Card Games: Reviews

Card games build and reinforce important skills for kids

In the age of high-powered video game systems and their handheld counterparts, it's easy to overlook the value of traditional gameplay. Sitting down with family or friends to play a board or card game delivers distraction-free interactions that can't be duplicated any other way. Unplugging for old-fashioned gameplay reminds kids that there's plenty of fun to be had away from the TV while reinforcing their personal relationships with other players at the table.

In addition, even the most basic card games help children learn and refine important personal skills and traits such as patience (they must wait for their turn), memory, reading, counting, strategy (some games require thinking ahead) and sportsmanship (because no one wins every time).

While standard playing cards are cheap -- a new deck of high-quality cards costs about $3 -- and can be used to play a variety of classic games such as Go Fish and Old Maid, the focus of this report is on kids' card games that eschew regular playing cards. To that end, you can buy kids' versions of those classics with dedicated cards that are sized and illustrated to appeal to children.

No mention of children's card games would be complete without including Uno (*Est. $7), which is so beloved and well reviewed that recommending it seems almost redundant -- if only because it's hard to imagine anyone not having it in their permanent game collection. The premise of the game is simple: Discard your numbered and colored cards before the other players do. Once a player wins a round, the hands of the remaining players are tallied and those points are awarded to the winner. Play continues until one player accumulates 500 points total.

Along the way, players can try to trip up their rivals by changing the direction of players' turns, changing the discard deck's color and forcing other players to draw extra cards. In that sense, Uno is the perfect distillation of what makes card games great: Players must pay attention and plan ahead as they figure out how to get rid of their cards. Uno is as portable as a regular deck of cards, making it easy to play anywhere, anytime. The only reason we don't name it a Best Reviewed selection is because naming it the best card game ever is a bit presumptuous. But if you don't have it, grab it. It's a great inexpensive gift with endless replay ability. Uno is said to be appropriate for kids ages 7 and up, but owners say online that even younger children pick up on the game quickly.

Best kids' card games offer fun for the whole family

If you're looking for a fun party card game, experts and users alike say you can't go wrong with Apples to Apples (*Est. $23). Experts at gaming-enthusiast websites DiceTower.com and BoardGameRatings.com say that Mattel's Apples to Apples is incredibly easy to learn and fast-playing, so there's no time to get bored. It comes with two sets of cards: green cards have adjectives on them and red cards have nouns. Players match their noun cards with each adjective card that's turned over, and a judge chooses which player's match is best. The rules are fairly simple, but the fun comes when cards don't match up in obvious ways (or no way at all), and when judges choose winners based on odd or humorous associations.

Users at Amazon.com say Apples to Apples garners lots of laughs and is fun for a wide variety of ages, skill levels and interests. The game is purely social, however, and may not be a good fit for those who seek more of a challenge. That social aspect is what makes it so enjoyable, however. As one Amazon.com reviewer says: "Obviously, the more you know about the people you're playing with, the better off you'll be. And the funnier it can get. And you'll get to know other people quickly this way." Apples to Apples is designed for four to 10 players, ages 12 and up. For children ages 9 and up, the Apples to Apples Junior (*Est. $20) card game gets good reviews, as well. There's also an Apples to Apples Bible edition (*Est. $25), Jewish edition (*Est. $25) and Disney edition (*Est. $20).

FlipOut (*Est. $20) from Gamewright is another card game that reviewers say is fun for the whole family. The object is simple -- collect cards of the same color -- but there's a twist. Every card is double-sided, and other players can swipe your cards based on what they see on the back. (You stand your cards up in a curved rack in front of you, so your rivals have a clear view of your cards' backs.) The fast-paced game earns awards from sources such as Parents' Choice, Tillywig.com and The National Parenting Center, which calls it "hands-down one of the favorite games of the year." Experts say FlipOut offers a great balance of skill and luck, making it a good fit for kids and parents of all ages.

The game's manufacturer suggests an age range of 8 and up, but reviewers say younger kids enjoy playing FlipOut, as well. As TheBoardGameFamily.com says, "Once you explain the ways to move cards around, they'll be all over it. They'll love swapping cards and switching them around." Two to five players can play and games last about 15 minutes. While user reviews are essentially nonexistent, we found quality feedback from the sources mentioned above, including a couple of video reviews that show actual setup and gameplay. Users say the cards are sturdy and durable but a bit slippery to handle.

If you like games that require more strategy, reviewers say Dominion (*Est. $45) is a great option although the game itself is pricey. Its manufacturer, Rio Grande Games, says "you assume the role of a monarch who desperately wants to expand his empire," but must compete against others with similar aspirations. While the game can be learned relatively quickly, testers say Dominion is just as fun for experienced gamers as it is for novices. The object of the game it to collect as many Victory Point cards as you can, but they don't do you any good until the game's conclusion and only take up valuable hand space in the interim.

Experts say gamers who enjoy card-collecting games (CCG) such as Magic -- The Gathering and Pokemon will enjoy the deck-building aspect of Dominion without having to purchase additional cards and booster packs. A recurring theme in reviews, however, is the game's appeal to those who may be put off by the complexity of CCGs. On Amazon.com, users repeatedly say they approached Dominion with some trepidation, only to be sucked in by how easy it is to learn and play. As one owner says, "it wasn't nearly as complicated as I first imagined." Another says, "Dominion has something for everyone, from the collectable card game nut, to the poker player, to the family looking for an alternative to Trivial Pursuit on Sunday nights."

TheBoardGameFamily.com finds this fast-moving card game simple and enjoyable for people of all ages. Some users complain, however, that the game isn't interactive enough and resembles group solitaire. Others wish there weren't so much shuffling involved, because it's tedious and wears the cards out quickly. Dominion can be played by two to four people, and is recommended for ages 10 and up. Six expansion sets (*Est. $20 to $30) are also available, and each can be played as a stand-alone game or as an add-on to the standard Dominion set. Reviewers at Amazon.com -- where the game rates 4.8 out of 5 stars overall from more than 230 reviews -- recommend that first-time players start with the original, while veteran Dominion players are said to pick up on the expansions easily.