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No Thanks! vs 6 nimmt! (2026): these two small-box card games are classics for the same reason. They teach in two minutes, play in under half an hour and hide sharp decisions under very simple rules. Both are about avoiding points rather than collecting them. No Thanks! is a push-your-luck auction with chips; 6 nimmt! is a simultaneous card-play scramble for up to ten. Here is which one suits your group.
Our pick for small groups: No Thanks!
Thorsten Gimmler’s No Thanks! is one of the best games ever made for three to seven players. It is one deck, a pile of chips and constant tension. It costs about $23.
Price band: $20–$30 (about $23) · Check today’s price on Amazon
The two card games in brief
Both are pocket-sized and under 30 minutes.
- Best for 3 to 7: No Thanks! — take the card or pay a chip (about $23)
- Best for big groups: 6 nimmt! 30 Years Edition — simultaneous card play for 2 to 10 (about $37)
No Thanks! and 6 nimmt! compared
| No Thanks! | 6 nimmt! | |
|---|---|---|
| Players | 3 to 7 | 2 to 10 |
| Length | About 20 minutes | About 30 to 45 minutes to 66 points |
| Cards | 33 cards numbered 3 to 35 | 104 cards with bullhead penalties |
| Turns | One player at a time | Everyone reveals at once |
| Big idea | Pay chips to dodge cards | Avoid being the sixth card in a row |
| Winner | Lowest score | Fewest bullheads |
How No Thanks! works
Shuffle the 33 cards, remove nine unseen and give each player chips: 11 each with three to five players, 9 with six and 7 with seven. Flip the top card. On your turn you either take it, along with any chips already on it, or place one chip on it to pass to the next player. The card circles the table until someone takes it.
At the end, each card scores its face value, but a run of consecutive numbers only counts its lowest card, and each chip you hold subtracts a point. Lowest total wins. The fun is letting a bad card collect chips just long enough. For the full rules, see our No Thanks! guide.
How 6 nimmt! works
Lay four cards face up to start four rows, and deal ten cards to each player. Every turn, all players secretly choose a card and reveal together. Starting with the lowest, each card is added to the row whose last card is the closest lower number. If your card would be the sixth in a row, you take the five cards already there as penalties and your card starts a new row. If your card is lower than every row, you take a row of your choice.
Each card shows one to seven bullheads, and those are your penalty points. Play rounds of ten cards until someone reaches 66 bullheads, and the player with the fewest wins. Read the details in our 6 nimmt! rules.
Which is better with three or four players?
No Thanks! Every decision passes around a small table quickly, and you can read each opponent’s chip count and runs. 6 nimmt! works with three, but the rows fill slowly and there is less chaos, which is where it shines.
Which is better with eight or more?
6 nimmt!, easily. It handles up to ten with no extra time per turn, because everyone plays at once. No Thanks! stops at seven and gets long when the card has to travel around a big table.
No Thanks! vs 6 Nimmt!: which takes more strategy?
Both reward skill over many games. No Thanks! is about chip economy and reading greed. 6 nimmt! is about card counting and guessing what others will play, though a surprise reveal can wreck the best plan. Players who like control tend to prefer No Thanks!; players who love laughing at chaos prefer 6 nimmt!.
No Thanks! or 6 Nimmt! for families?
Both work from about age 8. No Thanks! teaches gentle math as kids subtract chips from card values, and 6 nimmt! rewards number sense when choosing a card. For a family with young kids, 6 nimmt! has the edge because everyone plays at once, so nobody waits for a turn.
Which should you buy?
- Buy No Thanks! for game nights of three to six who enjoy a sly, tactical filler.
- Buy 6 nimmt! for family gatherings, office parties and any table of eight or more.
- Buy both if you want two fillers that cover every group size for about $60 total.
Looking for more quick card games? Browse our best push-your-luck games and the best games for large groups.
No Thanks! vs 6 nimmt! FAQ
Is No Thanks! good with two players?
No. It needs at least three, because the chips only work when the card passes around a table.
How many players can play 6 nimmt!?
Two to ten. It is at its best with five or more.
Are No Thanks! and 6 nimmt! good for kids?
Yes. Both work from about age 8, and both quietly practice number sense.
