Card Games
Card games
A card game is any game in which playing cards, whether traditional or specific, are used as the main medium.
There are countless card games, including games that are related in type (e.g. different types of poker). A small number of card games played with traditional decks have formally standardized rules, in which international tournaments are held, but most are folk games whose rules vary by region and culture.
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Traditional card games are played with a deck or pack of playing cards that are the same size and shape. Each card has two sides, a face and a reverse. Usually the backs of the cards are indistinguishable. All card faces may be unique or there may be duplicates in the deck. The composition of the deck is known to each player. Modern card games usually have specific decks, often with more cards, and may contain number cards or action cards. This type of game is generally considered part of board games.
Games using playing cards take advantage of the fact that the cards are individually identifiable from only one side, so that each player knows only the cards they are holding and not those held by someone else. But even this rule is often broken in recent years by modern board games (Hanabi, Tribes of the Wind, and others). For this reason, card games are often characterized as having a high degree of chance. Many games that are not generally classified in the card game family actually use cards for some aspects of their mechanics.
Some pure card games, on the other hand, include a game board (Cribbage, etc.). The difference is that the playability of a card game depends primarily on the player's use of cards (the game board serves as a guide for counting scores or for placing cards), while board games (the main genre that does not use cards) usually focus on the players' positions on the game board and use the cards for some secondary purpose.
The basic types of card games
Stack games
The object of a stacked game is to play several rounds or stacks, in which each player plays one card from his or her hand and, based on the values of the cards played, one player wins or "takes" the stack. The specific objective varies from game to game and may include winning as many stacks as possible, winning as many scoring cards as possible within the stacks won, winning as few stacks as possible (or as few penalty cards as possible), winning a specific stack in a hand, or winning the exact number of stacks. Popular examples are maria, bridge, whist, spades and various tarot card games.
Collecting sets
The goal of a matching (or sometimes "melding") game is to get certain groups of the same cards before your opponent does. In Rummy, this is done through moves and discards, and these groups are called melds. Mahjong is a very similar game that is played with stones instead of cards. Examples of non-rummy match games generally fall into the "fishing" genre and include the children's games Go Fish and Old Maid.
Bluffing games
In bluffing card games, players try to outwit their teammates by playing cards and sharing information about their perceived values or types. A typical representative is the game Bluff!
Solitaire Card Games
Solitaire games are designed for single players. Most games start with a particular layout of cards, called a tableau, and the goal is then to either build a more complex final layout or to clear the tableau and/or draw pile or stock by moving all the cards to one or more "discard" or "foundation" piles. A classic representative is the game of Solitaire.
Collectible Card Games (CCG)
CCGs, or Collectible Card Games, are strategy games designed most often for two players. Each player has his or her own deck assembled from the very large pool of unique cards on the market. The cards have different effects, costs, and artwork. New sets of cards are released periodically, sold as starter decks or booster decks with random cards. Acquiring different cards makes the game a collectible card game, and cards are sold or traded on the secondary market. The most famous representatives are Magic: The Gathering, Pokémon, and Yu-Gi-Oh!
Live Card Games (LCG)
LCGs, or Living Card Games, are similar to collectible card games (CCGs), but their most distinctive feature is their distribution method, which breaks away from the traditional collectible card game format. While new cards for CCGs are usually sold in the form of starter packs or boosters (these are often random), LCGs thrive on a model that requires players to purchase one basic set in order to play a game that they can further customize by acquiring additional sets or expansions with new content in the form of cards or scenarios with a precise composition of cards in each pack. There is no randomization involved in this process, so players who get the same sets or expansions get exactly the same content. This term was popularized by Fantasy Flight Games (FFG) and applies primarily to their products, however it can be observed that some board game companies use a very similar model. Representatives are Arkham Horror, Marvel Champions and Star Wars - all subtitled The card game.
Deck-building games
These are card games in which the main element is the building of a deck of cards over the course of a game. Deck-building games are similar to collectible card games (CCGs) in that each player has their own deck. However, unlike CCGs, cards are not sold in randomly selected decks, and most of the deck building is done during the game, not before the game. In fact, deck building is the main mechanic of these games. The founder of this genre is Donald X. Vaccarino with his 2008 title Dominion. Other well-known deckbuilding games include Star Realms, the Legendary series, and others.
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2085 items total
List of products
New
€16,80
–5 %
€15,84
Expand your Star Wars: The Deckbuilding Game collection with the Mandalorian Faction Pack! This pack comes with everything you need to add the Mandalorian faction to your copy of the game, including new base cards, starter cards, and cards for the galaxy deck. Also included are special rules and neutral cards that allow you to play an all-new, 3-player, free-for-all variant game...
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New
€25,37
–29 %
€17,83
Fight Five is a fast-paced twist on War where players battle across five stacks at once. Each round you draw five cards, clash for control, and score points — ties make stacks grow bigger, while Star Clash Cards trump all. Win by reaching 200 points or leading after three bouts. The deluxe edition features durable, spot‑foiled PVC cards with no sleeves required.
New
€19,81
–18 %
€16,24
Thanks to simple rules and an easy game set-up - which consists of shuffling the cards into a deck to draw from - you can get started straight away with I AM DONE. One at a time, players will either draw a card from the draw pile or play a card from their hand and doing what it says.
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New
€77,39
–9 %
€69,84
Fame and Fable is a fantasy-themed competitive board game for ONE to FOUR players. Use your actions to buy ally and item cards from the market and play these to defeat monsters, complete contracts or disrupt other players.
New
€39,67
–6 %
€37,28
Fame and Fable is a fantasy-themed competitive board game for ONE to FOUR players. Use your actions to buy ally and item cards from the market and play these to defeat monsters, complete contracts or disrupt other players.
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Action
New
€35,66
–38 %
€21,80
Radlands: Gangs of the Wasteland is a brutal two-player card game about finding and exploiting the harsh synergies between cards to take your opponent out of the game.Use people and events to defend your tribe's camps from the brutal attacks of fierce enemies. Be transported to a relentless post-apocalyptic world and fight for the last drops of water!
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New
€10,28
The duplicitous Baba Yaga has been masquerading as a merchant the whole time!It will require full knowledge of these treacherous woods to untangle the wicked knot of Baba Yaga’s schemes.
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New
€19,81
–7 %
€18,23
Something foul is afoot in the Tanglewoods. It's been weeks since you've heard from your grandmother, so you're cinching up your belt, tossing on your cloak, and throwing your trusty axe across your shoulder to venture into the heart of the woods, where her cottage is tucked away (Why does she live in the heart of the woods, you ask? Excellent question. It's super dangerous. Maybe ask her that...
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New
€19,81
–7 %
€18,23
The jealous Evil Stepmother has banished you into the dangerous forest, and then, thinking better of it, has sent a wide variety of goons to finish you off. Tanglewoods White is one deck in the new trilogy of Tanglewoods decks for the solo-player 20 Strong system.
New
€21
It’s the battle of the bards at the Red Dragon Inn! Two new bards storm into the tavern—one who encourages patrons to get up on stage and sing, the other who’ll get on stage herself to dish out insults.
New
Essen 25
€38,87
A Wild Venture is a fast-paced, strategic 2-player game where you don’t just build engines… you dismantle them too! In this quirky world, you’ll share a deck of cards packed with wild characters, clever combos, and unexpected twists. Each turn, you’ll race to build powerful synergies... only to tear them apart when the time is right. Cards won’t last forever, but only the ones you have fully...
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New
Essen 25
€47,21
–7 %
€43,64
Ofrenda is a competitive card‑placement game inspired by the Mexican Day of the Dead. Players draft and arrange portraits, candles, and offerings to build vibrant altars while keeping relatives’ wishes in balance. The player with the most harmonious and rewarding altar wins.
New
Preorder
€19,81
–9 %
€17,83
Rattlesnake is a fast‑paced two‑player card game set in the Wild West. Players unleash explosive combos and special abilities to outshoot their opponent while dodging incoming fire. Victory goes to the one who survives the showdown longest.
New
Essen 25
€19,02
–6 %
€17,83
Red Letter, Yellow Letter! Red Letter, Yellow Letter! Red Letter, Yellow Letter! It’s a party game of saying words! Words with letters in them!
New
Essen 25
€12,90
–11 %
€11,48
In Emergency Exit Only, each player in turn will play a tile to advance to the exit. But you’ll be playing the tiles on top of each other, so you’ll be putting your spatial visualization skills to the test!
New
Preorder
Essen 25
€35,70
–17 %
€29,34
The original Czech game Codenames by Vlaada Chvátil has been enjoying success around the world – winner of the most prestigious international award Spiel des Jahres 2016, best party game in history according to the global game database www.boardgamegeek.com. A word association game for two teams of secret agents. Krycí jména: Zpátky do Bradavic is the first competitive Codenames game inspired...
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New
€59,52
Snowcrest is a euro‑style strategy game set in snowy mountains, where players guide their village and monastery toward enlightenment. By building structures, farming barley, harvesting juniper, making offerings, and meditating, they uncover ancient knowledge guarded by magical beasts. With the Frost expansion and wooden token upgrade, the game adds depth and tactile charm. Victory goes to the...
New
Essen 25
€23,78
–5 %
€22,59
A Knizia classic! Play cards, claim animal figures, and push their value.
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Preorder
€19,02
–6 %
€17,83
Sea Scroll is a quick-playing, deceptively strategic set collection card game where players will guide schools of fish from the Reef, or the central discard area, to their personal Habitat to form schools of fish, or card sets in front of them. At the end of the game, each player will combine their schools with fish cards remaining in their hands to score!
New
Preorder
Essen 25
€19,02
–6 %
€17,83
Onstage is a "must follow" trick-taking game in which you play as a theater company competing for the best performers to join your troupe. By winning tricks, you claim performers onstage. The trump suit is determined by the most valuable performers currently onstage and will change throughout the game as you recruit and manipulate the line of performers.
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Preorder
€19,02
–6 %
€17,83
These 50 metal coins were designed specifically for Tokaido (the game includes cardboard tokens).
New
Preorder
€30,14
–9 %
€27,20
Horrible Couple: Extra Horrible Edition is the even more deplorable version of an unfiltered couples card game about love, laughs, and terrible decisions. Created by The Oatmeal and Exploding Kittens, this edition has plenty of extra horrible cards to turn romance into ridiculous three-panel comics where the best (or worst) punchline wins. You can play cooperatively to test your...
