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.
Product sorting
List of products
In this team hidden identity game, you will play as a member of the magical community in the Order of the Phoenix during the second Wizarding War. You know everyone should be loyal to stopping He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named and his followers, but are they? As you complete Encounters, you may need to battle some of the dark creatures that Lord Voldemort has recruited to aid him in the war including...
Movie Fight is a card game by Michal Peichl, illustrated by Danny Pavlov, for 1–5 players aged 8 and over, lasting 40 minutes.
A cooperative party game in which all the ghosts simultaneously act out concepts using gestures and sounds, and Ducháček tries to recognise them correctly within 30 seconds.
A party game for adults where you search for the funniest caption to go with popular animated GIFs. Pair internet hits with spot-on one-liners and have a laugh!
A standalone expansion for the popular party game Shit Happens. Let’s face it – sometimes shit happens to everyone, doesn’t it? So why not at least have a laugh about it? Stupid things happen in life! Everything’s relative, but not in this game. Whether it’s having to go to the loo at a funeral or being hit by a train, our experts have rated every such nasty incident on our ‘shittiness’...
A fast-paced card game involving making combinations from cards. Draw, discard and swap cards to create a winning combination before your opponents spoil it for you! Your aim in each round is to be the first player to reveal a winning combination of cards. If you win 2 rounds, you win the whole game! During your turn, you can either draw or discard 1 card, so the number of cards in your...
Compile: Main 3 brings 12 new Protocols, fully compatible with all other Compile material, including all Seven Deadly Sins. Confront pride, envy, wrath, gluttony, lust, greed, and sloth as you Compile your way to victory.
The engines are starting to roar! At the starting line, the drivers are getting ready to push the limits of the track, aware of the danger that lies in every turn and knowing that courage is their most valuable asset. In this race, the drivers must balance and manage tire wear and fuel consumption, juggling speed with the conservation of resources. An adrenaline-fueled game of skill and...
Drug use, personal demons, wild episodes, and more. Side Effects is a "take that" card game where players race to treat all the diseases in their psyche with medication and therapy.
A beautiful set of 25 metal coins, with a special silver coin and a bag to store them all in.
Don't Botch the Broccoli by How To Steam Broccoli is a fast-paced, micro-sized card game that blends hand management and simultaneous action selection. Designed by Mark McGee, this highly interactive filler game challenges 3 to 5 players to secretly choose and reveal cards from an identical hand, trying to time their cooks perfectly without overlapping with opponents. A full round of this...
A pack of 56 playing cards. An authentic reproduction of the pack created to mark the release of the film Mask of the Outlander in 1954.
In Mercenaries Wanted you take on the role of a mercenary company leader, recruiting mercenaries to complete jobs for you. Assemble your teams carefully and send them out on assignment to earn the most gold. Between rounds, decide who to keep in your roster, who to promote, and who to let go. Race to complete jobs over several rounds before competing with your promoted mercenaries in a series...
To win the deck-building game Dark Pact, you need to complete one of the game's thirteen Dark Pacts, each of which has a unique winning condition. To set up, each player has a deck of ten cards, with cards being either actions, treasures, or multipliers. Players take turns clockwise until someone achieves a Dark Pact: "Keeper" Dark Pacts can stay in play, and if you ever meet their...
The Lost Expedition: The Fountain of Youth & Other Adventures expands the base game with four new, modular additions.
In MÉÉÉD!, every card you reveal is a tempting gamble. Push your luck, trust your memory, and decide when to stop as you race to build a sequence of cards from 1 to 8 or claim a sweet honey-fueled victory.
The Lost Expedition by Osprey Games is an immersive survival card game that plunges players deep into the Amazon jungle in search of El Dorado. Designed by Peer Sylvester with distinct artwork by Garen Ewing, this resource-management puzzle is tailored for 1 to 5 players and features solo, cooperative, and team versus modes. Suitable for ages 14 and up, a typical expedition lasts between 30 to...
Step into the dark world of Nevermore Academy with the Bicycle Wednesday playing cards! Inspired by the hit Netflix series starring Jenna Ortega as Wednesday Addams, this deck will transform your next card game into a thrilling dance with the macabre. Shuffle the ink-black cards featuring your favorite characters from the series and immerse yourself in an atmosphere that’s just as mysterious,...
The timeless elegance of the sophisticated ornamental design is evident in every detail of the Bicycle Byzantine playing cards. Add a touch of style and sophistication to your next card game with the striking gold and silver foil accents on the box.The deck also features a completely original design for both the face cards and the backs, making it stand out not only during play but also in any...
Introducing the Bicycle Elton John playing cards, created in collaboration with the Rocket Man himself.The deck features iconic illustrations of Elton John on the playing cards and gold holographic piano keys on the box. With every game, you can embark on a stylish journey down the Yellow Brick Road.

