The best Trick-taking games 🃏 2026

Looking for a really good trick-taking card game 🃏? We have collected the 32 best trick-taking games for you and listed them clearly.

What are trick-taking games anyway?

Players play cards from their hands onto the table. The order is usually clockwise and proceeds in rounds in which each player discards a card – in what is called a "trick". Each trick is scored separately to determine a winner and/or apply other possible effects.

The highest card wins the "trick"

The most common way to win a trick is to play the card with the highest value of the suit that was played first. Many classic card games use the "trump" system (where the particular cards, usually those of a particular suit, win the trick when played). Occasionally there is a bidding round to determine this trump suit.

"Serve" must

In many trick plays (though not all), players are required to "serve", that is, play a card of the same suit that was played, if they have one. If they don't have a matching card, they must play another card from their hand.

List of the best trick plays 2026 🃏

This list was last updated on October 26, 2026. There's also a print version for this list .
  1. The Crew: Mission Deep Sea

    The Crew: Mission Deep Sea

    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.

    All details & rating
    2–5 20 min 10+ Easy to learn
  2. The Fellowship of the Ring: Trick-Taking Game

    The Fellowship of the Ring: Trick-Taking Game

    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.

    All details & rating
    1–4 20 min 10+ Easy to learn
    1 € below the next retailer
    27 € at Amazon*
  3. The Crew: The Quest for Planet Nine

    The Crew: The Quest for Planet Nine

    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.

    All details & rating
    2–5 20 min 10+ Easy to learn
  4. Rebel Princess: Deluxe Edition

    Rebel Princess: Deluxe Edition

    Rebel Princess is a fast-paced trick-taking game in which Snow White, the Little Mermaid, Cinderella and other legendary princesses party for five days – while the uninvited prince charmings sneak in to propose marriage. Your job: dodge as many proposals as possible and stay single.

    All details & rating
    3–6 45 min 15+ Easy to learn
  5. Cat in the Box: Deluxe Edition

    Cat in the Box: Deluxe Edition

    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.

    All details & rating
    2–5 20–40 min 13+ Easy to learn
    + 4 € above the best price
    24 € at Amazon*
  6. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers – Trick-Taking Game

    The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers – Trick-Taking Game

    The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers – Trick-Taking Game brings families, teens, and Tolkien fans back to Middle-earth in a cooperative card game with a strong narrative feel. Instead of competing against each other, players work together to complete chapter goals through clever trick-taking. The game captures the mood of the story without spoiling key moments, making it approachable for both readers and newcomers.

    All details & rating
    1–4 20 min 10+ Easy to learn
    + 3 € above the best price
    23 € at Amazon*
  7. Rebel Princess

    Rebel Princess

    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.

    All details & rating
    3–6 30–40 min 8+ Easy to learn
    + 4 € above the best price
    18 € at Amazon*
  8. Jekyll vs. Hyde

    Jekyll vs. Hyde

    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.

    All details & rating
    2 30 min 8+ Easy to learn
  9. Moustache

    Moustache

    Moustache is a quick trick-taking card game for 3 to 6 players aged 10 and up where teams reshuffle every round. It works well for families and friends.

    All details & rating
    3–6 20 min 10+ Immediately playable
  10. Claim

    Claim

    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.

    All details & rating
    2 25 min 10+ Easy to learn
    Cheaper than every other retailer
    10 € at Amazon*
  11. 3 Chapters

    3 Chapters

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

    All details & rating
    2–6 30 min 10+ Easy to learn
    + 1 € above the best price
    10 € at Amazon*
  12. Inside Job

    Inside Job

    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.

    All details & rating
    2–5 20–30 min 10+ Easy to learn
    + 2 € above the best price
    13 € at Amazon*
  13. Lone Wolves
    2 15 min 14+ Easy to learn
  14. Wizard: Jubiläumsedition

    Wizard: Jubiläumsedition

    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.

    All details & rating
    3–6 45 min 10+ Easy to learn
    + 9 € above the best price
    112 € at Amazon*
  15. Stick 'Em

    Stick 'Em

    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.

    All details & rating
    3–8 30–60 min 10+ Easy to learn
  16. Mythical Dice

    Mythical Dice

    Players take on the role of pirate challengers in a dice game where they attempt to predict the outcomes of dice battles. The one with the most accurate predictions emerges victorious.

    All details & rating
    3–6 30 min 8+ Easy to learn
  17. Robotrick
    3 30 min 10+ Easy to learn
  18. Skat

    Skat

    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.

    All details & rating
    3 30 min 10+ Medium complexity
    + 3 € above the best price
    6 € at Amazon*
  19. Voodoo Prince

    Voodoo Prince

    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.

    All details & rating
    2–5 20 min 8+ Easy to learn

Frequently asked questions

Which game ranks first on this list?

The Crew: Mission Deep Sea 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 8 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?

We're positive that you'll find it in one of our other lists! To make the search easier for you, we split our website into different categories. The following board game categories will help you find the right list: