Card Games are Compact, Portable and Fun. A Trifecta of Reasons to Gift Them!
We’ve been traveling quite a bit lately and often throw a couple compact games in our bag. Generally, that means we’re carrying card games wherever we go. If we’re at a tabletop game convention, then we have simple titles to introduce to friends. If we’re elsewhere, then we have simple titles to introduce to friends and strangers. (Did you catch the theme there?) Card games are portable which makes them excellent options for people who travel, have limited space or enjoy a quick game. A few on the list below are among those that have been go-to games at recent gatherings.
Flip 7
The Op
Flip over cards one by one without flipping the same number twice. Sound easy? Think again! This isn’t just any deck of cards…
In Flip 7™ there’s only one 1 card, two 2’s, three 3’s, etc. plus a bunch of special cards that can score you extra points, give you a second chance, or freeze you or your opponents in your tracks. Are you the type of player to play it safe and bank points before you bust, or are you going to risk it all and go for the bonus points by flipping over seven in a row? Press your luck meets strategy in this addictive card game that’s sure to be the greatest card game you’ve ever played!
Camping Fluxx
Looney Labs
Let’s go camping! Grab the Tent, Backpack, Sleeping Bag, and various provisions, and let’s head to the Woods. Or maybe the Mountains! We can build a Campfire and make S’mores! Hopefully it won’t Rain, and there won’t be any Mosquitoes. Whether you bring this deck with you when you go camping or just imagine an outdoor adventure while you play at home, this version of Fluxx is all about the joys of a great camping trip. Just don’t get caught up the River without a Paddle… unless that’s the Goal!
Sunrise at the Studio
Pencil First Games
Spend your morning creating beautiful pottery at your local ceramics studio with Sunrise at the Studio! Compelling card choices and simultaneous drafting create familiar set collection elements perfect for friends and family to discover the joy in crafting mugs, pitchers, and more. Choose how to go about each day and use your limited resources to craft the best projects. Unique pottery pieces and stunning showpieces offer a beautiful and relaxing tableau. Your wheel awaits!
Cabanga!
AMIGO Games
Bad Cards Fore Gambling Golfers
Bad Cards Fore Good Golfers
The perfect stocking stuffer for anyone who plays golf… Introducing a new twist on golf gambling. Add some spice to your next round with Bad Cards Fore Good Golfers. The wonderful thing is while you are having fun, the game will not affect your score or gameplay. At each hole, the cards introduce a fun, side-bet for the group, so you can keep your actual scores but still play for money on the side. Here’s how you play: Draw one card per hole to decide the bet amount and wager. Half of the cards will have you paying (or getting paid by) other players, half of the cards will have you paying into the jackpot. The winner of the round takes the jackpot.
The game includes fifty-five game cards and 44 “currency” cards to act like poker chips if you don’t have cash on hand. All the cards are made of PVC and are 100% weatherproof, and they come in a plastic box that straps to the golf cart.
Rebel Princess Deluxe Edition
Bézier Games
Snow White, The Little Mermaid, Cinderella, and many other legendary princesses are celebrating a five-day party. The prince charmings, who have not been invited, will try to sneak into the ball to propose marriage! As a princess, you have to avoid marriage proposals and remain single and independent after the celebrations. Gain the fewest marriage proposals and become The Rebel Princess!
Dog Man Supa Buddies
University Games
Based on Dav Pilkey’s Dog Man books series, the Dog Man Supa Buddies Card Game is a fast-paced and portable game for kids 5 and up and their families. Players flip cards at the same time, looking to match Supa Buddies, the Chief, or the SKUNK! Players who identify the matching Cards first win the piles. The player to collect the entire pile of Cards wins the game!
Dav Pilkey’s Dog Man series has sold more than sixty million copies. This game includes characters from the book series and the Dog Man Scarlet Shedder book. The Dog Man book series, created by Dav Pilkey, is a wildly popular and humorous graphic novel series that follows the adventures of a part-dog, part-man crime-fighter.
Score Cards
R&R Games
Play a card! Score that card! Rinse and Repeat!
Wedding Countdown
CardLords
Sorcerer
Wise Wizard Games
Sorcerer: A Strategy Card Game is set in what the company describes as a grim, gaslamp lit world full of fantastic, mythical creatures and sorcery. Designed for two to four players, the game pits two ancient beings of great power against one another to determine which of their lineage are strongest. The players use sorcery to conjure minions, cast spells, and wield enchanted items to reach the game’s goal of conquering three battlefields.
Chu Han
Matagot
Chu Han is a two-player trick-taking, climbing, and shedding game consisting of multiple hands. Players begin each hand with a mixture of Chu and Han cards, representing strains within clans, hostage taking, and shifting allegiances. Optional Events and two historical campaigns provide additional variety. Can you outmaneuver your rival to found a new dynasty?
I love a good card game and seldom turn down the opportunity to play them. During our recent trip to SPIEL Essen, the first purchase was a card game for me! Typically, they’re affordable so grab a couple extra in case you need additional stocking stuffers, group gift exchanges or as filler items to balance the gift count. (Every parent does that, right?) Can’t go wrong with these!
Do you pack games when you travel?
I just heard Flip 7 mentioned on a podcast and sounds intriguing!