Sometimes it’s hard to find the right card game because you don’t know where to start. It can be hard to decide what to buy when there are so many options, like Pokemon and Magic: The Gathering. So, I’ve put together a list of card games that I think adults will enjoy.
We’ve played a lot of games over the last few years, so we can give you a lot of suggestions, whether you want a short game, a long game, a strategy game, a game for parties, or something else entirely. Our program that looks for deals is always looking for deals on the best card games, so you should be able to save some money along the way.
We will cover everything from the largest player in the category today (you will never guess which that is), the best ports from paper, the up-and-comers you might not have catch of, and some of the best free card games out there. Card games have been all over almost as long as advancement, with some believing they started in 9th century China before finally moving their method over to the west and becoming the standard 52 card deck we all acknowledge. Below the we have mentioned some of the best Card Games.
Best Card Games
Smash Up
Smash Up isn’t a game for everyone. The recommended age on the box is 12+ and we think that’s pretty accurate. Not only is there a lot of text on every card, but the whole nature of the game is one of calculating and maneuvering your cards and abilities in the right manner to gain the most points.
One of the things that makes Smash Up so appealing is the amount of possibilities in the game play. Since there are eight factions and each player mixes two factions together, there’s a lot to be explored in how the cards from the various factions work together. It could be different every time you play. This is the best Card Games.
Uno
Some games have stood the test of time and are classics for a reason. Decades after its initial release, there have been several digital versions of UNO dating back to the days of the Game Boy Color, but today the most popular version is undoubtedly the PC version.
For the uninitiated: The goal of UNO is to empty your cards before others do. This simple goal can be thwarted in various ways, either by one’s own mistakes or by interference from other players. It is the simplest game on this list, but it certainly makes it easier for families to play together.
Legends Of Runeterra
Legends Of Runeterra is the latest digital collectible card game. It’s set in the same universe as one of Riot’s other games, League Of Legends – that means larger-than-life characters, creatures which range from adorable to horrifying, and lots and lots of spiders.
Card games are either the best thing in the world, or the worst thing ever created by human beings. Hell, maybe they weren’t created by humanity at all but some kind of deranged alien species that just wants to watch us suffer. It all depends on how lucky you’re getting with your opening hand and the cards you get to draw in each match. Overall, this is one of the best Card Games.
Cardfight!! Vanguard Zero
Based on the popular anime series Cardfight! Vanguard and from the physical card game of the same name, Vanguard Zero has redefined the game with new guard mechanics. All players who have enjoyed Bushiroad games in the past should give Vanguard Zero a try.
The game finds itself in a strange position after entering the “G” era. While the game has become more skillful and complex, complete decks have become harder to obtain thanks to a new rarity that is difficult to obtain. Unlike Duel Links, players can create cards, but the amount of in-game currency required to create the new “Generation Rare” requires a lot of grinding or spending.
Pokémon TCG
The other major draw for Pokémon TCG, online competitive play, blows its potential with laggy matches that are altogether too slow-paced to enjoy. Multiple opponents took far too long choosing a Pokémon at the beginning, for example, so either there was a problem with the network communication or my adversaries had something better to do. Overall, this is one of the best Card Games.
Meanwhile, on my end, connecting to the network in general was finicky, and putting down the iPad for a minute to grab a snack or answer a text timed me out on multiple occasions. As far as the free-to-play element goes, Pokémon TCGO’s progression is paced a little slowly for those who opt out of microtransactions (and, in this case, buying packs of cards IRL that contain redeemable codes).
Shadowverse
Shadowverse: Champion’s Battle follows a typical Shonen school drama narrative about an anonymous, mute new student to Tensei Academy. In both the school and the surrounding town, a card game called Shadowverse has completely taken over the zeitgeist, and your character of course has an uncanny natural ability to play the game amazingly well.
One thing leads to another and your character finds himself joining the school’s mysterious Shadowverse club, which is weirdly unpopular and underground considering the prevalence of the card game literally everywhere else you go. As a result of its decline, the school’s class president wants to close the club down for good, but she agrees to let it go on if you and your friends can win the Shadowverse world championship.
Gwent
Gwent occupies a unique position in The Witcher universe, able to bring in both characters from the book timeline (which occurred before that of the games) and the game timeline, which makes it perfect for a time when a lot of people, spurred on by the show, are just starting to get into both.
Each of these allow you to build a deck from a pool of cards, including units and spells, but you can also choose cards from the neutral pile, allowing you to add in a few of your favorites. This is where the real magic happens, because while each faction has their own synergies, the real advanced level tactics stuff is when you find neutral cards that play into those synergies in unexpected, and exciting ways.
Clash Royale
One of the most popular and basic modes within Clash Royale is the 1 vs 1, where you play alone against your enemy. Only when you play this mode, you can win and lose trophies, which really do not have any meaning in the game. However, the feeling of losing trophies when you lose is extremely annoying, and it naturally makes you want to play again to win those trophies back.
The game almost seems to be rigged when you are in that “losing state,” and you just continue to lose and lose, round after round. Your mood gets worse and worse, but you still continue to play because you are determined to win those trophies back. For me and probably many other players, this trophy ladder system is probably the most frustrating, but at the same time, the most addicting part of the game.
Slay the Spire
Slay the Spire combines elements of living card games, such as Arkham Horror: The Card Game and Marvel Champions, with the kind of RPG and roguelike mechanics you’d find in video games to create a rapid-fire experience where you get better with every failure you run into.
The aforementioned Spire is one hell of a dangerous place filled with cut-throat thieves, talented sorcerers, toxic slimes and other, even stranger foes – all of whom stand between you and the secrets that lie at its peak. Each level of the Spire contains a series of branching paths intersected by various rooms. This is one of the best Card Games.
