Card Games

Hey there, card sharks and jacks of all trades! Gather 'round because today we're diving into the wild and wacky world of family-friendly card games. Yes, you heard right! It’s time to get the most out of your  LazyOne Playing Cards with some classic games that require nothing but a standard deck.

Basic Card Games to Play with a LazyOne Deck of Cards

Whether you're looking to break the ice at a family reunion or just pass a rainy afternoon, we've got you covered with 15 fun card games. Let the shuffling begin!

Crazy Eights

Goal: Be the first to get rid of all your cards.

How To Play:

1. Deal 5 cards to each player (7 cards if only 2 players).
2. Place the remaining deck face down as the draw pile and flip the top card to start the discard pile.
3. Take turns playing a card that matches the rank or suit of the top card on the discard pile. Eights are wild and can be played at any time, letting you choose the suit for the next turn.
4. If you can't play a card, draw from the pile until you can play or the deck is exhausted.
5. The first player to get rid of all their cards wins.

Old Maid

Goal: Avoid being the player left with the unpaired Queen (the "Old Maid").

How To Play:

1. Remove one Queen from the deck.
2. Deal out all remaining cards.
3. Players remove any pairs from their hands and place them face up.
4. Take turns drawing one card from the player to your left, aiming to make new pairs.
5. Continue until all pairs are made. The player left with the unpaired Queen loses the game.

Slapjack

Goal: Win all the cards by being the fastest to slap Jacks.

How To Play:

1. Deal the entire deck evenly among players (keep them face down).
2. Take turns flipping cards face up into a central pile.
3. When a Jack appears, slap it. The first person to slap the Jack wins the pile and adds it to the bottom of their deck.
4. If you slap the wrong card, you must give a card to the player of that turn.
5. Continue until one player has all the cards.

War

Goal: Win all the cards.

How To Play:

1. Divide the deck evenly among players (keep the cards face down).
2. Each player simultaneously flips a card from the top of their deck.
3. The highest card wins the round, and the winner takes all the cards.
4. In a tie, each player lays down three more cards face down and a fourth card face up. The highest fourth card wins all the cards.
5. Repeat playing rounds until one player has all the cards.

Rummy

Goal: Form sets and runs to score points.

• Numbered cards are worth their number in points (for example, the 4 of hearts is worth 4 points).
• Face cards are worth 10 points each including the ace.
• Jokers are worth 15 points.

How To Play:

1. Deal 7 cards to each player (10 cards if 2 players).
2. The remaining cards form the draw pile with the top card flipped to start the discard pile.
3. On your turn, draw a card from the draw or discard pile.
4. Form sets (three or four of a kind) and runs (three or more consecutive cards of the same suit). Jokers are wild, and no more than one joker can be used in any run or set).
5. Lay down your sets and runs. Once you’ve laid down a set or run, you can play your applicable cards onto other players sets and runs.
6. Once you’ve set down all of the cards you can play in a round, discard one card into the discard pile.
7. The first player to lay down all their cards ends the round. Score points based on cards left in opponents' hands.

Memory (Concentration)

Goal: Find matching pairs of cards.

How To Play:

1. Spread all cards face down in a grid.
2. Players take turns flipping over two cards, trying to find pairs.
3. If a match is made, the player keeps the cards and takes another turn.
4. If not, the cards are turned back over, and the next player takes their turn.
5. The player with the most pairs at the end wins.

Hearts

Goal: Have the lowest score by avoiding hearts and the Queen of Spades.

How To Play:

1. Deal all cards to players. (Any left-over cards are held in “the kitty” face down)
2. Players pass three cards to an opponent (pass left, right, and “hold your own” in consecutive rounds).
3. 2 of clubs always starts the game.
4. Each player must follow the suit of the card led, if possible.
5. If a player cannot play the suit played, they may play any card of another suit.
6. The first player to win a point also gets the kitty and after showing those cards, puts them in their won card pile.
7. Avoid winning hearts (each worth 1 point) and the Queen of Spades (worth 13 points).
8. Continue to deal and play until a player reaches 100 points. The player with the lowest score wins.

Kings in the Corner

Goal: Be the first to get rid of all your cards.

How To Play:

1. Deal seven cards to each player.
2. Place the remaining cards in the center with four cards around it.
3. Play cards in descending order and alternating colors on these piles. When a pile reaches a 2, then an ace is the next card played, followed by a king.
4. Kings start new piles in the corners.

Want to introduce your kids to simpler card games? Check out these family-friendly options with fun outdoor wildlife and animal designs from LazyOne!

Go Fish

For many of us, Go Fish was our first introduction to collecting sets and learning the thrill or a well-earned match. With the LazyOne Go Fish Card Game, this classic gets a fun outdoor animal makeover! Each turn reveals adorable critters gone fishin', making it an exciting way for kids to match their favorite animals while learning the rules of the game. Here's a quick run through on how to play our version of Go Fish: 

Setup: Deal 5 cards to each player (7 cards if there are only 2 players). A fun variation can be to spread the remaining deck of cards around in a circle like a pool or pond so you can take turns "going fishing" when you have to draw a new card.

Taking Turns: On your turn, ask an opponent for a specific rank (Do you have any Bears? or Do you have any Moose?). If the opponent has the card, they must give you all matching cards. If they don’t, they say "Go Fish", and you draw from the deck.

Done Fishing: When you collect four of a kind, set them aside. The player with the most sets at the end wins.

I Spy Travel Card Game

For the ultimate road trip, bring some cards along for the ride! A family road trip can be a challenge, but with the LazyOne I Spy Travel Card Game, the journey becomes as fun as the destination. This special deck turns the classic "I Spy" game into an eagle-eyed adventure. Featuring original outdoor and wildlife-themed designs, this game is perfect for keeping little explorers engaged on a family road trip through a National Park or scenic highway. Here's how we recommend doing it: shuffle the deck and deal each participant a card (the driver should not be participating).

Spying: Each card features a set of four random objects, animals, or landmarks commonly found in nature or along the road. Read the card aloud once you spy one of the items shown on your card. ("I spy with my little eye… a deer, mountains, a tent!") The first person to find all four wins the card and gets to draw a new card.

Winning: Play until you reach your destination. Or until all objects have been found, or until everyone feels like doing something else... The player with the most cards at the end wins—but really, everyone wins when curiosity, observation, and adventure come together!

Featured LazyOne Card Games for Kids

Introducing kids to simple card games from a young age is a fantastic way to boost their cognitive skills, enhance social interaction, and create lasting family memories. Games like Go Fish, Old Maid, and Memory teach children important lessons in pattern recognition, strategy, turn-taking, and patience, all while keeping the fun front and center. Playing as a family fosters bonding, communication, and friendly competition, helping kids develop sportsmanship and problem-solving skills in a low-pressure, engaging way.

Card games are a screen-free, portable entertainment option—perfect for road trips, rainy days, or quiet evenings at home. With just a deck of cards, you’re opening the door to endless fun and valuable life skills!