Games are a great way to bring people together and have some fun. But with so many different games out there, it can be hard to know where to start. That's why we've put together a list of classic games that everyone should know how to play. From card games to party games, there's something for everyone on this list. So get ready to have some fun and play some games!
Classic Card Games
Card games are great because decks of cards are cheap and readily available, and there are countless games you can play with just a single piece of equipment. There are one player games like solitaire, two player games gin, and many player games like go fish and crazy eights. Before we get into some of our favorite card games, let's take a look at the history of playing cards.
The history of playing cards
A deck of playing cards is believed to have originated in China during the Tang dynasty, around the 9th century AD. The first decks were made of paper and featured four suits: coins, strings of coins, myriads (groups of ten), and halberds (a type of spear). These early decks were used for a game called Mancala, which is thought to be the earliest known card game.
By the 13th century, playing cards had spread to Europe, where they were used for games such as Karnöffel and Mamauch. In 1430, the first references to playing cards in England appear in a court document and in a morality play called The Castle of Perseverance. By the end of the 15th century, playing cards were so popular that they were banned by the Church. However, this only served to increase their popularity, and by the 16th century, card games were being played all over Europe. Today, there are hundreds of different card games enjoyed by people all over the world.
Now let's talk about the games we play today...
War
War is a simple card game that is perfect for young children. The object of War is to collect as many cards as possible. Each player flips over a card from their deck and whoever has the higher card takes both cards and adds them to their collection. The first player to collect all 52 cards is the winner!
If players reveal cards of the same value, you must WAR to find a winner! Typically, each player deals 3 additional cards FACE DOWN, and then a final, fourth card, face up. This new card determines who wins ALL of the cards that were played during this "battle." If they are equal cards again, you guessed it - another WAR! Eventually one player will have a higher face-up card and that player wins. Play resumes by flipping over one card at a time.
Don't forget to reshuffle all your "won" cards when you've flipped over the final card in your pile to keep on battling.
Go Fish
Go Fish is another classic card game that is perfect for young children. The object of Go Fish is to collect as many sets of four cards as possible. To do this, you'll need to ask other players if they have a specific card that you're looking for. If they do, they'll have to give it to you. If they don't, you'll have to go fish! The first player to collect all 13 sets of cards is the winner.
You can play for pairs, instead of all four cards, as well, which can be a little easier. Some people play with the rule "fished my wish," which means if you ask for a specific card and your opponent tells you to "go fish," if your fished card is the card you asked for, you get to keep your turn going!
They also make many Go Fish decks that don't use the standard 52 card deck. You'll often see Go Fish decks with, you guessed it, fish instead of the regular suits. Or cartoon characters. Whatever deck you decide to use you're sure to have a great time.
Crazy Eights
Crazy Eights is a simple yet fun card game that can be enjoyed by players of all ages. The object of Crazy Eights is to be the first player to get rid of all of your cards by matching them up with the card in the center of the table or by playing an 8 (which allows you to change the suit). Be careful not make the wrong move or you'll be forced to pick up another card from the deck! As implied by the name, eights are crazy (meaning they are wild cards).
If you can't play a matching suit or number, you can play an eight and declare what suit it is. The next player will have to play a card of the suit you named, no matter what suit it was before you played your crazy eight, and no matter the suit of the eight itself. After all, it's CRAZY EIGHTS!
There are many rule variations with Crazy Eights so make sure you all agree on any of these rules before you start playing. A popular rule is that if a player plays a two, the next person has to pick up two cards. You can have a stacking effect, so if I also have a two I can play that, and the person after me has to pick up FOUR cards. It's up to you guys to decide how you want to play. There are plenty of Crazy Eights rules that make the game look a lot like UNO (which appears later in our list, too).
Solitaire
For those who are unfamiliar with the game of Solitaire, it can be played with a standard deck of 52 cards. The object of the game is to move all of the cards into the foundation piles, which are located in the upper right-hand corner of the playing area. The foundation piles are usually four in number, and each pile must be started with an ace.
Once an ace has been placed in a foundation pile, the player can then begin to build on that pile in ascending order (two, three, four, etc.). In order to move cards around the playing area, the player can make use of the seven tableau piles that are located in the center of the playing area. These piles must alternate in color, so you cannot place a red nine on a red 10--you must place a black nine on a red ten, and so on.
Once the player has moves all of the cards into the foundation piles, they will have won the game. However, if the player is unable to make any more moves, then they will have lost. There are many variations of Solitaire that can be played, but the above instructions represent the most basic form of the game.
The Most Popular Board Games
Monopoly
Monopoly is a board game that has been around since the early 1900s. The game is based on buying, selling, and trading property, and it can be played by two to eight people. The goal of the game is to become the wealthiest player by acquiring property and developing it with houses and hotels. Monopoly can be a fun and exciting game for both children and adults. Here are a few tips to help you get started:
- Decide how much money each player will start with. The standard amount is $1,500, but you can adjust this based on the number of players and the length of the game you want to play.
- Choose your properties wisely. It's important to think about which properties will be the most valuable as the game progresses. Try to focus on properties that are adjacent to each other, as this will give you more control over the property market.
- Develop your properties gradually. It's tempting to immediately build houses and hotels on your properties, but this can often lead to financial trouble later in the game. Instead, try to develop your properties slowly, adding one house at a time. This will help you stay afloat when other players start buying up property.
- Be prepared to make deals with other players. Trading is an important part of Monopoly, so don't be afraid to haggle over prices or offer trades that are beneficial for both parties.
- Have fun! Monopoly is meant to be a fun game, so make sure everyone is enjoying themselves. If things start getting too intense, take a break and come back refreshed!
Uno
Uno is a classic card game that is fun for people of all ages. The object of the game is to be the first player to reach 500 points, which is done by getting rid of all of the cards in your hand. To start, each player is dealt 7 cards and the rest are placed face down in the middle of the players to form a draw pile. The player to the dealer's left starts the game by drawing one card and playing one. Cards are played by matching either the number or color of the card on top of the discard pile.
If a player cannot play a card, they must draw one from the draw pile. There are also special cards that can be played to change up the game. These include skip, reverse, and Draw 2 cards. Wild and Wild Draw 4 cards can be played at any time and allow you to change the color that is being played.
The first player to get rid of all their cards wins the round and scores points based on the value of the other players remaining cards. Uno is a simple yet fun game that can be enjoyed by people of all ages.
Battleship
The game of Battleship is a classic Navy game that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. The objective of the game is to sink all of the opponent's ships by correctly guessing their location. Each player begins the game by placing their ships on a grid, with each ship occupying a certain number of squares. Once all ships have been placed, players take turns calling out coordinates in an attempt to hit their opponent's ships. If a player guesses correctly, they will mark a "hit" on their scorecard and take another turn. If they guess incorrectly, they will mark a "miss" and it will be their opponent's turn. The first player to sink all of their opponent's ships wins the game. Battleship is a simple yet enjoyable game that can be enjoyed by people of all ages.
Checkers
Checkers is a classic board game that has been enjoyed by people of all ages for centuries. The game is relatively simple to learn and can be played by two people, making it a great way to pass the time on a rainy day or during a long car journey. To play checkers, you will need a board with 64 squares (32 for each player), as well as 12 pieces for each player (usually called “checkers”). One player has all red pieces, while the other has all black pieces. The goal of the game is to capture all of your opponent’s pieces, or to “block” them so that they can no longer make any moves.
To start the game, each player places their checkers on the 12 dark squares closest to them. The player with the black pieces always goes first. On each turn, a player must move one of their checkers forward one space diagonally. If there is an opponent’s checker on the space directly ahead of your checker, you can “jump” over it and capture it by landing on the square beyond it. When you capture an opponent’s checker, you remove it from the board. If you are able to reach the far side of the board with one of your checkers, it becomes a “king” and can move forwards and backwards for the rest of the game. A player wins the game when they have either captured all of their opponent’s pieces, or when their opponent can no longer make any moves because all of their pieces are blocked.
Backgammon
Backgammon is a two-player board game that has been around for centuries. The objective of the game is to move all of your pieces around the board and into your opponent's home board. Each player has fifteen pieces, or checkers, which are moved according to the roll of dice. The first player to get all of their pieces off the board wins the game.
Backgammon can be played for fun or for money, and it is a popular game in many countries around the world. There are a few different ways to set up the board, but the most common way is to have each player start with seven pieces on their 24-point, or home board. The other eight pieces are placed on the player's one-point, or bear-off point. To start the game, each player rolls a die, and the player with the higher roll goes first.
Players take turns rolling two dice and moving their checkers around the board according to the numbers rolled. If a player rolls a double, they get to move four times the number shown on one die for each checker. For example, if a player rolls a 5 and a 5, they can move four checkers five spaces each. If one die lands on a checker, that checker is considered 'hit' and must be moved to the opponent's bar before that player can continue their turn. A player cannot move their checkers if they are 'hit', and if both dice land on hit checkers, then that player must wait until their next turn to roll again.
The game continues until one player has no more checkers on the board, at which point that player has won. Backgammon is a simple game to learn but difficult to master, and it can provide hours of enjoyment for players of all skill levels.
Cornhole
Cornhole is a popular lawn game that can be played with two or more people. The object of the game is to toss bean bags at a raised platform with a hole in the center. Points are awarded for each bag that goes through the hole or remains on the face of the board, and the first team to reach the target score wins the game (typically 21 points). Although technically not a "board game", it is a game that involves 2 boards, so we have included it here, mainly due to its incredible popularity.
Cornhole can be played competitively or for fun, and it is a great way to enjoy time outdoors with family and friends. The game is easy to learn, but there are a few important things to keep in mind when playing. First, players should stand at opposite ends of the platform, and each team should have four bean bags. Second, players take turns tossing their bean bags, and they cannot step on or over the line before throwing their bag. Finally, scored bags remain in play until all four players on a team have thrown their bean bags. Only one team can score points every round, so if Team One has 9 points and Team Two has 3 points, then only Team One scores, and they get 6 points for that round (9-3=6). Whoever scored in the round throws the first bag of the next round.
Have Fun With Your New Classic Game
Games are a great way to have fun and enjoy time with friends and family. They can be simple or complex, but the important thing is that they are enjoyable for everyone involved. Whether you’re looking for a new game to learn or you’re a seasoned pro, we hope you find something here that piques your interest.
By far our favorite is cornhole. It’s easy to learn and even easier to play, making it the perfect pastime for get-togethers with friends and family. Whether you’re looking for a new game to add to your repertoire or just want something fun to do outdoors on a sunny day, cornhole is definitely worth giving a try. Interested in playing? Check out our selection of the best cornhole boards and bags sets today!