly competitive. Seriously, Uncle Bob will not let you win.
Crazy Eights
This is basically the spiritual predecessor to Uno. In fact, if you know Uno, you basically already know how to play.
What you need: A standard deck
Players: 2-5
Objective: Be the first to get rid of all your cards.
Deal 5-7 cards to each player. Place the rest in a draw pile and turn one card face up as the discard pile. Players take turns laying down a card that matches the top of the discard pile by either number or suit. Can’t play? Draw from the deck. Eights are wild—you can change the suit to whatever you want when you play one.
It’s easy, but just strategic enough to feel like you’re doing something clever.
Overall, card games don’t have to be complicated to be fun. These super easy games are perfect for beginners, casual players, or anyone just looking to kill time without opening an app. Grab a deck, find a buddy (or don’t—some of these work solo), and let the games begin.
