Playing card games has always been a part of our culture. Whether it’s bonding with friends over barbecue and beer or spending a relaxing weekend night with family, there’s never a dull moment when you’re playing a good game of cards with the right people.
The benefits of playing card games
A favorite for many years, card games for adults are not only a great way to entertain but they have also been proven to be beneficial in more ways than we can imagine.
It improves mental health significantly.
A 2014 study by the University of Wisconsin-Madison found that playing card games could help people stay mentally sharp even in their older years.
This is also backed by an ongoing 90+ Study since 1981 involving over 14,000 participants in the retirement community of Laguna Woods Village, California.
The study suggested that people who spend more time participating in mental activities like card games are less likely to suffer from dementia.
It builds better concentration, self-control, and discipline.
Playing card games requires players to concentrate for hours even without realizing it. In the process, they learn to build better self-control and concentration, which is quite useful in other important activities.
People who play card games often are also believed to have more discipline because of how they need to gather and analyze information before making the right decisions.
It helps in dealing with loss.
Losing always comes with the territory of playing card games, and all players know that. As they win games, they also learn to accept losses no matter how good they are.
They know how to walk away even after putting in so much effort and strategy into a game. But they don’t let it put their losses to waste by making sure they don’t repeat the same mistakes.
It creates a better social life.
In the age of the internet and social media, a lot of people have lost the ability to socialize, which is one of the most important factors for happy living.
But card games for adults have maintained that sense of real social engagement that allows people to really have fun with a group.
In fact, a New York Times article quoted Memory Arts founder Cynthia Green talking about the difference between card games and computer games: “Computer games don’t offer the same opportunity for social engagement.”
Card games are still a great way to interact with real people and have genuine fun.
The best card games for adults
With all the amazing benefits of playing card games, it’s only fitting that we round up some of the best and most fun options out there that every adult should try:
Cards Against Humanity
A deck of cards that will stir the humor of those who play it, Cards Against Humanity has been a hit card game for adults since it came out because of its unique gameplay.
The rule is simple: one person chooses a black card with a scenario and the rest of the players present a white card to respond to it however they want.
This is a great game to play with your closest circle of friends whom you’re not afraid to be really candid with.
But if you’re not as comfortable with your co-players, you can always remove the more offensive cards on the deck.
What Do You Meme?
Do you have family or friends who are always updated with the latest memes online?
Then, this is the perfect game for you. What Do You Meme? is all about having fun with the funniest memes.
One player places a photo card on an easel and will also be the designated judge.
The rest of the players then choose the caption of that photo and let the judge choose the funniest one.
Bad People
A fantastic game to be played with your closest friends, Bad People is all about getting to know your co-players more.
One person chooses an “identity” card and answers questions related to that chosen identity.
This will help you see what people really think about you, which is why it’s ideal for a group of close friends who have an unbreakable bond.
Ring of Fire (King’s Cup)
Of course, we have to mention our favorite drinking card game, which is also the reason why this site exists.
Warning: don’t get into this one if you’re not willing to risk a hangover the next day!
You’re at the right place if you’re interested in learning the rules – check out the homepage.
Or get these cards from Amazon with rules already printed on them.
Buzzed: This Is The Drinking Game that Gets You and Your Friends Tipsy
Designed for adults 21 years old and above, Buzzed is one of the most exciting card drinking games in the market today.
The rule is simple: players take turns drawing a card from the top of the deck.
Each player will then read the card out loud and do whatever it says: lather, rinse or repeat.
This card drinking game is designed for up to 20 people, making it ideal for large groups.
These Cards Will Get You Drunk
If the name of the game isn’t obvious yet, These Cards Will Get You Drunk is literally aimed at making its players have a great time and maybe, get wasted in the process.
The box contains more than 100 dynamic cards that allow you and your friends to compete against each other where there are drinks involved.
This drinking card game is designed for up to 8 players aged 21 years old and above. So, make sure that you drink responsibly.
If You Had To…
A modern twist to the classic “Would You Rather?” this card game is all about choosing a card that you think the judge will least likely do.
Each player chooses a card and presents it to the judge.
If the judge selects your card, then you win a point. The first player to get to five points will win the game, but you can increase the number to stretch the game.
Never Have I Ever
Whether you’re drinking or not, the classic “Never Have I Ever” game will always be a hit to you and your friends.
If you already tried playing this game using randomly made up questions, this card game makes things better by giving you 485 question cards to choose from, so you won’t have to worry about what questions to ask next.
“Never Have I Ever” is a great game to play with people who are close to you since you know that they’ll be honest about what they have and haven’t done yet.
The Voting Game
Another great adult game to get to know your friends, “The Voting Game” is aimed at finding out what your friends think about you through their votes.
The premise is simple: you choose from 160 question cards and place your votes for the player who fits the question’s description the most.
The players will then make a guess of the people who voted for them. If they choose correctly, their votes will be revealed.
The fun of card games for adults
Nothing beats a classic, so they say, and this is really true with card games for adults.
Although our world has already been dominated by the Internet, it’s always good to go back to the old days when we enjoyed playing card games with family and friends without the distraction of the digital world.
It offers a sense of refuge for those who want to have an unadulterated fun with the people who they can share a good laugh with.