Affiliate Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. This doesn't affect our recommendations or editorial integrity. Learn more

Expert Picks for January 2026

Best Card Games

From deck-builders to party games, cards deliver endless entertainment in a small box. We compared card games that travel well and scale for any group size.

Last updated: January 28, 2026

Best Overall Comparison All Products User Reviews Buying Guide FAQ

Best Overall Our top recommendation

Best Overall

Exploding Kittens

4.6 (67,890 reviews)

Russian roulette with cats.

Players

2-5

Pros

✓ Hilarious artwork
✓ Quick to learn

Cons

✗ Luck-heavy

$20

View on Amazon

Head-to-Head Comparison

Product	Rating	Price	Action
Exploding Kittens Best Exploding Kittens	4.6	$20	View
UNO Mattel	4.7	$6	View
Dominion Rio Grande	4.7	$45	View
The Crew Value KOSMOS	4.8	$15	View
Cards Against Humanity CAH	4.5	$29	View

* Prices may vary. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

All Recommended Products

Best Overall

Exploding Kittens

4.6 (67,890 reviews)

Russian roulette with cats.

Players

2-5

Pros

✓ Hilarious artwork
✓ Quick to learn

Cons

✗ Luck-heavy

$20

View on Amazon

Budget Pick

Mattel

UNO

4.7 (123,456 reviews)

The card game everyone knows.

Players

2-10

Pros

✓ Everyone knows it
✓ Cheap

Cons

✗ Can drag on

View on Amazon

Premium Pick

Rio Grande

Dominion

4.7 (23,456 reviews)

The game that created deck-building.

Players

2-4

Pros

✓ Invented deck-building
✓ High replayability

Cons

✗ Theme is dry

$45

View on Amazon

Best Value

KOSMOS

The Crew

4.8 (12,345 reviews)

Trick-taking evolved. 50 missions.

Players

2-5

Pros

✓ Cooperative trick-taking
✓ Campaign missions

Cons

✗ Best with 4 players

$15

View on Amazon

CAH

Cards Against Humanity

4.5 (89,012 reviews)

Party game for horrible people.

Players

4-20+

Pros

✓ Hilariously inappropriate

Cons

✗ NOT for everyone

$29

View on Amazon

Buying Guide: How to Choose Card Games

Card Games

Party, Classic, or Strategy—portable fun.

Frequently Asked Questions About Card Games

Best for parties?

Exploding Kittens for all ages. CAH for adults.

Why Trust Our Recommendations?

We analyze thousands of real customer reviews, compare product specifications, and curate recommendations so you can make an informed decision without the research hassle.

Curated Recommendations

Real Customer Reviews

Specs Compared

No Paid Placements

Learn more about our methodology →