Have you ever wanted to spend some time with a small group of friends or family but don’t want to store massive board games?
Maybe you’re looking to go on a trip or visit someone’s house and only want to bring a card game or two for the day. Regardless of the reason, there are tons of card games out there, with the list below highlighting 12 of the best games you can play with three players.
Best three-player card games to play this year
Below is a list of some of the best three-player card games I’ve tried out over the years. I’ve played all of these firsthand and can wholly confirm that they’re enjoyable, even if you have more players joining in later. I’ve also included several genres, from simple point-collecting games to complex trick-taking games and even horror ones, to give some variety.
While this list primarily focuses on card games that are fun to play with three players, several entries can support up to six or even eight if you want to have fun party nights with a large group. With that said, let’s get right into the list, shall we?
12. Point Salad
Starting this list isPoint Salad, a card-drafting game that has you collecting vegetable cards to score points. The premise is simple: collect vegetable and point cards and be the player with the most points by the end of the round. Just be careful not to take too many cards that make you lose points.
While a surprising amount of strategy is involved in maximizing your points with certain vegetable types,Point Saladis still a relatively simple game thatplayers of any age, young or old, can enjoy. In my experience, having more players makes this game slightly more chaotic, but it is also very enjoyable with three. It’s also asolid option as a two-player card game, but I recommend having at least three to get the most out of it.
11. Love Letter
Love Letteris a deduction game where your main goal is to win the princess’ heart by holding the highest value card possible. However, every card has its own abilities that can cause you to swap cards, eliminate someone, or look at the cards others are holding to determine your current standing.
Love Letteris all about deduction and even some deception as you guess whether those around you have stronger cards than you. While this is generally catered toward older players, it’s still a great option if you want a quick game with rounds that last around 15-20 minutes.
10. Uno
There’s a reason whyUnois one of the most famous card games out there, and admittedly, it’s genuinely a great time. Uno is a card game that has you playing cards that are either the same color or number as the one on the table, with the main goal being to play every card in your hand. The catch? Alongside numbers, you’ll also run into cards such as player skips, reversals, and draw-fours that can hinder a potential quick win.
However, the real fun comes from house rules and custom Wild cards, which come withmost versions ofUno. You can pick just about any custom rule, from stealing cards from other players to discarding certain card types and more. If you have the creativity to come up with interesting Wild cards, you can turn a regular oldUnomatch into one that’s chaotic and fun very quickly.
9. Exploding Kittens
Exploding Kittensis a hilarious and great game option if you wantone that’s on the wilder and weirder side.Exploding Kittensis a Russian Roulette-styled game that has you drawing from a center draw pile until you pick up an exploding kitten card. By picking up this card, you’ll either explode and be eliminated from the game or disarm it and leave it for another player to pick up later. Along the way, you’ll utilize cards such as skips, future-sight, and deck shuffles to lower the odds of you exploding.
This is another game that can ruin friendships very quickly, especially if you single-handedly screw someone over by indirectly handing them an exploding kitten card. Of every card game I’ve played over the years, Exploding Kittens is one of few that consistently has me laughing the entire time.
8. Skull King
Next is the first trick-taking game on this list,Skull King. If you’re familiar with trick-taking games, you’ll be quite familiar with this, as it doesn’t differ much from others likeWizard, Inside Job,or evenCat in the Box.The main difference is the card dynamics and how they counter each other.
Like typical trick-taking games,Skull Kinghas your standard colored cards, with the addition of the titular Skull King, mermaid, escape, and other cards that each impact the round in their own way. While one card may easily trump all numbered cards, another may specifically target that one card and no other, giving you a quick win. These add an extra layer of strategy to the game, offering an interesting twist to an otherwise straightforward genre.
7. Sushi Go! and Sushi Go Party!
Let’s check out another cute game next, shall we?Sushi Gois a card-passing game where you’ll build a starting sushi deck, place point cards, and pass your hand along until you run out. The ultimate sushi-making winner is whoever has the most points after three rounds. Your goal is to use each card’s bonus effects to their advantage while ensuring you don’t lose points from having too many or few of certain card types.
Since this list focuses on three-player games, I recommendSushi Goas a quick and inexpensive option. However, if you want more card options or plan to invite extra people to play, you haveSushi Go Partyas an alternative.
Sushi Go Partyis the same as Sushi Go regarding gameplay mechanics and length. The only difference is the number of card options, maximum player count, and the increased price. Despite this,Sushi Go Partyis another solid option if you like having more deck-building freedom or want a fun party game forlarger get-togethers with family or friends.
6. The Crew: Mission Deep Sea and The Quest for Planet Nine
Next on the list is another pair of games, with these entries involving more trick-taking.The Crew: Mission Deep SeaandThe Crew: The Quest for Planet Nineare cooperative trick-taking games where, instead of competing against one another and having one winner, you work together to reach the end of a storyline. With each passing mission comes new objectives and obstacles, and it’s up to you and the rest of the table to collaborate and complete the story.
Of these two, I personally preferMission Deep Sea, as its mission combinations get much more complicated than those inPlanet Nine. However, it has fewer missions, and sometimes, I like the simplicity of just getting specific cards and moving on with a round. Both are great options, and I thoroughly enjoyed playing both with my family.
5. Kodama
Here’s an option that strays away from traditional card game mechanics.Kodamais a unique card game that involves you caring for tree spirits by growing a tree. The objective is to place tree branch cards along your chosen tree trunk to collect points, with objective cards in your hand increasing your points further. Whoever has the most points by the end is the winner.
Of all the card games I’ve played, I’ve yet to find one similar toKodama. While some of its mechanics are tricky to learn initially, making it more suitable for teens and adults, it’s still a great option for a half-hour to hour-long game on a quiet and relaxing board game day.
4. Coup
Another deception and deduction game on this list isCoup, a card game where you and everyone else at the table manipulate and bluff your way to victory. Using the two cards in your hand, you’ll use each character’s powers to your advantage and eliminate those who stand in your way. It’s a classic last-man-standing game with a significant emphasis on deception.
Coupcan be another friendship-breaking game, depending on how deceptive and manipulative you and those around you are. Your strategies can range from always telling the truth and using what’s available to you to your advantage to lying every round about the cards in your hand and risking being outed by someone at the table. It makes for a whole lot of fun, regardless of whether you’re playing with two, three, or the maximum of six players.
The first game of this trilogy,50 Clues: Dead or Alive, completely changes the way you play card games by introducing an escape room element into the mix. Much like a traditional escape room or mystery game, your goal is to solve the puzzles laid out on each card and solve each mystery. While I could go into further detail on what to expect, much of the enjoyment of50 Cluescomes from not knowing the puzzles, solutions, or my reactions to them. Let’s just say this is an interesting adventure for horror and escape room fans.
Unlike others on this list, you’ll also need a phone, paper, and a pen for this game, as you’ll have to visit the official50 Cluessiteto access your first set of puzzles. The series also features more parts, including50 Clues: The Secret of The Markand50 Clues: Keepers of Evil, if you want to explore the entire story.
It’s important to note that this game is not suitable for young children, unlike most entries in this list. If you’re a group of older folks who want to try something entirely different from usual, that’s when50 Cluesbecomes a worthwhile consideration. Otherwise, others on this list may be more suitable for you if you’re looking for family-friendly games for all ages.
2. Sea Salt and Paper
Returning to relaxing strategy games isSea Salt and Paper, an origami-styled card game full of marine life. The objective of the game is simple: you collect and play card sets during your turns to gain points, with every card having its own effects, point values, and bonuses, depending on their type.
At its core,Sea Salt and Paperis a simplistic but enjoyable game with a beautiful visual style. It’s also easy to pick up for all ages, making it another great family-friendly game that you may play with two, three, or even four players.
1. Dominion
Last but certainly not least isDominion, a deck-building game that has you collecting riches and buildings to create a flourishing kingdom. ThroughoutDominion, you’ll purchase currency cards to build up your money supply while simultaneously collecting action cards to help you progress. In doing so, you’ll obtain point cards that reward you with victory points. Whoever has the most victory points by the end is the winner.
Overall, your goal is to compete with everyone at the table for resources, using your action cards to either buff your own effects or deter others from gaining more cards. The exact strategies you’ll use depend entirely on your starting set of card piles, which you can fully customize depending on your preferences.
This is definitely one of my favorite card games. I play on a near-weekly basis with family and friends and regularly return to it alongside other board games.Dominionalso has multiple expansionsif you enjoy the game and want to invest more time into getting more card options.
