Last Updated on January 7, 2024 by Gamesver Team and JC Franco
Throughout time, games have existed in various forms. These include video games, board games, puzzles, simulations, and many more. But one of the types of games that seem to have stood the test of time with kids and kids-at-heart is card games.
Who said card games are dead? With all things changing around us, one thing is for sure; card games remain! For many, it has been the go-to game to have fun with friends and family. People gather around tabletops and even floors to play cards with whoever is willing. Despite the various modifications and modernizations of gaming, card games hold a special place for many – perhaps that’s why they’re still so popular!
Kids may know how to play the latest video games, but it’s not unknown for them to still resort to playing card games when there is a large group and the moment is appropriate. Read on if you want to know why card games are still popular.
Below are reasons why despite competition from other games, card games remain famous worldwide.
Card games are still thriving, and here are 15 reasons why:
1. Cards are portable.
Plastic or paper are the common materials used in producing gaming cards. The size of cards makes them highly portable, which means kids can take them anywhere (parents too). Cards are so handy that they can readily fit inside anyone’s pocket, backpack, handbag, or briefcase.
Rather than carrying a giant board game (with its easy-to-get-lost pieces), a set of cards is a no-fuss and convenient game to tote around.
2. Card games are adaptable.
Most card games are adaptable and have gone through various changes throughout time. The rules are passed on and changed from one era to another, showing how card games evolve. Most variations are based on how players’ wants and needs change over time and are created to cater to players’ interests over time.
Consumer needs are traditionally the basis when producing and manufacturing card games. Most cards are adapted to offer different variations for different age groups and skills levels.
3. Different variations create interest.
Different variations of card games exist, which makes it easy to find a card game for all age groups and preferences.
Let’s take a preschooler, for instance, who cannot read. This type of player will undoubtedly find a picture-based card game that works on memory instead of reading and rules. The goal of this type of card game would be to find a match of two similar cards from the deck.
Grade-schoolers who want to have a good laugh with their friends can play a What Do You Meme card game in which the goal is to create a laugh-worthy meme. If you set out to do a bit of investigation, you will find that there are many card game variations out there to choose from.
4. There’s an element of artistry involved.
What sets card games apart from other types of games is their design and artistry. Card games usually include highly detailed illustrations and decorations, making them appealing to players. Card games with bold colors are most likely to be selected and played for the next game night.
A great example is Pokemon cards. Trading these kinds of cards appeals to children because of its aesthetic design, which in comparison to other card games, they are bold, colorful, and eye-catching.
5. Card games can be profitable.
Given all the variations and adaptations of card games out there, one of the most significant reasons they remain popular today is that they can benefit players financially. With card collectors, there are rare cards that can be exchanged for another card or sold for a minimal amount (commonly known as card trading). Card games can also be used for gambling, where players place bets on who wins the hand.
6. Card games are speedy to play.
Unlike a chess game or many other board games, which often require complex setups, card games do not require much time and effort to set up or play.
Players can easily open a deck of cards, shuffle them, and play with them right away. The gameplay is usually simple, and each round is typically quick and easy to play. This makes it alluring for players who want to have a few moments of entertainment before moving on to something else.
7. Card games have a hint of mystery.
Have you ever heard of someone’s “poker face” in a card game? In many card games, players are left to guess whether the other player has a winning hand or not based on their body language. This creates a hint of mystery in each game.
8. There’s a sense of competition in every card game.
Just like any game, playing card games is often a competitive endeavor. Every card game’s primary goal is winning, and what other way to do that than come up with various rules that make it a little bit tricky for each of the players to win!
Some card games include fun competition. Take Goat Lords, for example, where players can attack other players using “magical goat power” when they receive particular cards in their hand.
9. Many card games are games of luck.
Most players are drawn to card games because there is no guarantee of who will win. Players don’t have control over the game, and it’s really a matter of luck when someone has the winning hand.
10. Card players get to show off skills.
Many card games take a lot of skill to play – in fact, some of the top winners in my card game categories have played for many years and have taken the time to learn all the game’s finer intricacies. For these players, the game is more about showing off their skills than actually playing the game. Winning and moving up through the ranks provides them with a sense of achievement.
11. Card games have that winning effect.
Have you ever found yourself playing round after round of cards? It’s undeniable that playing cards is quite addictive, especially when everyone is having fun! That’s the thing about card games! While most of them have an educational element, they are designed to be fun.
The more fun the card game is and the more you win, the more you want to win, and so the cycle continues. Many people get addicted to the feeling of winning at cards. These people become engrossed in scrutinizing the gameplay and the rules to find loopholes, tricks, and hacks to keep winning over and over.
12. Card games promote ease of conversation.
Card games enable an easy, no-pressure flow of conversation among players. This is why card games are often used as ice-breakers when gathering a group of strangers or starting an important corporate project. Playing a quick game of cards can help everyone relax, unwind and start communicating on a more relaxed level.
13. Many card games are educational.
While card games are designed to be fun, many of them are also intended to be educational. Card games have dynamically evolved to the point where they now offer a form of education and guidance to players.
Some card games help children develop memory skills, while others can help with reading, mathematics, learning a new language, problem-solving, matching ideas and concepts, and more.
14. Card games have that replay effect (another round!).
One of the top reasons why playing card games are so popular is that card games have that replay effect. Anyone who has sat through round after round of cards knows how it feels to be under the influence of the “replay” effect. If you ever find yourself shouting “another round!” then you know what it’s all about.
15. Card games are entertaining.
Laughter, excitement, competition, the desire to win – all of these elements make playing cards one of the most entertaining ways to pass the time. If it’s entertainment you’re after, there’s no doubt that card games will provide what you want!
Last Word
It doesn’t seem to matter how many digital games technology presents to the world; card games are still among the most popular types of games out there. Whether it’s Uno, Crazy Eights, or Snap, rest assured that playing a round or two will be some of the most fun you’ve had. Enjoy!
This article was co-authored by our team of in-house and freelance writers, and reviewed by our editors, who enjoy sharing their knowledge about their favorite games with others!
JC Franco
JC Franco serves as a New York-based editor for Gamesver. His interest for board games centers around chess, a pursuit he began in elementary school at the age of 9. Holding a Bachelor’s degree in Business from Mercyhurst University, JC brings a blend of business acumen and creative insight to his role. Beyond his editorial endeavors, he is a certified USPTA professional, imparting his knowledge in tennis to enthusiasts across the New York City Metropolitan area.