The best Trick-taking games 🃏 2025

The 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.

The 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.

Skull 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.

In the trick-taking game, players aim to avoid winning tricks as cleverly as possible. All cards are distributed evenly among players, and when a player leads with a card, others must follow suit if possible. If they cannot, they can play any card, leading to potential changes in the trick’s suit. The game continues for multiple rounds until a player reaches the target number of tricks, with the player who has the fewest tricks won declared the victor.

The Fox in the Forest is a captivating two-player trick-taking card game that brings a unique twist to a classic genre with its enchanting fairy tale theme and strategic gameplay.

Cat 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.

A cooperative card game spans eighteen chapters that guide players through the events of The Fellowship of the Ring. Each player assumes a different character, such as Frodo, Gandalf, or Pippin, each with specific goals to achieve in order to progress through the chapters. The game features a set of 37 cards, and as players advance, new characters, items, and challenges are introduced.

Wizard is a captivating trick-taking card game that adds a twist to the traditional deck by including Wizards and Jesters. It's a game of prediction, strategy, and adaptability, where players must accurately gauge their chances of winning tricks.

Jekyll vs. Hyde is a riveting two-player trick-taking game inspired by the classic novella Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson. This game pits two iconic characters against each other in a battle of wits and strategy, with one player embodying Dr. Jekyll, striving to maintain his secret and sanity, and the other player taking on the role of Mr. Hyde, seeking to dominate and unveil the dual identity.

Diamonds offers a unique twist on traditional trick-taking card games. Instead of merely collecting cards, players are vying for "Diamond Crystals," represented by actual acrylic crystals included in the game. This game stands out with its innovative "Suit Actions" that come into play when players cannot follow suit or win tricks.

Strange things are happening! Someone is trying to disrupt the agents' joint missions. In this "almost" cooperative trickery game, 3-5 players aim to complete as many missions as possible while the insider gathers information and sabotages the team's efforts.

Claim is a captivating card game set in a realm thrown into chaos by the sudden death of its king. Players compete to win the support of five factions and claim the throne for themselves. The game is played in two phases: first, recruiting followers, and then using those followers to win over the factions. Each faction possesses unique powers that can influence the game, and these powers may vary between the phases. The goal is to secure the majority of followers in at least three of the five factions to win the game and ascend to the throne.

Snow White, the Little Mermaid, Cinderella, and other fairy tale princesses celebrate a five-day festival. Uninvited princes will attempt to infiltrate the ball to propose marriage. As a princess, you must avoid proposals and remain single and independent after the festivities.

Potato Man is a trick-taking game centered around the theme of potatoes, where the smallest cards can score the highest points. Players play one card into the middle to form a trick, but each of the four colors can only be played once per round, except in a five-player game where one color may appear twice. Winning a trick allows players to collect scoring cards of the corresponding color, and strategic decisions are key as players balance holding high cards with the risk of being unable to play in later rounds. The game continues for as many rounds as there are players, and the player with the most points at the end wins.

Foppen is a classic trick-taking game with a twist. Players attempt to get rid of all their cards quickly by playing one card in each trick. If you play the lowest card in a trick, you are deceived and must pass in the next trick, preventing you from shedding a card. The new edition accommodates 4 to 8 players, making it more enjoyable for larger groups.

The trick-taking game Wizard uses a deck of 60 cards, which includes a traditional 52-card deck plus additional assistants and fools. Players compete over several rounds to achieve the highest score, with each round featuring increasing card distributions and determining a trump suit. Points are awarded based on players meeting their bids for the number of tricks won, with specific rules for how tricks are won depending on the cards played. The 20th Anniversary edition introduces special cards not found in the standard game, adding new strategic elements.

Voodoo Prince focuses on making the necessary tricks as late as possible. Waiting too long, however, may result in not scoring any points at all.

Claim 2 is a standalone expansion with five new factions that can be played alone or in combination with the original game.

Long ago, in the land of the rising sun, spirits and demons known as Yokai harmed human lives. They didn't attack directly but caused supernatural disasters, destroying crops, flooding rivers, and spreading diseases.

In the majestic wizard tower of the kingdom, players take on the role of apprentices learning to summon creatures through magical portals. To claim the title of "Master of the Tower," they must summon increasingly powerful creatures while navigating unique turn and endgame rules. The player with the most points at the game's conclusion, after effectively managing their hand and the special rules, emerges victorious.

Stick 'Em, initially released as Sticheln, is a captivating trick-taking card game that turns traditional card game objectives on their head. Players aim to score points by collecting as many cards as possible, except in one chosen color—referred to as their "pain" color—which they seek to avoid. The game involves both strategic depth and a twist of predicting opponents' moves to avoid pitfalls.

Players take on the role of rescuers in a game inspired by the original concept of salvaging an oil tanker in distress. Each player starts with 20 points and aims to manage the damage they incur during the game, which ends when someone reaches zero points. Players bid on how much they are willing to lose, and if the combined bids equal the total damage, everyone loses the amount they bid, allowing others a chance to play better cards. In this version, players compete to gain the most life points while using relics to avoid snake bites.

Euchre is a trick-taking card game that uses trumps. While it accommodates two to seven players, it is best played with four players in partnerships. The game typically uses a 24-card deck, with players aiming to win three out of five tricks. A card is revealed to determine the trump suit, which players can accept or decline, leading to further bidding rounds to establish the trump. The player who sets the trump can choose to play alone or with a partner, with solo play increasing points and penalties.

Players engage in a trick-taking game using a deck of 53 cards divided into three colors: Dwarfs, Goblins, and Knights, along with fourteen special cards. The game consists of seven rounds, where players draw and play cards based on specific rules determined by chosen contract tiles. At the end of the game, the player with the most points after all rounds wins.

Players engage in a sharp-witted sci-fi strategy game set in a dark yet whimsical universe. They take actions using versatile cards, set competitive goals each round, and prepare their fleets for battle, utilizing various dice to determine the outcome. The game features a hundred wooden ships and agents, 18 uniquely engraved dice, a beautifully designed board with six fields, and an extensive array of over 60 unique cards.

A magical fairy tale book contains three chapters. In 3 Chapters, a trick-taking game with three phases, players experience the story:

In Brian Boru: High King of Ireland, your goal is to weave together the strands of military might, diplomacy, and marriage to unify Ireland under your rule. The game cleverly combines traditional trick-taking mechanics with strategic depth, allowing you to gain influence across the island by winning towns and securing regions, or by leveraging the unique actions tied to the suits of the cards you play.

Players take on the role of skilled warriors in a light, tricky card game where they compete to be the first to empty their hand. This adaptation of the Russian card game Durak features new rules and complex strategies, with elements of role-playing fantasy.

Gameplay involves players following the usual trick-taking rules, where cards numbered from 1-15 in five colors are played, with blue as the trump color. Players predict their tricks using colored chips, and failing to cover a trick results in penalties. There is also a Sluffer role that aims to burden opponents with unwanted tricks, potentially reducing their scores while allowing the Sluffer to manipulate the game dynamics.

A complex card game featuring variable partnerships and multiple solo game types. It is very popular in Germany and uses a basic mechanic where tricks are collected, with different cards scoring varying points. The gameplay rules differ across many regions in Germany, with variations in the use of nines, special points, and solo games.

Skat is a traditional German card game for three players, played with a standard deck (excluding 2-6 cards). The game involves a complex bidding process to determine the solo player, who then chooses the type of game to be played in the second phase. Winning players score points based on the announced game type and modifiers, while losing players score double.