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Because everyone eventually reaches a point where Go Fish just doesn’t cut it anymore.

I am a writer and editor based in Washington, DC whose work has appeared at Bustle, The Toast, and others; my book Dangerous Games to Play in the Dark was published in 2019.

Promising review: “This is one of those games that’s easy to learn but wildly entertaining to play. The rules are simple, so you can start playing within minutes, but it still keeps everyone engaged and laughing the whole time. What makes it so fun is how fast-paced and unpredictable it is. Just when you think you’ve got the rhythm down, someone makes a mistake, and the whole group bursts out laughing. It’s perfect for family game nights or small gatherings with friends. The cards are good quality, and the game is compact enough to take anywhere, which is a big plus. The only downside is that it can get a little chaotic (and loud), especially with younger players, but honestly, that’s part of the charm. Overall, this is a great party game that brings a lot of energy and laughter. Definitely worth having in your collection.” —Rezan

Get it from Amazon for $9.95+ (available as standard-size or oversize cards).

Promising review: “Quick, easy-to-learn fun for the whole family! I ordered this as a Christmas gift for my family after playing it at my in-laws. First off, the cards come in a metal tin, which keeps the cards super protected and great for traveling. This game is super easy to learn and teach; my 11-year-old sister picked it up in no time. The game is played in three short rounds, making it a great game for kids with shorter attention spans and adults who may not love games, such as my husband. My in-laws love to whip this one out when we’re trying to kill some time before Sunday dinner. Having the short rounds makes it super easy to pause and come back to it later. This has easily become one of my favorite games.” —Kristy

Promising review: “Here comes the BOOM!!! This is perhaps one of my favorite co-ops because it requires so much skill, yet it is so simple! In this game, you find yourself in the shoes of master pyrotechnicians. You and your buddies need to help each other figure out what cards to play to create the biggest firework show in the history of mankind! It is an easy game to learn (and teach), and it is very portable. It's a blast seeing people with awesome memory share all the data they have on their own hand, based on what little info you are allowed to share with your team!” —Marcos

Promising review: “If you have a dark sense of humor, this is the game for you! Gloom is a TON of fun, and, like the name implies, it's pretty gloomy. The cards are interesting, as is the artwork. It fits the theme well. The different cards are unique and fun, with lots of dark humor. One of the best parts is the storytelling. You are encouraged to tell a tale for each character, and with each event, the tale gets (hopefully) more tragic.

The gameplay is more complex than I originally thought. It took a little bit to get the hang of, but after a little bit, we were running full steam ahead. The game can get a bit long, so don't expect a quick playthrough. This is especially the case if you add in the storytelling. Gloom is a blast and is perfect for those who want to play something unique, dark, and entertaining.” —Casey Pletcher

Promising review: “We absolutely love this game! It's become our go-to whenever we have two or more people together because it's quick to learn, easy to jump into, and always gets everyone involved. We enjoyed it so much that I bought several more copies to give as gifts. It's one of those games that appeals to a wide range of ages and is perfect for family gatherings, game nights, or just filling a little downtime with something fun. If you're looking for a game that's entertaining without being complicated, I highly recommend this one.” —Jo Consumer 

Promising review: “Slay your own way! Here To Slay was purchased on a whim because I liked the art and thought it looked cute. Turns out it's been a solid purchase. My husband and I are always looking for good two-player games that can be played with more people. This one manages to be fun and a little bit challenging while also being good as a two-person game. It's also not overly time-consuming. There's enough strategy and card variety that every game plays a little differently. It helps that the design of the game is colorful and cute. I also like that there are several win conditions (slay three monsters or assemble a whole party of six character types) since it means there are many strategies to winning. It's as fun for two as it is for six. Great game.” —JwP

Get it from Amazon for $20 (also available as expansions).

Promising review: “I've been searching for a good first solo board or card game for the past week or so. I looked through many options and decided to choose One Deck Dungeon. It was cheaper than most ‘unique’ board games out there, and the RPG-like gameplay was exactly what I was looking for. I spent an hour learning the rules and set out on my first game.

The box says that a game takes 30 minutes, but my first game definitely took about an hour and a half. But I loved EVERY MINUTE OF IT. It was challenging, but it really felt like my character was progressing with each battle I won. You gain a new item, skill, or XP points toward leveling up your character after each battle or ‘dungeon trap’ you escape. It has a very nice progression system, and there's even a boss at the end of each of the five dungeon options (that are definitely nothing to laugh at). The game definitely involves some luck, but with the right planning of increasing your stats and the addition of new skills, you can give yourself an edge against some tough dice rolls.

I'm excited to start on the Campaign option, which allows you to level up your character through subsequent games in order to get through the toughest bosses in the deck! I can't believe everything that came in the small box of One Deck Dungeon, including the fun and excitement with each card turn. Highly recommend.” —Andrew Van Velsor

Promising review: “Perfect for all ages — even won over my game-hating mom! I just had a wonderful game night with this one — we had players ranging from 6 to 80+, plus a couple of folks in their 40s, and everyone genuinely enjoyed it. The rules were quick to pick up, which made it easy to get everyone playing right away.

But here’s the real test: My mother, who normally refuses to play any games, actually had fun with this one. That’s the highest praise I can give. When you can get three generations around the table, keep a 6-year-old engaged, AND win over someone who typically avoids games entirely, you know you’ve found something special.

The gameplay moves at a good pace — nobody got bored waiting for their turn, and it was engaging enough to keep both the youngest and oldest players interested throughout. If you’re looking for a game that truly works for family gatherings with mixed ages, this is it!” —Mason

Promising review: “Clever little game! The rules for Arboretum are minimal. It sounds almost too simple. But, once you begin playing, the difficulty of planning ahead and strategizing immediately makes you realize that there is a LOT going on here! The cards themselves are beautifully illustrated and are awesome to look at. You lay them down, thus creating your own arboretum. Initially, it appears to be a solitaire puzzle that you are playing. But the cards that you discard can potentially help an opponent, so one has to make the decision to either further their own setup or hinder an opponent's.

The catch is that you MUST try to retain enough cards for the final hand so that your arboretum can be scored. Sometimes, it is worth collecting cards that you don't have in your layout simply to block an opponent from capitalizing on a high-scoring path. Renegade has once again produced a winner. The footprint of the box is minimal, and the cost is very reasonable. Add this game to your collection!” —Paul A. Martorano

Promising review: “Taco vs. Burrito totally caught us off-guard in the best way. It looks like a silly little card game at first glance, but once you start playing, it gets wildly competitive and ridiculously fun. The mix of strategy and chaos is perfect. It’s easy to learn (we were playing within minutes), but there’s just enough depth to keep things interesting. The artwork is quirky and fun, the cards are well-made, and the surprise twists like Hot Sauce Boss or Tummy Aches keep everyone on their toes. We’ve played with kids and adults, and everyone gets into it. It’s fast-paced, funny, and super portable — perfect for family game night, vacations, or parties. Highly recommend if you want a game that’s simple to pick up, but full of personality. Total crowd pleaser!” —Papa_

Get it from Amazon for $19.99 (also available in a collector's tin).

Promising review: “This game is great! Simple yet complex. There aren't many mechanics to it, but it's still challenging. There's a simple version to the game and a more complex version, depending on how many cards you use. The great thing about this game is that it's good for gamers who are really into other, more complicated games, but also great for kids, families, and other people who aren't normally into ‘serious’ games. Great for a tabletop game day OR a family game night. It's simple, compact, easy to carry/travel with, and a quick enough play time that even someone with a short attention span for games can still enjoy.” —Zophiefase

Promising review: “The whole family loves it!   My daughter loves playing Spot It! It’s a fun, fast-paced game that keeps her engaged, and it’s great for the whole family. We especially love that it’s compact and easy to take on the go, perfect for trips, waiting rooms, or just a quick game anywhere. It’s simple enough for kids to understand but still challenging enough to be entertaining. Definitely a hit in our house, and I’d recommend it to anyone looking for a fun, portable game for kids and adults alike!” —Komal

Heads up that this one comes in different editions for different age groups, so make sure you know which deck you’ve got before you start playing. Some of them are, uh…not exactly kid-friendly, if you know what I mean.

Promising review: “Non-stop laughter and pure ridiculousness! We played Incohearent at our last game night, and my stomach actually hurt from laughing. It’s so simple but surprisingly challenging to hear the phrases when you’re the one reading them. The mature categories definitely make it an 'after-hours' game, but it's the perfect icebreaker for a big group. If you want something that is low-stress and high-energy, this is definitely a 5-star pick!” —Jeff Wood

Get it from Amazon for $15.99+ (also available in NSFW and family editions and as an expansion pack).

Promising review: “This game was an instant hit in my family! We loved the gameplay, the story, and the ominous little details in the cards. The collaborative aspect makes this game very fun for us; we enjoyed trying to establish some sort of strategy and pooling our resources. The unexpected Night cards made the game really challenging, since it was almost impossible to control what could happen in a given moment. The Madness cards were fun, even if some of them made the game quite difficult to play at times. Quality is great: The wooden pieces feel nice to the touch, the cards are nicely printed and beautifully designed. We reach for this game quite frequently and always have a great time, even if we are sometimes lost to the island! We got the Spirits expansion and love the added gameplay. Fully recommend getting both if you can!” —Pavo Real

Promising review: “Quick two-player game — fuzzy and heartwarming! If you like cats and card games, then this is a game for you! I bought Couch Kittens for my girlfriend, and we absolutely love it! My girlfriend says she feels cuddly and cozy whenever we play. It's hard not to smile when it comes to filling up a couch with fuzzy kittens! The cards are very high quality; they are durable and have a beautiful finish. Couch Kittens makes for a fun, quick game for all ages. I highly recommend!” —Daniel S. Thurman

Promising review: “The dumbest, silliest, laughiest game! We laughed so hard we cried playing this game. It's the best little game for the value — you will want to play this for a warm-up game before breaking out anything else with your friends. Gets everyone laughing and breaks the ice.” —Bee

Heads up that Bang! is made by an Italian publisher, so the cards are bilingual; each one includes both Italian and English. It's essentially a spaghetti Western in card game form, which, I mean: *chef's kiss.*

Promising review: “They did a bang-up job! My son was begging for this game for months, and now that we have it, I can see why. With a nice balance between luck, strategy, and bluff, this game has a lot of replay value. The different elements of the game are also balanced well so that you are able to use strategy and not be stuck with a predictable outcome. That is, unless you have a Sheriff who likes to play with dynamite, but hopefully my kids will learn that lesson soon!

While you can play with as few as four players, it's better with more (the maximum is seven). We have played with ages 7 to adult. A word of caution about younger players: Because the primary language used on the cards is not English (although the English is on each card), they do need to be confident, independent readers, and you may want to familiarize them with the different cards and symbols before playing. Because Bang! is already a favorite game, I was glad to see that the game components are of good quality. We're going to be playing this for years to come.” —Deliese Bernabeu

Promising review: “Exploding Kittens quickly became a family favorite in our house! It’s such a fun and quirky card game — simple enough for anyone to pick up, but still intense and full of surprises. We love how fast-paced it is, and there’s always a bit of suspense with each card drawn.

The creativity behind the game is amazing. The artwork is hilarious, and the mechanics are easy to understand but keep everyone on their toes. It’s perfect for a group, whether you’re a hardcore gamer or just looking for a casual, enjoyable way to spend time together.

If you’re looking for a fun, unique game to add to your collection, I highly recommend Exploding Kittens! It’s a blast for both game enthusiasts and casual players alike.” —Cole - Trusted Consumer

Get it from Amazon for $19.82 (also available in other editions and expansions).

Promising review: “Fun game to play with friends, filled with silly dinosaurs and the unfortunate scenarios they find themselves in. The cards feel nice to handle, and they also fit perfectly into standard-sized card sleeves in the event you prefer to sleeve your cards. The designs on the cards are very pleasing as well. Overall, it's a goofy little game to play with friends.” —Z

Get it from Amazon for $19.82 (also available as expansions).

Promising review: “I bought this game, knowing nothing about it except its high ratings, to put in a care package for my overseas son and his wife, who love games. They loved it. Then my daughter and her husband, an avowed game hater, visited them and played it, and THEY loved it. Overseas kids brought it home for Thanksgiving, and the rest of us loved it so much that several more of my kids and I have gotten our own seta. It’s easy to learn and play, and it’s a game that requires concentration and memory if you want to be strategic and crush your opponents, but still casual enough to allow conversation if you want a friendly game. Can’t wait to get the extension set.” —pool reader

Promising review: “This is an excellent small group game, and it's one of my personal favorites to pull out at game nights. We have played this game for hours and never gotten bored. It sucks you in, and you want to get back at the person who eliminated you last round

It is a perfect combination of bluffing and elimination. If you like One Night Werewolf or Secret Hotel, I would highly recommend you give this one a try for a little more strategic gameplay that is still filled with lots of fun guessing and backstabbing.” —Stephen Tunnicliff

There are a few different installments in The Crew series, btw, so if deep space isn’t your jam, you’ve got plenty of other stories to choose from.

Promising review: “A great game for our crew! When I heard it was a co-op, I had no idea how that would work in a trick-taking game, but it actually is very clever the way they designed it. You get assigned to get certain cards during the round. If you don't play your cards right, you won't get the trick you need and will miss out on capturing the card. The rule book is well put together and easy to reference if needed. It also has a storyline that you can follow; each round gets a little bit harder. This also acts as a way to teach you the game, which is super nice (slowly introducing new things). We played through all of it at four players, and we all loved it. We find that this is one we keep going back to.” —Jamin

Get it from Amazon for $14.95 (available in three editions).

Promising review: “Awesome game for all!! Our family absolutely loves this game! We play it one-on-one or as a family, sometimes with extended family as well (aunts, grandparents), and everyone loves it! It's easy to understand the rules, so you can get in the game quickly even if it's the first time you're playing it. The game can be as short or as long as you want, and the kids (and some adults, too) learn a lot of new words from it. Very enjoyable and highly recommended for ages 8 and up.” —M. Shahar

Promising review: “Cooperative card game that’s fun for two players or groups! This has quickly become one of my husband’s and my favorite games, and it’s always a hit at game nights. I even enjoyed playing it solo when he worked evenings! What makes it stand out is that it’s a cooperative card game — you’re working together instead of competing, which keeps things fun and lighthearted. The goal is to play number cards (2–99) onto four piles — two going up and two going down — without skipping too far ahead, all while relying on communication since you can’t say exact numbers. It’s quick to learn, plays in about 15–20 minutes, and is great for two players or groups. If you enjoy fast-paced, team-based games that are easy to pick up but still challenging, this one’s a winner.” —Courtney

Promising review: “BEST GAME OF ALL TIME!  Dominion is *the best* for the following reasons:

-Consistent, medieval theme with great art (not the generic, sci-fi themes from every other deck builder!)

-The mechanism (easy to learn — only one currency and the 10 ‘Kingdom Card’ piles are all face up and known, so you are able to plan your grand strategy from the beginning)

-Infinite replayability (The 10 Kingdom Cards can be substituted for others, meaning even the base set can be replayed dozens if not hundreds of times, with each game feeling distinct. This is only amplified with the 16+ expansions, which add an infinite number of combinations. Honestly, you'll never need another deck-building game!)

10/10, highly recommend to all new gamers, young gamers, and experienced gamers.” —Austin

Promising review: “Love it! I like this game way more than I thought I would, and the art is awesome. I have a soft spot for simple/classic type card games, and this adds a whimsical element. It is so easy to learn as well. This has been a go-to game for brewery nights. Just try it!” —S

Get it from Amazon for $15.99 (also available as a deluxe edition).

I love Dixit. I am actually not particularly good at it, but I don’t even really care that I always lose, because I love it that much. The art is gorgeous – I’d hang it in my house if I could! There are numerous expansion packs available, too, so it's easy to refresh the deck for endlessly versatile play.

Promising review: “Whimsical game with good replayability! We purchased this game mainly because we loved the art style, and now it has become one of our favorite go-to games for our family game nights. The rules are very easy to understand, but winning is not that easy! The game is a balance in finding the right clue to make your card be found while trying to make the clue relevant to other players' cards, throwing off some players, but not all.” —Nimini

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Reviews for this post have been edited for length and/or clarity.