Top Card Games in the World

Ever since the Chinese have come up with a way to make paper entertaining more than a millennium ago, people have enjoyed card games as a way to pass the time, gamble, and develop close-up magic. Card games have evolved since then, and you can now find them in many a video game, online casino, and geeky board-game store.

We have compiled a list of the most popular card games in the world. To be fair and inclusive, we have divided this list into two sections: traditional card games and modern ones.

Traditional Card Games

This section is dedicated to card games that you can play with any run-of-the-mill deck of cards and which have inspired songs, stories, and movies.

Poker

With its countless variants, poker is the staple of card games. Whether its Texas Hold’Em, Seven Card Stud, or Badugi, the goal of the game is the same: get the best hand you can and place your wager accordingly.

Blackjack

This game is perfect for those that like a one-on-one challenge. The goal of the game is to get a score that doesn’t get over 21 but is otherwise close to it. The dealer plays against the player. It is simple and fast-paced, so it is not one of those games where you have to spend hours on end learning the rules and practicing.

Baccarat

Blackjack’s little brother has similar rules – you need to get a score of nine or get close. After that, the game goes a step further – you bet on who wins the game.

Go Fish

This is one of the games you don’t play at casinos. In fact, for many, it is the first game you learn how to play. The game consists of collecting a set of four cards and ending up with more cards than your opponent. It relies both on luck and skill and it consists of asking your opponent for a specific card. If they have it, they are to give you all the cards they possess that fit the criteria – for example, if my opponent asks me for Kings and I have three in my hand, I have to give them all away. If not, they have to fish for a card. The game is simple and fun.

Modern Card Games

This section is made of games you need special decks for.

Cards Against Humanity

Do you have a dark sense of humor? Do you have a group of friends that share it? In that case, you may want to check out Cards Against Humanity, a game where one player plays a question card and all others must come up with the best, the funniest, and/or the most inappropriate response. It is not for the faint of heart, because the even mildest of the cards are saucy, while others can be downright disturbing.

Magic the Gathering

The game is constantly updated with new cards being issued every season and rich lore and merchandise surrounding the brand. The game is complex and requires extensive research for serious play, as each player constructs their own deck filled with monster, spell, and mana cards in an effort to beat their opponent. There is no ultimate deck and some cards are so rare they are worth a pretty penny.

Uno

One of the best-selling card sensations actually has its roots in several traditional card games. If you’ve played Crazy Eights, Mau Mau, Switch, or Macau, you already know the principle – shed all of your cards until you have none left and you are the winner. Just be careful and don’t forget to announce when you have one card left.