Best Card Games for Teens | Fun Picks for Game Night

The best card games for teens are the ones my own teenager actually wants to play, again and again.

As a family that loves game nights, we’ve tested dozens of teen-friendly games over the years, and these picks are the ones that keep making it to the table.

Some are light and silly, others more strategic, but every game on this list has been teen-approved by my son and his friends.

A colorful collage titled “Best Card Games for Teens,” featuring popular party and card games arranged in a grid layout. Games shown include “Muffin Time,” “Linkee,” “Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza,” “Taboo,” “You’ve Got Crabs,” “Bad People,” “5 Second Rule,” “Exploding Kittens: Recipes for Disaster,” and “Cards Against Humanity: Family Edition.” Each box is clearly displayed with bold, eye-catching design and game age recommendations visible.

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Best Card Games for Teenagers

These teen-approved picks balance fun, strategy, and chaos, perfect for family game night or a group of teens hanging out.

Muffin Time

This one’s chaotic in the best way. My son got it for his 13th birthday, and it instantly became a favorite—we ended up playing three rounds that night and were crying with laughter.

It’s unpredictable and silly, with random rule cards that completely change the game mid-turn.

Works great with teens who enjoy a bit of mischief and randomness. Honestly, if you're only picking one game from this list, this is the one we keep coming back to.

Exploding Kittens Recipes for Disaster

We've had Exploding Kittens in our rotation for years, but this version steps it up with combo packs and challenges.

My son and his friends love the strategy of sabotaging each other—plus, the “Cone of Shame” is a hilarious touch that somehow ends up worn even when we’re not playing.

If you want something fast-paced and funny but with just enough strategy to keep teens engaged, this is a solid choice.

Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza

Don’t let the nonsense name fool you—this game gets intense. It’s all about speed, and you’d be shocked how many times teens mess up the simple chant.

It turns into a slap-fest (in a fun way), so I strongly recommend removing rings.

Learned that the hard way—my engagement ring left a mark on my son’s hand during a heated round!

Quick to learn, ridiculously replayable, and perfect when you’ve got 10 minutes to kill or a group that loves fast, silly games.

Colorbrain

This one surprised us—turns out teens really like showing off random color knowledge (and making fun of parents who forget what color SpongeBob's tie is).

You get color cards, and questions like “What color are the Olympic rings?” Everyone can play, and there’s enough challenge to keep older teens engaged.

We bring this out for larger family get-togethers too, and it always starts some friendly competition.

Linkee

Linkee is my son's favorite trivia-style game.

It’s clever—you answer 4 mini questions, then figure out what links the answers.

It’s surprisingly addicting and works well in teams or as individuals. We started bringing it to holidays and ended up with everyone from teens to grandparents shouting answers.

Great for teens who enjoy logic and trivia but don’t want a slow-paced quiz game.

Taboo

I played this as a kid, and now it’s a hit with my son’s teen group.

The buzzer adds just enough pressure to make everyone shout wrong answers.

Teens especially love the "forbidden words" twist—it forces quick thinking and creativity.

We’ve actually ignored the age rating and played with younger cousins too, just skipping any cards they don’t know. It’s fun, loud, and perfect for group energy.

Cards Against Humanity: Family Edition

This version keeps the format teens love—outrageous fill-in-the-blank humor—but dials it back so it’s actually appropriate.

We started with this when my son was about 12, and it was a hit at sleepovers.

The jokes lean into potty humor and silly scenarios without crossing any lines.

It’s honestly still hilarious for adults, and it's a nice middle ground if your teen is begging to play the original (which… yeah, maybe not at 13).

You’ve Got Crabs

This game is as weird as the name suggests, but in the best way.

It's team-based, and the goal is to communicate with your partner using a secret signal—without getting caught.

My son and his friends came up with the most ridiculous “secret gestures,” and I couldn't stop laughing when they completely forgot what their own signal was.

Definitely best with 6+ players for full chaos. Great for parties or large family gatherings.

5 Second Rule Party Game

Name three things in five seconds—it sounds easy until your brain blanks out in front of everyone.

Teens love this one because it gets loud fast and is perfect for breaking the ice.

It’s great with a mix of ages too. We play this at family get-togethers, and even the shy kids start shouting answers by the second round.

Perfect for road trips, quick rounds before dinner, or anytime you want to laugh at how slow your brain is under pressure.

New Phone, Who Dis?

Okay—this one’s tricky. The humor is perfect for older teens (think 15+), but if you’ve got younger kids in the room, definitely pre-scan the cards. I learned that the awkward way.

That said, my 13-year-old loves this game after we removed about 20 questionable cards.

It’s like texting memes as a game—totally their language. If your teen has a phone and a sense of humor, they’ll be all over this.

Merry Dissmas

This was our holiday surprise hit. It’s all in good fun—light teasing in card form—but you definitely need a group that can laugh at themselves.

We played it with extended family over Thanksgiving and it sparked hilarious “roast battles” between cousins.

It’s not just a holiday game, either—we’ve pulled it out at birthdays and random game nights since. If your teen likes witty comebacks and a little sass, this one delivers.

Check out our top picks for the best Christmas board games to add even more festive fun to your holiday gatherings.

BAD PEOPLE Game

Full warning: this game is not for sensitive players.

It’s all about calling each other out in darkly funny ways—my teen’s favorite card was “Who’s most likely to fake their own death for attention?”

We only play this with older teens and adults who can laugh at each other without getting offended.

My son insisted it be included here, but I wouldn’t recommend it for a younger crowd or a mixed-age family night.

Last Updated on 7 April 2025 by Clare Brown

Best Card Games for Teenagers

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