Are you a card enthusiast looking for something new to spice up your game nights? Well, look no further! In this blog post, we’ll be taking an exciting journey worldwide to discover all sorts of unique and interesting card games.
From Mexico’s La Lotería to Russia’s Durak and beyond, we’ll provide in-depth overviews of some of these lesser-known masterpieces so you can play them with friends — online or over drinks!
Now grab yourself a snack and settle in as we explore what the world has to offer when it comes to card gaming fun.
Fantastic Card Games from Around the World
For card game fans who enjoy discovering new things, stumbling upon unfamiliar games is like finding a rare gem. Games from different countries and cultures have special characteristics that make them intoxicating to learn about and play. Below are some of these gems:
Hearts: Evading Tricks to Win
Everyone may have heard of the card game Hearts, but not everyone knows that it’s a favorite trick-avoidance game by Americans. Invented in the 1880s, Hearts was derived from a much older European game of reverse.
The gameplay is also unique in that players strive to avoid getting as many points as possible to win the game. They can only do this by not receiving any card from the Hearts suit (equal to one penalty point).
Since it’s popular, it has numerous variations that enhance the gameplay. Some of these are:
- Black Lady: An addition of the Queen of Spades with 13 penalty points.
- Black Maria: Addition of Ace of Spades with seven penalty points, King of Spades with ten penalty points, and Queen of Spades with 13 penalty points.
- Cancellation Hearts: A Hearts variant for six or more players that uses two standard card decks.
The above variations are perfect examples if you’re considering playing the Hearts card game but with a twist. For a classic one, you can search for browser-based platforms instead for a faster and better PC gaming experience without downloading an app!
La Lotería: A Mexican Family Favorite
La Lotería is an incredibly popular family game in Mexico, translating to “The Lottery.” Although it’s known as a Mexican card game, it came from Italy and was only brought there in 1769. Since then, it’s been played by families during get-togethers and whatnot.
Besides getting a tattoo in Mexico as a souvenir, many tourists would get a La Lotería set. Finding one is easy; you only need to go to the closest mercado. These only cost about 50 to hundred pesos, roughly 2.50 to 5 US dollars.
La Lotería game basics:
- One player is determined as the caller
- A La Lotería has 54 cards with 16 different card images
- Each player uses 16 tiny things (raw beans) to check off the cards from the board once called
- The gameplay is similar to BINGO
Due to its popularity and exhilarating gameplay, La Lotería can now be played on mobile devices. One Baraja de Lotería Mexicana is a great example, which you can download for free!
Durak: Traditional Pastime in Soviet Russia
Durak, which translates to Fool in English, is an incredibly well-known game in Russia and other former-Soviet countries. The game’s objective is to get through the deck of cards until one player has gotten rid of the cards in their hand. One card is turned up, and its suit is determined as the master suit.
The game is usually played by two to six people with six cards each. A standard deck of cards is used with numbers 2 to five removed. One player starts by placing a card down to “attack” the next player. That player must “beat” that card by placing a higher-ranked card from the same suit or any card from the master suit.
The cards are played as long as players can beat the cards. If not, they must pick up all cards from the board. After each turn, players pick up a card from the deck until it dries out. Play this game with your friends or strangers by downloading Durak Online to get a taste of this game’s remarkable features!
Shithead: A Game with Scandinavian Origins
This card game goes by numerous names, such as Bastard, Palace, and Karma. It is similar to another Scandinavian game called Vändtia, which is why it’s believed to have origins in the country. Nowadays, it’s played mainly by British students.
The game’s objective is to get rid of all your cards. The player with cards left is called the “Shithead,” and some consequences come from being one. For instance, they may have to deal with the next game, buy another round of drinks for everyone, or do a dare.
Shithead card game basics:
- Two decks of cards, if needed, for more than four players
- Each player receives nine cards, with three face down and the other half face up
- Anybody with a 3 card can lay down first, 4 or 5 if there are none
- There are several wild cards in the game
- Players must pick up all cards from the discard pile if they can’t play a card
This game is perfect for game nights because there are plenty of ways you can punish your friends in a fun way! If you want to try it first, you may download Head Card Game – SheetHead for free on your mobile device and play against an AI!
Bhabi: Card Game for All Ages
Bhabi originated in Pakistan, and it’s like any other classic card game due to its goal: to eliminate all cards from your hand. Like Shithead, there’s a punishment for those who fail. Another interesting fact is that there’s no specific number of players. However, it’s best played by four or five people.
A whole set of cards is used in the game, which is divided equally among all players. Use more than one deck if there are more than five players. The game starts with the person who received the Ace of Spades. After playing a card, everyone must follow the same suit.
As you can already guess, the exciting part is when a suit is played, and the next person doesn’t have it. They can throw any card, but the person who played the highest card during that round will have to pick up all cards that have been played.
Get a kick out of this game by playing Bhabhi (Get Away) – Offline. You can quickly master it since the rules are straightforward, but it’s more fun to hone your skills against an AI first!
Discover Card Games from Other Cultures
Card games are a great way to pass the time and come in various forms. Whether looking for something classic or modern, these four card games worldwide will surely be exciting and noteworthy enough to entertain you. From La Lotería set from Mexico to Bhabi from Pakistan, each has its own rules that make them notable and addicting! Try them today by downloading the app or searching for their browser-based version; you won’t regret it!
