Best card games for kids of all ages

Whether it’s waiting for food at a restaurant or filling a rainy afternoon at home, card games offer a brilliant way to help kids practise turn-taking, counting and even emotional regulation – all without them realising they’re learning.

The benefits go well beyond just keeping them busy. Games like Snap or Go Fish can help improve memory and concentration in younger kids, while older children can enjoy fast-paced games that test reflexes and encourage a healthy bit of competition.

There's also the added bonus of being able to play together as a family, with many games designed to suit a wide range of ages – no need to sit out just because you're over 10!

From timeless classics to new family favourites, there are card games for every age and stage. Not sure where to start? We’ve rounded up the best card games for kids of all ages, including clear age recommendations so you can find the right one for your family.

And if you're looking for more ways to keep your little ones entertained, we've got the low-down on how to get cheap Cadbury World tickets, how to get cheap LEGOLAND tickets and the best kids' theatre shows.

Best card games for kids at a glance

• Exploding Kittens | £19.99 £18.79 (save £1.20 or 6%)
• Disney Princess Junior Top Trumps | £7.50
• First 100 Words | £3.99
• Dobble | £10.50
• Bluey Mini Memory Game | £4
• Uno | £10.99
• P For Pizza | £12.99
• Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza Game | £11.99
• Numberblocks Playing Cards | £9.99
• Throw Throw Burrito | £24.99

Best card games for kids

Exploding Kittens

Suitable for: ages 7 and up

This zany card game has really exploded (pardon the pun) in popularity over recent years. While designed for children, there's enough cheeky humour in this game to keep teens and adults entertained too.

In Exploding Kittens, players draw cards until some unfortunate draws the Exploding Kitten card, causing complete mayhem... unless you have a card to save you. The game is easy to learn and quick to play, so you're sure to be playing this multiple times in a row.

Buy Exploding Kittens for £19.99 £18.79 (save £1.20 or 6%) at Amazon

Disney Princess Junior Top Trumps

Suitable for: ages 3 and up

You can't beat a good old game of Top Trumps. This classic card game comes in all sorts of iterations, including a Disney Princess Junior set that your little one is sure to fall in love with.

Featuring Disney Princess favourites like Ariel and Snow White, Disney Princess fans can learn all about the strengths of their favourite Princesses as they trade their way to the ultimate Disney Princess team.

Buy Disney Princess Junior Top Trumps for £7.50 at Boots

First 100 Words

Suitable for: ages 2 and up

It's never too early to inspire a love of card games in your kid. The first 100 words game is ideal for toddlers as it provides hands-on learning activities to help vocabulary development and learning through play.

Buy First 100 Words for £3.99 at Waterstones

Dobble

Suitable for: ages 6 and up

Dobble is all about a fast observation and lightning-quick reactions, and trust us when we say that it becomes addictive very quickly.

You can think of Dobble like playing eight games of Snap at once. Each card has eight items on it, and every two cards have one symbol in common. Be the first to name it, and you can win the card. The player with the most cards at the end wins.

Buy Dobble for £10.50 at Boots

Bluey Mini Memory Game

Suitable for: ages 3 and up

Using your child's favourite TV characters is a great way to help them engage in educational games. This Bluey Mini Memory Game features 48 high-quality memory picture cards with all of your favourite Bluey characters.

There are 24 pairs to match up; however, you can adjust this to fewer cards for younger children.

Buy Bluey Mini Memory Game for £4 at The Works

Uno

Suitable for: ages 7 and up

You can't beat a classic, and that's exactly what Uno is. This simple yet fun card game has brightened many a rainy caravan trip and provided respite in the shade in between dips in the sea.

This set comes with customisable wild cards which allow you to create your own gameplay rules.

Buy Uno for £10.99 at Waterstones

P For Pizza

Suitable for ages: 8 and up

Who doesn't love a bit of pizza? This fast-paced game is all about words, and the goal is to collect nine pizza cards to create a giant pizza slice.

But how do you collect the cards? Shout out a word that links the letter on one card to the category on another, for example, what's a type of food that begins with P?

Buy P For Pizza for £12.99 at Waterstones

Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza Game

Suitable for: ages 8 and up

It's time for another fast-paced card game to keep you on your toes. In Taco, Cat, Goat, Cheese, Pizza, you have to keep these five words in your mind and look out for a card that matches them.

Think of it like Snap, but instead of matching cards with cars, you're matching words with cards.

Buy Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza Game for £11.99 at Boots

Numberblocks Playing Cards

Suitable for: ages 3 and up

The Numberblocks are a CBeebies classic, helping kids to learn their numbers since 2017. Now they can even help you on the go, thanks to playing card games.

This deck comes with instructions for six separate card games, which are language-free for little ones. Plus, the cards are specifically made so little hands can play with them!

Buy Numberblocks Playing Cards for £9.99 at Amazon

Throw Throw Burrito

Suitable for: ages seven and up

A card game that also involves throwing adorable squishy burritos? Colour us interested. This wacky game is from the creators of Exploding Kittens, and combines a card game with... dodgeball?

Collect cards, earn points and, most importantly, play a burrito card and force your fellow players into a burrito-themed battle.

Buy Throw Throw Burrito for £24.99 at Waterstones

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