Z
rules reference#01
Zhǎo Péngyou
“Looking for friends”: a big-group Chinese trick game with several decks, where the trump maker calls cards to form secret teams.
trick-takinghidden partners
Needs several decks with jokers.
Open rules referenceLetter guide · Z
Card games that start with Z
Z leans traditional: Chinese climbing games Zhēng Shàngyóu and Zheng Fen, the big-group Zhǎo Péngyou, the Latvian Zole, the Hungarian Zsírozás, the German fishing game Zwicker, and an Austrian tarock—plus two zombie-themed party games.
9 checked entries Named rule sources No copied rule text
Interactive directory
9 Z card games, compared
Use the filters to separate quick fillers from longer strategy games, or standard-deck classics from games that need their own cards.
9 games found
Starts with
Z
rules reference#02
Zheng Fen
A Chinese climbing game where you fight for point cards—fives, tens, and kings—while shedding your hand.
climbingpoints
Open rules reference Z
rules reference#03
Zhēng Shàngyóu
The Chinese “struggling upstream” climbing game, probably best with five or six, where losers end up in the pit.
climbingshedding
Known in Britain as Pits.
Open rules referenceZ
rules reference#04
Zole
A Latvian three-player point-trick game related to Schafkopf, with queens, jacks, and diamonds as permanent trumps.
trick-takingpoints
Uses a 26-card pack.
Open rules referenceZ
publisher#05
Zombie Fluxx
The rules keep changing while zombie creepers complicate the shifting goals.
partyhand management
Open publisher Z
publisher#06
Zombie Kittens
Avoid explosions and use zombie cards that can bring eliminated players back into the round.
take-thatpush-your-luck
Open publisher Z
rules reference#07
Zsírozás
A Hungarian game for two or four: win tricks by matching the rank of the card led, with sevens acting as wild cards.
pointspartnership
Uses a 32-card pack.
Open rules referenceZ
rules reference#08
Zwanzigerrufen
A simpler Austrian tarock for four, played with 40 cards; the declarer calls the trump XX to find a partner.
trick-takingtarot
Needs a Tarock pack.
Open rules referenceZ
rules reference#09
Zwicker
A North German fishing game for partners, with high-value jokers and building by subtraction as well as addition.
fishingpartnership
Open rules reference Quick picks by situation
20 minutes or less
Zombie Kittens
Use a standard deck
Zhǎo Péngyou · Zheng Fen · Zhēng Shàngyóu · Zole
Good with exactly two
Zombie Fluxx · Zombie Kittens · Zsírozás
Bigger groups (6+)
Zhǎo Péngyou · Zhēng Shàngyóu · Zombie Fluxx
Editorial notes
What the Z list includes—and what it doesn’t.
Are board games with cards included?
Only when cards carry the central play. A board game that merely uses event cards is not automatically treated as a card game.
Is the list complete?
It is deliberately curated, not a claim to every historical or regional title. We add games when the basic facts and a useful source can be checked.
Lists by situation
Card games by situation
58 games
Card games for parties
Big-group, hidden-role, and fast slap games that work for six or more people.
See the list35 games
Card games for one player
Classic solitaire with a standard deck, plus modern solo card games and co-op campaigns.
See the list112 games
Easy card games
Simple card games you can learn in about five minutes, sorted by deck and group size.
See the list112 games
Family card games
Card games kids, parents, and grandparents can all play together—from Go Fish to Sushi Go!.
See the list128 games
Classic card games
Traditional games played with ordinary cards—trick-taking, rummy, fishing, shedding, and solitaire.
See the list216 games
Card games for 3 players
Games built for exactly three—Skat, Dou Dizhu, Ninety-Nine—plus easy and strategic picks that shine at three.
See the listA–Z letter guides
More card games by letter
Each letter has its own page with every checked game, quick picks, and links to the rules.
- A16 gamesCard games that start with A
- B22 gamesCard games that start with B
- C23 gamesCard games that start with C
- D18 gamesCard games that start with D
- E9 gamesCard games that start with E
- F14 gamesCard games that start with F
- G11 gamesCard games that start with G
- H9 gamesCard games that start with H
- I6 gamesCard games that start with I
- J7 gamesCard games that start with J
- K11 gamesCard games that start with K
- L8 gamesCard games that start with L
- M19 gamesCard games that start with M
- N7 gamesCard games that start with N
- O9 gamesCard games that start with O
- P20 gamesCard games that start with P
- Q5 gamesCard games that start with Q
- R10 gamesCard games that start with R
- S31 gamesCard games that start with S
- T18 gamesCard games that start with T
- U8 gamesCard games that start with U
- V9 gamesCard games that start with V
- W6 gamesCard games that start with W
- X5 gamesCard games that start with X
- Y6 gamesCard games that start with Y
- Z9 gamesCard games that start with Z