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Card games to play on Thanksgiving (2026): after the turkey, the table is already set for the best part of the day. A good Thanksgiving card game has to work for Grandma and a ten-year-old at once, teach in a couple of minutes, and handle people drifting in and out between dessert and football. These seven picks all pass that test, and every one fits in a coat pocket.
Our top Thanksgiving card game: Five Crowns
A rummy game that seats up to seven, starts easy with three-card hands and builds to thirteen cards, so it gets more interesting as the pie goes around.
Price band: Under $10 (about $10) · Check today’s price on Amazon
Thanksgiving card games at a glance
Seven family-table picks.
- Best overall: Five Crowns — rummy with rotating wilds (about $10)
- Best classic: Phase 10 — ten phases, big comebacks (about $12)
- Best for big families: Skyjo — lowest score wins, up to eight (about $20)
- Best quick laugh: Flip 7 — push your luck in minutes (about $8)
What makes a good Thanksgiving card game
Thanksgiving crowds are mixed: different ages, different attention spans, a few people who say they don’t play games. Look for games with short turns, simple scoring and a way for newcomers to join between hands. Rounds should end often so relatives can swap in and out, and the box should be small enough to bring to someone else’s house.
1. Five Crowns — best game for the whole table
Players: 1–7 (ages 8+) · Price band: Under $10 (about $10) · Pick for: Best game for the whole table · See Five Crowns on Amazon
The deck has five suits running from 3 to king, plus jokers. There are eleven rounds: round one deals three cards and threes are wild, round two deals four and fours are wild, all the way to thirteen cards with kings wild. Lay down books and runs and try to go out; cards left in hand count against you, and the lowest total wins.
Early rounds take a minute, which makes it easy for kids to learn. Later rounds give strategy fans plenty to think about.
Skip it if: your group wants something fast and silly. A full game takes about 45 minutes.
2. Phase 10 — best classic everyone already knows
Players: 2–6 (ages 7+) · Price band: $10–$20 (about $12) · Pick for: Best classic everyone already knows · See Phase 10 on Amazon
Each player works through ten phases in order, such as two sets of three or a run of seven. Finish your phase in a hand and you move on; miss it and you try again. The first player to complete phase ten wins, and ties go to the lowest score. See how it stacks up against a similar classic in Phase 10 vs Skip-Bo.
Grandparents often know it already, which makes teaching easy.
Skip it if: you need a game that ends before people leave. A full game of Phase 10 can run over an hour, so agree to play to phase five.
3. Skyjo — best for big families
Players: 2–8 (ages 8+) · Price band: $10–$20 (about $20) · Pick for: Best for big families · See Skyjo on Amazon
Each player has a grid of twelve face-down cards worth from −2 to 12. On your turn, draw and swap cards to lower your total, and clear a column when three cards match. A player who reaches 100 points ends the game, and the lowest score wins. Full rules: how to play Skyjo.
With eight players it still moves quickly because turns are a single choice.
Skip it if: your table is mostly adults who want deeper decisions.
4. Flip 7 — best quick laugh between courses
Players: 3+ (ages 8+) · Price band: Under $10 (about $8) · Pick for: Best quick laugh between courses · See Flip 7 on Amazon
Flip cards one at a time and stop whenever you like. If you flip a number you already have, you bust and score nothing for the round. Collect seven different numbers for a bonus. The first player to 200 points wins. Our Flip 7 guide covers the action cards.
It plays with a crowd, so it works while dessert is being served.
Skip it if: anyone at your table hates luck. Flip 7 is all about pushing it.
5. UNO — best for the youngest guests
Players: 2–10 (ages 7+) · Price band: $10–$20 (about $11) · Pick for: Best for the youngest guests · See UNO on Amazon
Match the top card by color or number, use action cards to skip or reverse, and call UNO when you have one card left. Everyone knows it, which is the point on a holiday. See the official UNO rules for stacking disputes, or compare it in Flip 7 vs UNO.
Skip it if: the adults want a game of their own after the kids go to bed.
6. Rat-a-Tat Cat — best for kids and grandparents together
Players: 2–6 (ages 6+) · Price band: $10–$20 (about $11) · Pick for: Best for kids and grandparents together · See Rat-a-Tat Cat on Amazon
Everyone has four face-down cards and peeks at the two on the ends. Draw and swap to get your total as low as possible, using power cards to peek, swap or draw twice. When you think you are lowest, call “Rat-a-tat cat”: everyone else gets one more turn, then all cards are revealed.
It uses memory more than reading, so six-year-olds can beat adults.
Skip it if: your group is all grown-ups. They may find it too light.
7. A classic deck of cards — best for games everyone remembers
Players: Any · Price band: $20–$30 (about $25) · Pick for: Best for games everyone remembers · See A classic deck of cards on Amazon
A pack of standard decks lets you play the family favorites: Crazy Eights for kids, Kings Corner for grandparents and Spades for the competitive crowd. A 12-pack means a fresh deck for every table and a spare for the house.
Skip it if: you would rather skip arguing over house rules.
Thanksgiving card games compared
| Game | Players | Ages | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Five Crowns | 1–7 | 8+ | about $10 |
| Phase 10 | 2–6 | 7+ | about $12 |
| Skyjo | 2–8 | 8+ | about $20 |
| Flip 7 | 3+ | 8+ | about $8 |
| UNO | 2–10 | 7+ | about $11 |
| Rat-a-Tat Cat | 2–6 | 6+ | about $11 |
| Bicycle 12-pack | Any | Any | about $25 |
Planning a card game after Thanksgiving dinner
- Set it up before dinner. Leave a game on the side table so people start a hand while plates are cleared.
- Run two tables. Put Flip 7 or UNO with the kids and Five Crowns with the adults, then mix them for a final round.
- Keep score on a pad. A running family leaderboard through the weekend gives everyone a reason to play again on Friday.
- Want more than cards? See our Thanksgiving party games list, or Friendsgiving games for a crowd of friends.
For more ideas on bringing the family together, read why Thanksgiving games are worth playing and our family card games roundup.
Thanksgiving card game questions
What is the best card game for a big Thanksgiving crowd?
Skyjo plays up to eight, and UNO plays up to ten.
What card game can grandparents and kids play together?
Rat-a-Tat Cat for young kids, or Five Crowns once kids are eight or older.
What is a quick card game to play while dessert is served?
Flip 7: rounds take a couple of minutes and anyone can join.
Which card games can you play with a regular deck at Thanksgiving?
Crazy Eights, Kings Corner, Spades and Hearts all need only a standard deck.
