Family card games
Last checked 7 November 2026
Quick answer: Dobble, Slamwich and Rat-a-Tat Cat are the quickest for younger kids. Sleeping Queens, Sushi Go! and Monopoly Deal suit a mixed table. Sushi Go Party! stretches to eight, and Exploding Kittens keeps rounds short and silly.
Family card games means a small boxed deck the whole table can share, including kids, without leaning on a full board or a long teach. Think after tea, a rainy Saturday, or a Christmas present that doesn't need the dining table cleared for an hour. These eight are light, short and verified for mixed ages. They're different from our main card games page (which mixes adult puzzles and two-player duels) and from card games for adults (grown-up tables). Check the age on each card; the youngest here start at 6+.
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1. Dobble
Any two cards share exactly one matching symbol. Spot it and call it out before anyone else. Young kids are often quicker than the grown-ups.
- Players
- 2 to 8 players
- Age
- 6+
- Play time
- about 15 minutes
- Our teaching rating
- Very easy to teach
Why it suits this: Any two cards share exactly one matching symbol. Spot it and call it out before anyone else. Young kids are often quicker than the grown-ups, which is half the fun. Denis Blanchot's design is pure speed. Zygomatic lists it for 2 to 8 players, 6 and up, about 15 minutes, and it's very easy to teach.
Check price on Amazon for Dobble (opens in a new tab)
Details last checked 19 October 2026.
2. Slamwich
A fast flipping card game. Turn cards onto a pile and slap it when you spot a matching pair or a sandwich, but watch out for the thief cards.
- Players
- 2 to 6 players
- Age
- 6+
- Play time
- about 20 minutes
- Our teaching rating
- Very easy to teach
Why it suits this: A fast flipping card game. Turn cards onto a pile and slap it when you spot a matching pair or a sandwich, but watch out for the thief cards. No reading needed beyond spotting pictures, so younger players keep up. Gamewright lists it for 2 to 6 players, 6 and up, about 20 minutes, and it's very easy to teach.
Check price on Amazon for Slamwich (opens in a new tab)
Details last checked 24 October 2026.
3. Rat-a-Tat Cat
Get rid of the high rat cards and keep the low cat cards. You sneak a peek, draw two or swap, then try to remember what's face down in front of you. Lowest score wins.
- Players
- 2 to 6 players
- Age
- 6+
- Play time
- about 20 minutes
- Our teaching rating
- Very easy to teach
Why it suits this: Get rid of the high rat cards and keep the low cat cards. You sneak a peek, draw two or swap, then try to remember what's face down in front of you. Lowest score wins. Half memory, half luck, and it fits a short family slot. Gamewright lists it for 2 to 6 players, 6 and up, about 20 minutes, and it's very easy to teach.
Details last checked 21 October 2026.
4. Sleeping Queens
Twelve queens are under a sleeping spell and it's your job to wake them. Play a knight to pinch one, chance a jester, and watch out for potions and dragons. Invented by a 6-year-old.
- Players
- 2 to 5 players
- Age
- 8+
- Play time
- about 20 minutes
- Our teaching rating
- Very easy to teach
Why it suits this: Twelve queens are under a sleeping spell and it's your job to wake them. Play a knight to pinch one, chance a jester, and watch out for potions and dragons. Invented by a 6-year-old with her family, and it still plays cleanly with mixed ages. Gamewright lists it for 2 to 5 players, 8 and up, about 20 minutes, and it's very easy to teach.
Check price on Amazon for Sleeping Queens (opens in a new tab)
Details last checked 21 October 2026.
5. Sushi Go!
Pick a card, pass the rest. Phil Walker-Harding's quick drafting game: chase maki rolls, finish sashimi sets, dip nigiri in wasabi to triple it and save room for pudding.
- Players
- 2 to 5 players
- Age
- 8+
- Play time
- about 15 minutes
- Our teaching rating
- Very easy to teach
Why it suits this: Phil Walker-Harding's quick drafting game. Pick a card, pass the rest. Chase maki rolls, finish sashimi sets, dip nigiri in wasabi to triple it and leave room for pudding. Cartoon food, short rounds, and kids grasp the pick-and-pass idea fast. Gamewright lists it for 2 to 5 players, 8 and up, about 15 minutes, and it's very easy to teach.
Check price on Amazon for Sushi Go! (opens in a new tab)
Details last checked 2 November 2026.
6. Monopoly Deal
Monopoly as a 110-card game. Play up to three cards a turn to bank money, lay down property or charge rent, and the first to finish three full sets in different colours wins.
- Players
- 2 to 5 players
- Age
- 8+
- Play time
- about 15 minutes
- Our teaching rating
- Easy to teach
Why it suits this: Monopoly as a 110-card game that actually finishes. Play up to three cards a turn to bank money, lay property or charge rent, and the first to finish three full sets in different colours wins. If someone in the family only knows Monopoly, this is a sneaky way in. Hasbro Gaming lists it for 2 to 5 players, 8 and up, about 15 minutes, and it's easy to teach.
Check price on Amazon for Monopoly Deal (opens in a new tab)
Details last checked 20 October 2026.
7. Sushi Go Party!
Pick one card from your hand, pass the rest along, and try to collect the best combos of cartoon sushi dishes.
- Players
- 2 to 8 players
- Age
- 8+
- Play time
- about 30 minutes
- Our teaching rating
- Very easy to teach
Why it suits this: The bigger Sushi Go! menu for a fuller family table. Pick one card from your hand, pass the rest along, and try to collect the best combos of cartoon sushi dishes. It stretches further than the tin when cousins are round. Gamewright lists it for 2 to 8 players, 8 and up, about 30 minutes, and it's very easy to teach.
Check price on Amazon for Sushi Go Party! (opens in a new tab)
Details last checked 26 October 2026.
8. Exploding Kittens
Draw cards and hope it isn't an Exploding Kitten. Skip, attack, shuffle or defuse your way to being the last one standing.
- Players
- 2 to 5 players
- Age
- 7+
- Play time
- about 15 minutes
- Our teaching rating
- Very easy to teach
Why it suits this: Draw cards and hope it isn't an Exploding Kitten. Skip, attack, shuffle or defuse your way to being last standing. Chaotic, silly art, and rounds stay short enough that a lost player isn't sat out for long. Exploding Kittens lists it for 2 to 5 players, 7 and up, about 15 minutes, and it's very easy to teach.
Check price on Amazon for Exploding Kittens (opens in a new tab)
Details last checked 19 October 2026.
Want adult tables rather than kids at the table? See card games for adults. More mixed decks sit on card games. Small presents: stocking filler games. Broader family boards: family board games for all ages. Dobble fans can compare editions on the best Dobble versions. Exploding Kittens fans can try games like Exploding Kittens.
Monopoly Deal is the card game spin-off. If the family would rather have the board, see the 10 best Monopoly versions.
How we choose and check
We pick games for the situation, and ignore hobby rankings and hype. Player counts, ages and play times come from the publisher's own page or the box. If we can't confirm a detail there, we leave it off the card. The teaching rating is our own view from reading the rules, not a publisher figure. Nobody pays us to include a game. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. See how we make money.