The 5 Best Card Games for Family Game Night

Why Card Games?

I travel a lot for work, and one thing I always miss is family game night. Card games were our go-to because they were easy to learn, portable, and fun for all ages. Here are our top picks that work great for families.

1. Oh Hell

This game was the easiest to learn for my kids — the rules are simple, but the gameplay is deep. Bidding how many tricks you think you can take adds a fun layer of strategy, and it's always exciting to see if you can pull off that perfect bid.

2. Spades

This game is a family favorite for our more competitive nights. The partnership aspect makes it a great way to team up with a parent or sibling, and the strategic bidding keeps everyone engaged. Plus, it's super satisfying to trump a big card with a spade at just the right moment.

3. Hearts

Hearts like spades is a trick-taking game, but the goal is to avoid taking certain cards. It adds a fun twist and keeps everyone on their toes. The "shoot the moon" strategy adds an extra layer of excitement when someone tries to take all the hearts.

4. UNO

It seems everyone has played UNO at some point, and it's a great choice for younger kids or when you want a more casual game. The colorful cards and simple rules make it easy to pick up, and the "Draw Four" card always leads to hilarious moments.

5. A Classic Trick-Taking Rotation

Playing between these different trick-taking games keeps things fresh. We rotate between Oh Hell, Spades, and Hearts, so we get a mix of bidding, partnership, and avoidance mechanics. It keeps everyone on their toes and caters to different moods.

Play All of These Online

All four of these games are available on Family Time with built-in video chat, so you can see everyone's reactions when you play that perfect card. Start your free trial →