The 25 best card games
Board Game Verdict Presents

The 25 best card games

Our definitive ranking of the The 25 best card games, based on aggregated critic scores from multiple trusted review sources.

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8
Android: Netrunner
89

Android: Netrunner(2012)

Fantasy Flight Games, Arclight Games, Null Signal Games

Design: Richard Garfield, Lukas Litzsinger·Art: Henning Ludvigsen, Ed Mattinian, Del Borovic, Adam Schumpert, Bruno Balixa, Ralph Beisner

Android: Netrunner is an asymmetrical Living Card Game for two players set in a cyberpunk future. One player takes the role of a hacker (Runner) attempting to break into corporate servers, while the other plays as a Corporation trying to protect their data and advance their agendas. The game features unique mechanics where each side plays completely differently, creating intense cat-and-mouse gameplay.

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7
Lost Cities
89

Lost Cities(1999)

Kosmos, Rio Grande Games

Design: Reiner Knizia·Art: Dennis Lohausen, Vincent Dutrait, Michaela Kienle

Lost Cities is a tense two-player card game where players mount archaeological expeditions to five different colored destinations. Players must play cards in ascending numerical order while deciding whether to start expeditions or risk waiting for better cards, creating challenging risk-reward decisions.

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6
Marvel Champions: The Card Game
89

Marvel Champions: The Card Game(2019)

Fantasy Flight Games

Design: Michael Boggs, Nate French, Caleb Grace

Marvel Champions: The Card Game is a cooperative Living Card Game where players embody iconic Marvel superheroes and battle infamous villains. Players can customize their hero decks with different aspects and work together to thwart villainous schemes and defeat enemies in this strategic card-based adventure.

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5
Race for the Galaxy
89

Race for the Galaxy(2007)

Rio Grande Games

Design: Thomas Lehmann·Art: Martin Hoffmann, Claus Stephan

Race for the Galaxy is a card game where players build galactic civilizations by playing cards representing worlds or technical and social developments. It's an engine building strategy game that challenges players to build the most prosperous galactic empire through simultaneous action selection.

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4
The Crew: The Quest for Planet Nine
89

The Crew: The Quest for Planet Nine(2019)

Kosmos, Thames & Kosmos

Design: Thomas Sing·Art: Marco Armbruster, Sensit Communication GmbH

The Crew is a cooperative trick-taking card game where players work together as astronauts on a space mission to reach Planet Nine. Players must complete specific objectives by winning particular tricks in particular orders, all while having limited ability to communicate with each other. The game features 50 missions of increasing difficulty recorded in a logbook.

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3
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers – Trick-Taking Game
90

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers – Trick-Taking Game(2026)

Asmodee, Office Dog

Design: Bryan Bornmueller·Art: Elaine Ryan, Samuel R. Shimota

A narrative-driven cooperative card game that weaves trick-taking mechanics into the story of The Two Towers. This standalone continuation follows chapters 19-36 of gameplay, allowing players to take on the roles of heroes and villains in Tolkien's legendary work.

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2
Eternal Decks
93

Eternal Decks(2025)

Tricktakers Games

Design: Hiroken·Art: MUJUNSHA

Eternal Decks is a limited communication cooperative card game where players work together to complete stage objectives before any player runs out of actions. Players manage decks of cards while combating restless eternals, with the puzzle evolving as new decks are unlocked through completing specific objectives.

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1
The Crew: Mission Deep Sea
93

The Crew: Mission Deep Sea(2021)

Thames & Kosmos, IELLO, Kosmos

Design: Thomas Sing·Art: Marco Armbruster

The Crew: Mission Deep Sea is a cooperative trick-taking card game where players work together as members of a deep-sea expedition searching for the lost continent of Mu. Players must complete various mission objectives while playing silently with limited communication, making each mission a unique puzzle of teamwork and strategy.

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