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Best games like The Crew (2026): The Crew: The Quest for Planet Nine turned trick-taking into a cooperative space mission. Everyone plays cards to win tricks the old-fashioned way, but instead of competing, the whole table tries to make sure the right player wins the right card. Communication is limited, so a single well-timed card says a lot. If that quiet teamwork is your favorite kind of game night, these five games are the natural next step.
Our pick if you love The Crew: Hanabi
Hanabi is the classic cooperative card game about limited information. You hold your cards facing away from you, so only your friends can see them, and clues are strictly rationed. It costs about $13.
Price band: $10–$20 (about $13) · Check today’s price on Amazon
Games like The Crew at a glance
Three are cooperative, two are competitive trick-takers.
- Best co-op card game: Hanabi — build fireworks together for 2 to 5 (about $13)
- Best silent co-op: The Mind — play cards in order without talking (about $12)
- Best for two: Sky Team — land a plane as a pair (about $33)
- Best competitive trick-taker: Skull King — bid exactly how many tricks you take (about $20)
- The original: The Crew: The Quest for Planet Nine — 50 co-op missions for 2 to 5 (about $15)
What makes The Crew different
The Crew uses four colored suits numbered 1 to 9 plus four rocket cards that act as trumps. At the start of each mission, task cards are handed out, and each task says which player must win a specific card in a trick. You must follow suit if you can, as in any classic trick-taking game. Talking about your hand is not allowed, but once per mission you may place one card face up with a radio token showing whether it is your highest, lowest or only card of that suit. The 50 missions get harder as you go, so the game grows with your group.
1. Hanabi — groups who enjoy The Crew’s limited communication
Players: 2 to 5 · Price band: $10–$20 (about $13) · Pick for: Groups who enjoy The Crew’s limited communication · See Hanabi on Amazon
Everyone holds their cards backwards. On your turn you can give one clue about a color or a number in another player’s hand, discard a card to regain a clue token, or play a card to a firework pile. Piles must be built from 1 to 5 in each color.
It has the same feeling as The Crew of making a perfect play because a teammate trusted you. Learn more in our Hanabi rules guide.
Skip it if: you want trick-taking. Hanabi plays very differently despite the shared spirit.
2. The Mind — anyone who wants a five-minute co-op
Players: 2 to 4 · Price band: $10–$20 (about $12) · Pick for: Anyone who wants a five-minute co-op · See The Mind on Amazon
The deck has cards from 1 to 100. Each level, players get one card per level number and must play every card in ascending order with no talking and no signals. You simply wait until it feels like your turn.
It strips The Crew’s quiet teamwork down to its core and plays in about 15 minutes. Our Hanabi vs The Mind comparison covers both.
Skip it if: your group needs a strategy game. The Mind is about timing and nerves.
3. Sky Team — couples who loved The Crew’s two-player missions
Players: 2 · Price band: $30+ (about $33) · Pick for: Couples who loved The Crew’s two-player missions · See Sky Team on Amazon
One player is the pilot and the other the co-pilot. Each round you roll dice in secret and place them, one at a time, to control speed, axis, flaps and landing gear. Like The Crew, you cannot discuss your dice once they are rolled.
Each airport is a different challenge, so it has the same mission-by-mission progression.
Skip it if: you have more than two players. Sky Team is strictly a duo.
4. Skull King — groups ready to compete instead of cooperate
Players: 2 to 8 · Price band: $10–$20 (about $20) · Pick for: Groups ready to compete instead of cooperate · See Skull King on Amazon
Over ten rounds you are dealt one card, then two, then up to ten. Everyone bids at once on how many tricks they will win, and you score only if you hit your bid exactly. Pirates, mermaids and the Skull King himself add special cards.
It shares The Crew’s trick-taking core, and fans often want both. Learn the scoring in our Skull King rules guide.
Skip it if: everyone at your table hates bidding. A missed bid can sting.
5. The Crew: The Quest for Planet Nine — anyone who has not tried it yet
Players: 2 to 5 · Price band: $10–$20 (about $15) · Pick for: Anyone who has not tried it yet · See The Crew: The Quest for Planet Nine on Amazon
If you are here because a friend keeps talking about The Crew, start with it. The box is small, the first missions take five minutes and the difficulty grows as you go. When you finish all 50 missions, The Crew: Mission Deep Sea is the sequel, and our comparison of the two Crew games explains the differences.
Skip it if: you only play competitive games.
How these compare with The Crew
| Game | Co-op? | Players | Length | Talking allowed? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Crew | Yes | 2 to 5 | 5 to 20 min a mission | Very little |
| Hanabi | Yes | 2 to 5 | About 25 min | Only formal clues |
| The Mind | Yes | 2 to 4 | About 15 min | No |
| Sky Team | Yes | 2 | About 15 min a flight | Not about dice |
| Skull King | No | 2 to 8 | About 30 min | Yes |
Picking your next game after The Crew
- Want more cooperative card play? Hanabi.
- Want something wordless and quick? The Mind.
- Play mostly as a couple? Sky Team.
- Want to compete at trick-taking? Skull King.
For more ideas, see the best cooperative card games or learn the original in our guide to playing The Crew.
Games like The Crew FAQ
Is there a game like The Crew for two players?
Sky Team is built for two and shares The Crew’s limited communication and mission structure.
What is the difference between The Crew and Hanabi?
The Crew is a trick-taking game where you see your own cards. In Hanabi you cannot see your own cards and rely on clues.
Can families play The Crew together?
Yes, for ages 10 and up. The early missions are short and easy, which makes it a gentle way to learn trick-taking.
