Best Card Games for People with Arthritis and Hand Stiffness

Sometimes I’m asked what card games work well for family members who have arthritis or hand stiffness. Honestly, it’s a great question — because it makes me think about how we can keep playing together even when our hands aren’t cooperating.

There are plenty of games out there that don’t require a lot of fine motor control, and a few that actually make things easier for people with limited grip strength or dexterity. We’ve tried a bunch over the years, and here’s what works best.

Go Fish

One of the simplest and most forgiving games we’ve found is Go Fish. It’s a classic, and it’s easy on the hands.

What You Need to Play

Just a standard 52-card deck. No special pieces or cards needed.

Setting Up the Game

Deal five cards to each player. The rest of the deck goes face-down in the center as the draw pile. Flip the top card to start a discard pile. That card determines the suit for the first round.

How to Play

Players take turns asking another player for a specific rank (like "Do you have any fives?"). If the player has one, they give it over. If not, the first player draws a card from the draw pile. The goal is to collect complete sets of four cards of the same rank.

Tips for Playing

• Keep the pace relaxed. No pressure to respond quickly.
• Make sure the cards are large enough to handle easily.
• If someone is struggling with the mechanics, let them ask a family member for help.

Spades

Spades is a favorite in our house, especially for those days when you want a little more strategy without the hassle of moving lots of cards around.

What You Need to Play

Standard 52-card deck. We usually play with 4 players, but it works with fewer too.

Setting Up the Game

Each player gets 13 cards. The first trick starts with the lowest card in the trump suit (or spades if no trump is called).

How to Play

Players bid how many tricks they think they’ll win. Then, the player who leads sets the suit for that trick. The winner of each trick leads the next one.

Tips for Playing

• In our house, we play with a simplified scoring system to avoid mental math.
• If someone is having trouble holding all their cards, we’ll let them spread them out on the table.
• We often play a few rounds of “pass” or “no bid,” where no one takes tricks — just to keep things light.

War

War is another solid choice. It’s simple enough that even young players or those with hand issues can enjoy it without frustration.

What You Need to Play

Standard 52-card deck. Deal the whole deck evenly among players.

Setting Up the Game

Each player puts their stack of cards face down. No need to look at them.

How to Play

Each player flips a card. The highest card wins both cards and places them at the bottom of their stack. If there’s a tie, each player puts down three cards face down and then flips a fourth. Whoever has the higher fourth card wins all the cards in play.

Tips for Playing

• Make sure players aren’t trying to flip cards too quickly — slow down for comfort.
• If you’re playing with multiple decks, it’s a good idea to shuffle between rounds to avoid predictability.

Rummy

Rummy is a bit more complex, but once you get used to it, it’s very rewarding.

What You Need to Play

Standard 52-card deck. We usually play with 2–6 players.

Setting Up the Game

Deal 10 cards to each player. Shuffle the rest and place face-down as a draw pile. Flip the top card to start the discard pile.

How to Play

On your turn, draw a card (either from the deck or discard pile) and then lay off any melds (sets or runs) you have. The goal is to get rid of all your cards.

Tips for Playing

• Let players spread their cards out so they can see them clearly.
• Allow players to call out their melds rather than needing to physically move cards.
• Keep the pace slow. Don’t rush to finish a round.

Making It Fun

The key with any card game is making sure everyone enjoys themselves — not just the ones with the strongest grip. That means adapting the rules or setup a little if needed. Sometimes we’ll let someone play with a single card in hand instead of the full set, or we’ll simplify the bidding in Spades.

We’ve learned that the best games are the ones that let everyone stay involved, not just the ones who can hold cards easily. And honestly, it’s a lot more fun when the whole family is engaged, even if it means a few extra steps.

Give It a Try

Want to play a round with the family? Join a game on Family Time