Card games for adults
Whether you’re meeting up with old friends or making new ones, card games are an excellent way to break the ice and get the conversation flowing.
There’s a card game for those with a competitive streak, those who enjoy dark humor and those who are all about strategy. Since they’re so portable, you can bring a card game pretty much anywhere. So grab a six-pack or your favorite beverage and prepare to unwind with a few friends.
Tips for hosting the best game night
Before you dive into playing, set the mood for your guests with some thoughtful gestures.
Have multiple card games to choose from
Options are never a bad thing. You may get bored of one game, or have a picky group of friends.
Leave time to socialize
No need to dive into the game playing immediately! Allot some time to grab refreshments, catch up on life and foster a familiar mood before the competition starts.
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Have snacks and drinks at the ready
It’s not a game night without snacks. Provide an array of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages and finger foods. Think chips and dip, pretzels or a charcuterie board. Make sure there’s a nice balance of savory and sweet.
Get comfy
If you’re playing at a card table or on the floor, soft seating is always an appreciated touch. Provide a few throw pillows or floor pillows to keep your guests comfortable all night long.
Adult card games for groups
Strategy games
These games will require you and your teammates to put your thinking caps on and even work together. As they say, two (or more) heads are better than one.
Czech Games Codenames: available at Amazon
Two teams use clues to take turns uncovering the true identities of secret agents based on one-word clues. The first team to find all the secret agents wins! This is a fun wordplay game that will have you guessing at synonyms while avoiding uncovering the game-ending assassin.
Exploding Kittens: available at Amazon
Everyone takes turns drawing from a card pile. If you get an exploding kitten card, you’re out! With a few other special cards, the game is simple enough to learn in 5 minutes, and play for a 15-minute round while multitasking or nursing a drink or two.
Dark-humor games
Prepare to laugh with the games below. Dark-humor games are best played with a group that appreciates inappropriate humor and won’t take things too personally.
Cards Against Humanity: available at Amazon
This is not for the faint of heart or the easily offended, but it definitely guarantees a good time. Similar to Mad Libs, one player draws a black card with a cheeky fill-in-the-blank. The other players put forth their best — or in some cases, worst — answers written on the white cards in their hand, filling in the blanks with hilarious answers. Whoever drew the black card chooses their favorite answer.
Drunk Stoned or Stupid: available at Amazon
An extended, R-rated version of “who is most likely to.” Some of the questions are pretty saucy, so you’ll want to be selective about who you play with. Close friends are recommended — or friends with thick skin.
Quirky and zany games
Looking for something unusual or something that engages your other senses? These games are cheeky and a bit unexpected.
What Do You Meme: available at Amazon
This is a game that very much reflects the times, getting players to create their own memes. The stakes are low, but the pop-culture references might favor a younger crowd.
Incohearent: available at Amazon
Incohearent gets everyone talking. Take turns decoding real phrases from gibberish (for example, “hike ant even” is “I can’t even”). This is a silly game that gets even sillier with a less-than-sober group of pals.
Personal-question card games
Want to get really personal? Go for games that ask a lot of questions. Some are more inappropriate than others, so be careful who you play with.
Bad People: available at Amazon
Learn about the deepest, darkest desires of your closest friends, or take the plunge into making new friends! Bad People is the mature version of “who is most likely to.” It’s great for parties of up to 10 people.
Search History: available at Amazon
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This one’s for adults only. Players take turns guessing the answers for real-life Google search results that have key elements omitted. Players fill in the blanks leading to hilarious insights into people’s internet search habits.
Never Have I Ever: available at Amazon
A classic ice-breaker game that has been turned into a card game. Never Have I Ever is enhanced with rule cards and hundreds of new scenarios. Be warned, you’re in for a raunchy (but fun) night with this game.
The Voting Game: available at Amazon
Who will be the hardest to recognize in 10 years? Which one could you convince that the world is flat? Those are a couple of the cards you’ll pick up as you vote for your fellow players. And those are just the rated-PG questions.
These Cards Will Get You Drunk: available at Amazon
If you needed an excuse to get drunk, here’s one. The rules are simple: draw a card and follow the instructions on it. If necessary, take a drink. For an extended game, we recommend playing with sips of beer or wine and plenty of water.
Classic card games we grew up with
Taboo Board Game: available at Amazon
If you want something a little less adult and a little more all-ages friendly, Taboo is the go-to game. Think of charades, but with words. Describe the word on your card to your teammate. Can you get them to guess brain freeze without saying cold or ice?
Conventional card deck: available at Amazon
When all else fails, fall back on a 52-card deck. Poker is a tried-and-true favorite, but try other group games like Crazy Eights or Hearts too. The best part is that all card games are easy to adultify, whether you’re adding booze to the mix or not.
Apples to Apples: available at Kohl’s
This classic game is family-friendly, but adults enjoy it too. This is the original, tamer version of Cards Against Humanity. Ola Faleti is a writer for BestReviews. BestReviews is a product review company with a singular mission: to help simplify your purchasing decisions and save you time and money.
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