The best games like Mau-Mau 2026
Looking for games like Mau-Mau? Then we have just the thing: the list of the best card games similar to Mau-Mau 2026.
What makes games similar to Mau-Mau?
Mau-Mau is a classic card shedding game featuring:
- Simple matching rules
- Fast-paced gameplay
- Special action cards
- Race to empty your hand
List of the best games like Mau-Mau 2026
In this list we have compiled the best card games that share similarities with Mau-Mau's shedding and matching mechanics.
The following list contains games that capture the essence of Mau-Mau-like gameplay:
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SCOUT
All details & ratingSCOUT is an innovative card game that blends elements of hand management and ladder-climbing mechanics. The unique twist in this game is the dual-indexed cards and the restriction on rearranging your hand, creating a challenging and strategic gameplay experience.
2–5 20 min 9+ Immediately playable -
The Lord of the Rings: Duel for Middle-earth
All details & ratingA dark rumor arises from Mordor, and the time has come for the Fellowship to unite once more. Players can choose to defend the free peoples as the Fellowship of the Ring or pursue Frodo and Sam as Sauron, deploying their hordes at enemy city gates. The fate of Middle-earth rests in your hands as you navigate the three chapters of the game, strengthening your skills and gathering resources to achieve one of the victory conditions.
2 30 min 10+ Easy to learn+ 3 € above the best price30 € at Amazon* -
Trio
All details & ratingTrio is a card game where players search for triplets. The deck consists of 36 cards, numbered from 1 to 12 three times. Players sort their hands from low to high and take turns revealing cards, aiming to collect sets of three matching cards.
3–6 15 min 6+ Immediately playable+ 2 € above the best price14 € at Amazon* -
Love Letter
All details & ratingIn Love Letter, you must compete with other suitors to deliver a romantic letter to Princess Annette, who has secluded herself in the palace.
2–4 20 min 10+ Immediately playable+ 28 € above the best price39 € at Amazon* -
Sushi Go Party!
All details & ratingSushi Go Party! is an expanded version of the popular card game Sushi Go!, offering more variety and accommodating more players for a larger, more dynamic game experience.
2–8 20 min 8+ Immediately playable -
Jaipur
All details & ratingIn the bustling city of Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan, you find yourself in a fierce competition as one of the two most powerful traders. However, being a prominent trader isn't enough; the ultimate goal is to earn two coveted "seals of excellence" to secure an invitation to the Maharaja's prestigious court. To outshine your direct competitor, you'll need to demonstrate superior trading skills by buying, exchanging, and selling goods at advantageous prices, all while carefully managing your valuable camel herds.
2 30 min 10+ Immediately playable -
The Crew: Mission Deep Sea
All details & ratingThe Crew: Mission Deep Sea is a cooperative trick-taking card game that embarks players on an underwater expedition to discover the lost continent of Mu. Building on the foundations of its predecessor, The Crew, this game combines the familiar mechanics of trick-taking with unique cooperative elements and a compelling thematic narrative.
2–5 20 min 10+ Easy to learn -
Skull
All details & ratingSkull is a pure bluffing game: players lay face-down cards of roses and skulls, then bid on how many they can flip without hitting a skull. Two successful challenges win the game — a steady poker face does the rest.
3–6 15–45 min 10+ Immediately playableVideo reviews 2 -
For Sale
All details & ratingFor Sale is a fast-paced, engaging game about buying and selling real estate, involving strategic bidding and sales to maximize profits.
3–6 30 min 10+ 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 -
The Crew: The Quest for Planet Nine
All details & ratingThe Crew: The Quest for Planet Nine is a cooperative trick-taking game that takes players on an adventurous space journey, filled with challenges and strategic gameplay.
2–5 20 min 10+ Easy to learn+ 2 € above the best price11 € at Amazon* -
Unmatched: Cobble & Fog
All details & ratingUnmatched: Cobble & Fog is a captivating expansion to the Unmatched system, featuring a quartet of iconic characters drawn from literary lore, each with their unique playstyle and abilities. This expansion introduces the Invisible Man, Sherlock Holmes with Dr. Watson, Dracula along with the sisters, and the duo of Jekyll & Hyde, all brought to life in a highly asymmetrical miniature fighting game.
2–4 20–40 min 9+ Easy to learn -
Sushi Go!
All details & ratingSushi Go! is a dynamic, fast-paced card game set in a sushi restaurant. Players aim to grab the best sushi combinations as they come around. It's all about strategy, from picking the perfect sushi rolls to collecting sashimi sets. Boost your scores with wasabi-flavored nigiri, and don't forget to load up on pudding by the end!
2–5 15 min 8+ Immediately playable+ 3 € above the best price13 € at Amazon* -
Lost Cities
All details & ratingLost Cities is a two-player card game focused on building profitable archaeological expeditions. Part of the Kosmos two-player series, it features a deck with cards ranked 2–10 in various colors, including a new sixth color added in 2019. The game also employs "handshake" cards as multipliers for scoring.
2 30 min 10+ Immediately playable -
Century: Golem Edition
All details & ratingCentury: Golem Edition is an engaging and visually appealing board game that is a re-themed version of Century: Spice Road. Set in the imaginative world of Caravania, this game combines strategic planning and resource management, appealing to players who enjoy tactical decision-making.
2–5 30–45 min 8+ Easy to learn -
Take 5
1994 Edition
All details & rating6 nimmt!, also known as Take 5, Category 5 and other names, is a card game focused on scoring as few points as possible. It combines elements of strategy, prediction, and a bit of luck.
2–10 45 min 8+ Immediately playable -
Agent Avenue
All details & ratingAgent Avenue is a competitive card game about retired spies in a suburban neighborhood. Players bluff, collect sets, and use an I-split-you-choose mechanism to outmaneuver rivals and reveal their identities first.
2–4 10–20 min 8+ Immediately playable+ 3 € above the best price18 € at Amazon* -
Rhino Hero
All details & ratingRhino Hero is a dexterity-based card game that combines elements of building and strategy. Players take turns constructing a skyscraper with walls and roof cards, while moving a heroic rhino figurine up the building.
2–5 5–15 min 5+ Immediately playable+ 18 € above the best price25 € at Amazon* -
Hanamikoji
All details & ratingHanamikoji is a strategic card game set in the historical context of Geisha culture in Japan. The game immerses players in the role of patrons who are competing to gain the favor of seven renowned Geishas by collecting items related to their art and performances.
2 15 min 10+ Easy to learn+ 1 € above the best price14 € at Amazon*Video reviews 2 -
Skull King
All details & ratingSkull King is an exciting and competitive trick-taking game that adds unique twists to the traditional format found in games like Oh Hell!, Wizard, Euchre, and Spades.
2–8 30 min 8+ Easy to learn -
Spicy
All details & ratingSpicy is a vibrant bluffing card game that captures the fiery competition among three big cats who, tired of their constant battling for supremacy, decide to engage in a spicy hot eating contest. This setup serves as a backdrop for a game filled with deceit, strategy, and quick thinking, designed for 2-6 players. The game's core mechanic revolves around players announcing their card plays without revealing them, allowing for a high degree of bluffing as cards are played face down.
2–6 15–20 min 10+ Immediately playable+ 2 € above the best price15 € at Amazon* -
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 -
Fantasy Realms
All details & ratingFantasy Realms immerses players in the role of rulers striving to build the most powerful realm. This card game is all about strategic combinations and choices, with every decision shaping the strength and nature of your realm.
2–6 20 min 14+ Easy to learn+ 6 € above the best price20 € at Amazon* -
Cockroach Poker Royal
All details & ratingCockroach Poker Royal (Kakerlakenpoker Royal) elevates the art of bluffing to a royally entertaining level. This game, a twist on the original Kakerlakenpoker, swaps the traditional poker deck for one festooned with critters like cockroaches, rats, and stink bugs, emphasizing bluffing over traditional poker hands.
2–6 15–25 min 8+ Immediately playable+ 3 € above the best price11 € at Amazon*Video reviews 1
Frequently asked questions
Which game ranks first on this list?
SCOUT 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 5 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 5 years. Each game carries its own age rating.
How long does a game take?
A typical game takes about 20 minutes. Each game's playing time is listed individually.
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