This article showcases our top picks for the Best 3 Player Card Games. We reached out to industry leaders and experts who have contributed the suggestions within this article (they have been credited for their contributions below).
We are keen to hear your feedback on all of our content and our comment section is a moderated space to express your thoughts and feelings related (or not) to this article This list is in no particular order.
This product was recommended by Chloe Choe from Off Hour Hustle
Unstable Unicorns is a strategic card game with the goal of having a goal number of unicorns in your stable to win. You can upgrade your unicorns, sabotage others with downgrades, and even use magic powers to help you every turn. It’s a great game for anyone whether you are in middle school or an adult!
This product was recommended by Chloe Choe from Off Hour Hustle
Sushi Go is a great family game night game that’s short and sweet. The goal is to get the highest number of points after three rounds by getting the best combinations of cards. This game is easy to learn and quick to play!
This product was recommended by Matthew Paxton from Hypernia
This card game is one that I suggest since it is both entertaining and challenging. Playing this type of game can help you develop skills you didn’t know you had. The great thing about poker, especially Texas Hold’em, is that no matter how many people are at the table, you can have a good game.
This product was recommended by Matthew Paxton from Hypernia
Rummy is undoubtedly the greatest of many three-person card games available. Rummy rules aren’t very difficult to understand, so even if one of your buddies is unfamiliar with the game, you may easily educate them. Give rummy a try if you’re searching for a fun card game for three people.
This product was recommended by Stephen Curry from CocoSign
There are few trick-taking card games for three players, making Skat an excellent choice if you are looking for something a bit more challenging and can play with friends. Players use the standard deck of playing cards but only use 32 cards. The most complicated aspects include bidding and the scoring system. Otherwise, the game is played just like other trick-taking card games. You must follow suit and the highest card wins the trick. A trump card beats all other cards, except for higher trumps. The 100% PVC cards will give you an experience like no other and last longer due to the waterproof capability.
This product was recommended by Stephen Curry from CocoSign
This is an easy-to-learn three-player card game that players don’t have to be great with numbers or card tricks. Playing is straightforward as you are dealt five cards when starting the rounds to eliminate them to win. Except for the winner; the rest get penalized at the end of a round according to the cards their hands. A game is played until a player gets to the 100 point mark, and the one with the lowest score is the winner. It is a fast-paced and fun game for three, and you won’t have to overthink to play.
Joking Hazard is one of the unique card games where creativity and reality come together to create fun. The players use the cards to make and tell stories which can be funny, engaging or sad. This is because one gets to choose a card and throw it to create continuity depending on the previously-thrown card. The players can create interesting stories around the themes of sex, violence, family, friendship and everything in between. Better still, it is a unique game in that it is meant for adults; so, taking part in it is a rare, lucky experience as you will not find it being played at every street corner.
Here is 3-player card game that is loved by kids and parents alike. The children love the game because it uses tens of brightly-colored marine animals instead of hearts, spades, kings and queens. The games are simple and interesting, not to mention that the children learn about the ocean in a fun way. Parents love this game as it helps the children to acquire emotional development, sharpen their motor skills and enhance pattern recognition. In addition to Go Fish, these cards can be used to play other card games such as Crazy Eights and War. In short, boredom is not an option with Go Fish.
This product was recommended by Lynda Fairly from Numlooker
3UP 3DOWN is a family card game that can be played by 2 to 6 players per deck. The cards are available in different colors including Black, Neon Green, Neon Orange, Neon Blue. The goal of this family game is to get rid of the card the player is having before anyone else does. The players who can play this funny game vary from 6 years old to grandparent. There are so many surprises and fun elements hidden in this game.
This product was recommended by Lynda Fairly from Numlooker
UNO Junior PAW Patrol is a card game consisting of more than 50 cards that can be played by more than two but not more than 4 players in one deck. The cards are available in multi colors made up of plastic to maintain durability as paper-made cards do not last for long. The game is simplified so that a child can also understand and play it with players. The game is overall divided into three levels.
This product was recommended by Jonathan Gron from OwlRatings
Monopoly Deal is a simplified form of the original Monopoly game in that it only takes fifteen minutes to play. In short, it is Monopoly for players who are short on time and do not have long hours to spend. Every player gets to collect property and charge the others rent as well and earn money as it happens in the main game. Money cards, property, and action keep the players on their toes as a slight miscalculation can lead to bankruptcy. The best thing about Monopoly Deal is that it can be played by elementary kids, adults, and families alike. It is easy to learn and the fun is infinite!
This product was recommended by Stalo žaidimai from Kamehame
Lemonade? They want lemonade? What is the world coming to? I want commercials for burgers on all channels, every 15 minutes. We are the Home of the Original Burger, not a hippie health haven. And place a billboard next to that new house on the corner. I want them craving beer every second they sit in their posh new garden. The new management trainee trembles in front of the CEO and tries to politely point out that… How do you mean, we don’t have enough staff? The HR director reports to you. Hire more people! Train them! But whatever you do, don’t pay them any real wages. I did not go into business to become poor. And fire that discount manager, she is only costing me money. From now on, we’ll sell gourmet burgers. Same crap, double the price. Get my marketing director in here! Food Chain Magnate is a heavy strategy game about building a fast food chain. The focus is on building your company using a card-driven (human) resource management system. Players compete on a variable city map through purchasing, marketing and sales, and on a job market for key staff members. The game can be played by 2-5 serious gamers in 2-4 hours.
This product was recommended by Stalo žaidimai from Kamehame
In Pandemic, several virulent diseases have broken out simultaneously all over the world! The players are disease-fighting specialists whose mission is to treat disease hotspots while researching cures for each of four plagues before they get out of hand. The game board depicts several major population centers on Earth. On each turn, a player can use up to four actions to travel between cities, treat infected populaces, discover a cure, or build a research station. A deck of cards provides the players with these abilities, but sprinkled throughout this deck are Epidemic! cards that accelerate and intensify the diseases’ activity. A second, separate deck of cards controls the normal spread of the infections. Taking a unique role within the team, players must plan their strategy to mesh with their specialists’ strengths in order to conquer the diseases. For example, the Operations Expert can build research stations which are needed to find cures for the diseases and which allow for greater mobility between cities; the Scientist needs only four cards of a particular disease to cure it instead of the normal five—but the diseases are spreading quickly and time is running out. If one or more diseases spreads beyond recovery or if too much time elapses, the players all lose. If they cure the four diseases, they all win!
This product was recommended by Stalo žaidimai from Kamehame
Something evil stirs in Arkham, and only you can stop it. Blurring the traditional lines between role-playing and card game experiences, Arkham Horror: The Card Game is a Living Card Game of Lovecraftian mystery, monsters, and madness! In the game, you and your friend (or up to three friends with two Core Sets) become characters within the quiet New England town of Arkham. You have your talents, sure, but you also have your flaws. Perhaps you’ve dabbled a little too much in the writings of the Necronomicon, and its words continue to haunt you. Perhaps you feel compelled to cover up any signs of otherworldly evils, hampering your own investigations in order to protect the quiet confidence of the greater population. Perhaps you’ll be scarred by your encounters with a ghoulish cult. No matter what compels you, no matter what haunts you, you’ll find both your strengths and weaknesses reflected in your custom deck of cards, and these cards will be your resources as you work with your friends to unravel the world’s most terrifying mysteries. Each of your adventures in Arkham Horror LCG carries you deeper into mystery. You’ll find cultists and foul rituals. You’ll find haunted houses and strange creatures. And you may find signs of the Ancient Ones straining against the barriers to our world… The basic mode of play in Arkham LCG is not the adventure, but the campaign. You might be scarred by your adventures, your sanity may be strained, and you may alter Arkham’s landscape, burning buildings to the ground. All your choices and actions have consequences that reach far beyond the immediate resolution of the scenario at hand—and your actions may earn you valuable experience with which you can better prepare yourself for the adventures that still lie before you.
This product was recommended by Ray Charles from HouseHoldAir
Skat is one of the toughest games three-player card games available. This means you will feel special once you master its rules. The best thing about its complexity is that it requires intense concentration. As such, the players become quite immersed in the play that it becomes obsessive. Basically, two players gang against the third, and then battle it out between themselves. Therefore, each player needs to be sharp and witty to avoid elimination. In addition, a single round of play may run for hours; making it an outstanding choice for people who have a lot of time on their hands.
This product was recommended by Mia Green from Find This Best
Bluff it is as interesting as the name sounds. It is a highly-engaging and fun-filled three-player game where the players win or lose by guessing whether a statement by the other players is true or not. It is the perfect travelling and gifting card game. One, the cards are smaller than the typical type of card games. Therefore, it is a small package that will hardly be noticeable once in your pocket. Two, it is a favorite game for card lovers. As such, it will cut as the perfect gift for any player. It is worth mentioning that it is fast-paced so it takes the least time to play even for the shortest trips or office breaks. The problem is that you risk getting thrown out due to the laughter that results from playing Bluff It.
This product was recommended by Phillip Villegas from Three Pedal Mafia
Take this quick-playing card game with you on your next trip for a fun way to keep your kids occupied. It’s a twist on the classic mystery game. With this exciting, rapid card game, kids may experience a different kind of hint gameplay. The classic mystery board game has been reimagined into a fast-paced, entertaining card game! Players acquire information and eliminate suspects, rooms, and weapons using Evidence and Case File cards in this variation of the Clue game. It’s an intriguing strategic game in which players must figure out who committed the crime, where it occurred, and what weapon was used.
This product was recommended by Alina Clark from CocoDoc
This game falls right in the middle…and it’s perfect. The rules are easy enough that my 5 year old can play (and win some rounds) but challenging and random enough to keep it interesting for the teens and adults. Rounds go by fairly quickly (5-10 minutes) and you play 9 rounds like the front 9 or back 9 in golf. There is a small element of strategy based on when you decide to close out the whole which forces others to, but overall, it’s a very easy and fun game that my whole family enjoys. Great for 30-40 minutes away from the TV. I highly recommend this game!
This product was recommended by Shannon Bernadin from The African Garden
Deceiver is a great card game to play with friends or family, and the aim of the game is to deceive the people that you are playing with. It really tests your knowledge of the people you are playing with and it’s so much fun to play. We played this game at home and my stomach hurt from laughing so much!
This product was recommended by Richard Lubicky from RealPeopleSearch
Crazy Eights is the game on which UNO is based. This game is really fun for learning coordination and teaching logic and is even better to carry along when traveling. It is easy to learn and a good game to bring closer the family and friends. It is played on a regular deck. In short, you never get bored with these cards. The one who gets rid of all the cards first is a winner. Everyone is dealt a certain number of starting cards (like 5), and must play a matching card (color/suit/value), or take 1 from the pile, and play or fold. There are many variants. Some have the 8s as a wildcard (any color/value), while others use the Jacks – hence the alternative names. Everyone seems to have at least one ‘take #’ card and one ‘skip turn’ card.
This product was recommended by Steven Walker from Spylix
This is the first game to feature the deck-building system. Each player is dealt an identical hand of cards at the start of the game. You accumulate better and more diverse cards throughout time to afford the more expensive victory cards. As a three-person game, this is amazing; the rules are as follows: ABC, Play an Action, Buy Cards, Cleanup Your Hand. That is all you do at every step. The effects of the cards become increasingly complex as time goes on, but the core rules remain the same. You can play with up to five people, but three is ideal. There are several deck builders out there, but this is the first.
This product was recommended by Steven Walker from Spylix
Okay, this game is a lot more difficult than the other two. It is, nevertheless, so good that it deserves to be mentioned. It plays so well as three that I run three hands even though I can solo play it when I do. You’re superheroes battling wicked baddies. There are apps to help you play, as well as programmes to let you randomise which heroes, villains, environments, and game difficulty. The basic rules are also simple, but the complexity gradually increases. Try this excellent heroes game if you’re looking for a challenge.
This product was recommended by Ryan Yount from LuckLuckGo
Quickwits is a fast-paced card game designed for parties, game nights, and drinking sessions with those near and dear to you. Each card contains a symbol and category. The game’s objective is to win more cards than fellow players by correctly giving examples of your opponent’s card category. Whoever answers first gets the opponent’s card. Though it’s recommended for three players aged 17 years and older, the more players you have in the game, the more interesting the game becomes.
This product was recommended by Ryan Yount from LuckLuckGo
Been There Done That is an award-winning card game playable in groups of between 3-12 individuals. The game is designed to be an ice-breaker and conversation starter in parties, family game nights, and gathering with friends. What makes the game appropriate for any group of people is that players choose the scenarios. To play the game, pick three or more players and present scenarios to which each player secretly indicates if they have been there done that. Players score points by correctly guessing the number of players that have faced a scenario presented in the cards.
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