The Best Card Games of the Year 2022 in Comparison 2026
The year 2022 brought exciting card games to players. These games capture the card gaming highlights from this notable year.
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HITSTER
All details & ratingWith HITSTER, the ultimate music card game, you can instantly throw a party! Listen to over 100 years of fantastic hits, arrange them chronologically on your music timeline, and relive unforgettable memories. The first player to collect 10 hits is crowned the HITSTER.
2–10 30 min 16+ Immediately playable -
Sea Salt & Paper
All details & ratingSea Salt & Paper is a set collection card game that combines strategic decision-making with the excitement of timing your moves just right. Similar to Rummy in gameplay, it involves collecting sets of cards to score points, while also navigating the timing of when to end the round for optimal advantage.
2–4 30–45 min 8+ Immediately playable -
Splendor Duel
All details & ratingSplendor Duel is an intriguing two-player game that builds upon the foundation of its predecessor, Splendor, enhancing it with new layers of strategy and competitiveness. Designed specifically for two players, this standalone game maintains the core elements of Splendor while introducing novel twists and mechanics, making it more dynamic and interactive.
2 30 min 10+ Easy to learn+ 8 € above the best price25 € at Amazon* -
Spots
All details & ratingPlayers roll dice and place them on dog cards during their turn. Dice that cannot be placed are buried in their garden. If too many dice are buried, the player goes bankrupt. Completing 6 dogs wins the game!
1–4 25–30 min 10+ Immediately playable -
Star Wars: Jabba's Palace – A Love Letter Game
All details & ratingJabba's lair is a place of danger and deception. Players compete with members of the Rebel Alliance and the residents of Jabba's Palace, using the abilities of iconic characters while trying to outsmart their opponents. The game retains the simple and fun mechanics of the original, introducing Agenda cards that offer new victory conditions and additional strategic depth.
2–6 20 min 10+ Immediately playable -
Kites - Time to Fly
All details & ratingThe sun is shining, the wind is blowing, and it's time to gather your friends to fly some kites! Players collaborate to keep all their kites, represented by colorful hourglasses, in the air by playing cards, flipping the hourglasses, and coordinating with each other. If any hourglass runs out, a kite crashes, adding a fun challenge to the game. Play all the kite cards in the stack to achieve a collective victory!
2–6 10 min 10+ Immediately playable+ 4 € above the best price19 € at Amazon* -
Mindbug: First Contact
All details & ratingMindbug: First Contact is an innovative and strategic duel card game where players summon unique hybrid creatures to battle their opponent. However, the twist lies in the Mindbug cards, which can turn the tide of the game by allowing players to take control of an opponent's creature.
2 15–25 min 8+ Easy to learn+ 8 € above the best price22 € at Amazon* -
Port Royal: Big Box
All details & ratingPort Royal: Big Box includes the base game and its two expansions, offering new graphics and artwork. It also features Gambler promo cards and the standalone game. This edition will be released in Germany in January 2022.
1–5 20–50 min 8+ Easy to learn -
Bohnanza: 25th Anniversary Edition
All details & ratingThe 25th Anniversary Edition includes a new bean variety and three game variants, one featuring a collector's coin. Players plant and harvest bean cards to earn coins, managing their hand without changing the order of cards. On their turn, a player lays down cards, trades with others, and eventually collects coins based on their beans before the game concludes with a final harvest.
2–7 45 min 10+ Easy to learn -
Marvel Dice Throne
All details & ratingPlayers take on the role of one of eight iconic Marvel heroes, including Black Panther, Captain Marvel, and Thor. Each hero is uniquely designed to provide a thematic experience, allowing you to truly embody your favorite characters. The game features fast-paced action with skillful card play and dice manipulation across various modes, including free-for-all and team battles.
2–6 20–40 min 8+ Easy to learn -
Cat in the Box: Deluxe Edition
All details & ratingCat in the Box: Deluxe Edition is a unique and innovative quantum trick-taking card game that challenges 2 to 5 players to think strategically about color and number. This deluxe edition of the game enhances the experience with high-quality components and new features.
2–5 20–40 min 13+ Easy to learn+ 10 € above the best price25 € at Amazon* - + 1 € above the best price10 € at Amazon*
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Caper: Europe
All details & ratingCaper: Europe thrusts players into the heart of a high-stakes game of thievery and strategy, set against the backdrop of Europe's most iconic locations. As rival criminal masterminds, players draft a crew of skilled thieves, dispatch them across the continent, and equip them with various gear to pull off daring heists. The challenge lies in outsmarting your opponent by efficiently managing your resources, controlling key locations, and securing valuable stolen goods. With only six rounds to enact your master plan, the pressure is on to be the most cunning and successful mastermind.
2 25–35 min 10+ Easy to learn+ 8 € above the best price39 € at Amazon* -
Everdell: The Complete Collection
All details & ratingImmerse yourself in the world of Everdell with the Complete Collection. Build a city filled with animal inhabitants, explore diverse regions, and celebrate events like the Bellfaire. The collection features 23 unique Critter Meeples, player powers for asymmetric gameplay, and luxurious components, making it the ultimate Everdell experience.
1–6 40–120 min 10+ Medium complexity -
MANTIS
All details & ratingPlayers either steal or score their way to victory by collecting matching cards until one player has 10 cards in their score pile. With the simplicity of UNO and the depth of Gin Rummy, it suits both children and adults, though adults may find themselves often outplayed by younger competitors.
2–6 10 min 7+ Immediately playable - 4 € below the next retailer5 € at Amazon*
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Dice Throne: Santa vs Krampus
All details & ratingTwo new and original heroes battle in this exciting, accessible standalone duel game. Players can choose from a variety of heroes, each offering a unique play style and feel. Attack opponents and activate abilities by rolling the five unique dice of your hero, while collecting combat points to use for cards with various effects, such as permanent upgrades, status effects, or manipulating dice.
2–6 20–40 min 8+ Easy to learn -
Marvel: Remix
All details & ratingPlayers assemble a team of heroes and allies to face notorious villains. They receive a sheet of seven cards featuring characters, items, or locations from the Marvel universe. By equipping their characters with powerful gear and maneuvers, they can perform epic combos and compete for the highest score to win. The game includes 61 Remix cards, 18 villain cards, a scorepad, and a rulebook, suitable for 2 to 6 players aged 12 and up, with a playtime of about 20 minutes.
2–6 20 min 12+ Easy to learn -
Flamecraft
All details & ratingIn Flamecraft, you delve into a whimsical world where artisan dragons, smaller yet magically adept relatives of their larger kin, are the stars. As a Flamekeeper, your role is to communicate with these dragons, finding them the perfect shop to call home and using enchantments to coax them into creating marvelous things. Your success in aiding the dragons and shopkeepers boosts your reputation, with the goal of becoming the Master of Flamecraft.
1–5 60 min 10+ Easy to learn+ 8 € above the best price31 € at Amazon* -
Flashback: Zombie Kidz
All details & ratingInvestigate in the world of Zombie Kidz. Your mission is to thwart the nefarious plans of the zombies! This picture-based game features investigative tasks and invites players to embark on a cooperative adventure with friends or family. Discover the story piece by piece through the characters’ experiences, solving puzzles and uncovering clues to change the future and save the world from horrific monsters.
1–4 30 min 7+ Immediately playable -
Armadillo
All details & ratingPlayers work to get rid of cards as quickly as possible through a mix of luck and smart choices involving dice rolls. Each player starts with ten randomly numbered cards and two chips. By rolling a combination of six dice, they match the rolled numbers to cards in hand to discard them. Players can spend chips to modify their rolls or to discard any card outright. The round ends when a player empties their hand, with remaining players earning points for any cards left. The player with the fewest points after three rounds wins.
2–6 20 min 8+ Immediately playable -
Challengers!
All details & ratingChallengers! offers a fresh and dynamic deck-management experience, where 1-8 players engage in a tournament-style battle that lasts around 45 minutes, regardless of the number of players. This game stands out by allowing players to encounter a new opponent in each round, pushing the excitement and strategic planning to new heights with every match.
1–8 45 min 8+ Easy to learn -
My Lil' Everdell
All details & ratingJoin Chip, Sweep, and other kids from Everdell to build the most spectacular fantasy city ever. This easy-to-learn game focuses on worker placement and tableau building, providing fun for the whole family while enhancing children's concentration and learning abilities. Explore the bridge, search for the dragon cave, and dive into the fortress with the newest expansion of the Everdell series.
1–4 30 min 6+ Easy to learn -
Vaalbara
All details & ratingPlayers take on the role of clan leaders and secretly play cards that represent members of their tribe to conquer territories. Strategy and timing are crucial for scoring points. Throughout the game, players explore uncharted areas and establish settled villages using the diverse talents of their tribes, ultimately seeking dominance by the end of nine rounds.
2–5 20 min 10+ Easy to learn
Frequently asked questions
Which game ranks first on this list?
HITSTER currently tops our list. The ranking is derived from player community ratings and is recalculated continuously.
How many players do the games on this list support?
Most games on this list support 2 to 6 players. The exact player count is listed with each game.
What age are these games suitable for?
Publisher age recommendations on this list start at 6 years. Each game carries its own age rating.
How long does a game take?
A typical game takes about 25 to 30 minutes. Each game's playing time is listed individually.
Didn't find the game you were looking for?
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