Top 10 Games with Only Cards - with Chris Yi

[@carries8052]

We bought Fantasy Realms before our international trip - plays great on a plane even - great card game! (We didn't bring the scorepad and just used a calculator instead)

[@mikev8253]

Literally the perfect list. I've played 5 and agree with your thoughts and I'm now very interested in 5 more games I haven't played. I'd add these honorable mentions: Archaeology, The Mind, The Game, and FBI.

[@Mentat1231]

I'm SO glad to see Tybor get some love! My wife and I *adore* this game, but everyone always talks about Oh My Goods. Great list in general, though. Very good stuff.

[@mateuszpawowski8139]

I wonder what you think about Port Royal, another Pfister game. Haven't played that one yet, but I'm really hyped for the new edition.

[@jameswoodard4304]

I really like Port Royal. It's pretty simple, but fun. I would also like to hear is opinion on it relative to the others he mentioned.

[@peacefuldragon742]

Port Royal is outstanding. Played it plenty and have given it as gifts.

[@santiagodearana1545]

That game is great, i think it would have been great for a perfect Pfister podium. Maybe he didn't put it cuz expansion has cubes.

[@blacksheep9950]

Funnily enough, my copy of Sushi Go (the original blue-box Adventureland version) only has cards. You still need to keep score between rounds, but each player gets a pair of cards which track scores by sliding one over the other, designed to look like a tray on a conveyor belt.

[@Majdi.J]

Bohnanza is a masterpiece. Arguably Uwe's best game as far as I'm concerned.

[@independentfool]

Buuuut it does come with placards.

[@MrMaelstrom07]

@@independentfool Completely not needed in the game.

[@pizdamatii5001]

@@independentfool we never use them, and there are, i think, editions that don't include the field boards.

[@marklewis6990]

Yeah, no placards in my version. Are they player aids, fields, or boards for the draw and discard decks?

[@MrMaelstrom07]

@@marklewis6990 Just a reminder that you can have two (or three) fields (depending on variant and number of players).

[@independentfool]

Great list! I like the Timeline series but absolutely love Glory to Rome! I will look into Mamma Mia and Onirim. Your voice, accent, and inflection sound so much like 'Mr. Reagan'. Other card-only games I recommend are Arboretum, Dutch Blitz, Innovation, Skull King, Mille Bornes & Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza.

[@mountainpony]

Great list! And thanks for naming the chapters numbers; I enjoy not spoiling what title is coming up next =)

[@StuntmanAtLizalex]

Thanks Chris, interesting list when you exclude even score pads ! Port Royal is definitely one I would include that fits your rule.

[@mabos555]

Yes finally someone who also put solo games in his list!!! Thanks for adding sprawlopis and Onirim. I wish you could make more lists that at least one game is soloable As for Onirim its plastic not wooden and it is Onirim itself (actually another game I forgot ) and it is actually functional as a mini expansion you can use it in 3 different ways to help you but every one of those decisions is good and bad at the same time

[@StephaneBura]

Innovation is my favorite cards-only game.

[@phryas]

Agreed, it’s so much game for just a bunch of cards.

[@victorgonzalez2927]

20) Salem 19) Tides of Madness 18) GOSU Tactics 17) Point Salad 16) Lovecraft Letter 15) Grass 14) Coup 13) Claim 1 & 2 12) High Society 11) Castles of Burgundy Cards 10) Gloom 9) Village Green 8) Mephisto 7) Lords of Scotland 6) Fairy Tale 5) Parade 4) Arkham Noir 3) Harald 2) Arboretum 1) Thunder & Lightning Honorable mentions (some minor components); - Friday - Finished - Mutants - Truffle Shuffle - GoT: Hand of the King - Choson - Koryo - Ringmaster - Harbour - The Crew - Side Effects - Pumpkin Patch Bad Seeds - Fluxx - Gorus Maximus - The Lost Expedition - Jaipur - Hanamakoji - Lost Cities - Convoy - Shards of Infinity - Star Realms - Baseball Highlights - Blue Moon Legends - Brutal Kingdom - Citadels - The Dead Eye - Spires End - Doom Machine - Gate - Grifters - Hats - Odin’s Ravens - Red Rising - Space Hulk Death Angel - YOMI

[@Toibaobao]

I want to play all of these. Another one I like is Abandon All Artichokes. Great video.

[@jeffdiamond486]

The original Love Letter from Japan was cards-only. AEG introduced the cubes.

[@BG_StuartJ]

My first thought was Race for the Galaxy, but then he said no scoring tokens, so instead I’ll add Flip City. A deck building game with only cards and no scoring. You win by playing a winning combination on your turn.

[@rexology_bg]

I am afraid of playing Point Salad because of my irrational fear of beets. Not sure if they are included, but best to err on the safe side. Tybor the Builder is a great top pick!

[@bernadettemoreno7303]

No beets! It's an awesome game!

[@soogasooga]

One of my favorite card-only games is the pirate-themed Loot. The biggest weakness of the game is that it really doesn't play well with less than 4 players.

[@wl5609]

Great choice! We've played it a lot over the years.. Actually plays like a boardgame!

[@IronSalamander8]

Onirim is great! The piece does have special rules to change stuff up, but I've not used it yet.

[@peacefuldragon742]

I play the app because I can't keep track of all the reshuffle rules, but I love Onirim.

[@tolkienfan4ever]

Thanks for sharing this list, Chris!

[@littlekong7685]

I remember playing a mama mia memory game back in the 90's as a kid. You got a cardboard pizza with a single ingredient labelled and a few disc insert slots (with almost identical art), pepperoni, onion, mushroom, pineapple, anchovy, etc. The ingredients were cardboard discs with just cheese on the rear. Players take turns turning over discs and placing only their own on the pizza, rest were returned to the pile. Simple, fun, great for little kids.

[@peacefuldragon742]

Chris, Good to hear that Tybor is a good 2 player game. I usually introduce a new card game to my wife on our anniversary. I have Tybor in my cupboard, this might be the year to bring it out. I also have Archeology: The New Expedition, Piñata, Mundus Novus, and Valley of the Kings in the cupboard. Hard choice. For the last few years, Port Royal has been our favorite card game that's good for 2 players.

[@troygillespie]

I also have Tybor on my shelf of shame, and am glad to hear it plays well at 2! Lots of people say Port Royal is better at 4 or 5, but I like it at 2 as well. Don't sleep on Archaeology, though. Great game.

[@nellyd4970]

Love this idea for a video. Thanks Chris!

[@olanmills64]

I really like 12 Days. Arboretum is another classic. You might argue that it doesn't qualify because a scorepad is often used at the end of the game, but it's not necessary to gameplay. You could just add up your score mentally at the end. There are other card games where you pretty much need a scorepad or tokens or something to track something during rounds or between rounds, but I'd consider Arboretum a bit different from those in that aspect

[@hairbrainedgames3127]

Entertaining list. I like almost all the games mentioned as well. I'd add Battlecruisers and Innovation in there somewhere, personally...

[@MichaelPalvado]

Star Realms, Exploding Kittens, Seventh Hero, and Family Business are great card-only games.

[@5ammy13]

Fantasy Realms, ROVE, Port Royal, 6 Nimmt, That's Not a Hat, Just One, Red 7. Some of the games I love that have only cards :)

[@jameshardison5618]

You missed the boat by not including Port Royal. It’s a great game and using the card backs as the money for the game is very clever. Red 7 is also very thinky, quick and fun.

Nice list! My favourites in this category are 6 Nimmt, Abandon all artichokes, Red 7, Spyfall, Skull & roses, and Werewolves of Miller's Hollow (ok, the cards are a bit thick for the last two).

[@ClaudeAndTaylor]

HOLY SMOKES, what a list!! Amazing job, Chris! Sooo many great trick-taking games for this list too! They're practically made for this, haha!

[@tomasxfranco]

I would allow scorepads/paper, that would allow fox in the forest. I'd put sprawlopolis a bit higher. Also Palm Island is a fun solo, and fantasy realms is a good game.

[@marklewis6990]

My copy of FitF uses points chits, so a scorepad isn't necessary.

[@tomasxfranco]

@@marklewis6990 he said no tokens. I'm saying tokens can often be replaced by a piece of paper and a pen.

[@marklewis6990]

So you're going to not use the chits and find a pen and paper instead, so it fits on your version of this list. Got it! 👍

[@refreshdaemon]

The constraints of not being able to play with anything other than cards does make for a tight list. Card only games that still regularly see play with my group: 6 nimmt! (using a once-through-the-deck variant so no score tracking needed), Bohnanza, Cards Against Humanity (never my choice), Dominion (base and Intrigue), Monopoly Deal!, Point Salad, The Mind, and Timeline.

[@erichchaves]

Great work Chris! Thank you

[@terrytoriq]

Yes! I love, love, love this intro music. It puts a big smile on my face. But, you need do change the graphic effects. They are “Paint” worthy. Play an “update” card. 😉

[@JoachimErdtman]

Carl Chudyk dominates this category for me with Innovation, Glory to Rome, Red7, and Mottainai. Apart from those titles I greatly enjoy Exceed Fighting System, Lost Legacy, Office21, Onirim, and The Game.

[@Rivercat0338]

The Homestead HS I went to had Mustangs as their mascot :) My fave card-only game is probably Schotten-Totten.

[@dreamofempire2114]

I really thought you were going to have Bohnanza on your list.

[@jameswoodard4304]

I wonder if the use of "cohort" during the Glory to Rome segment was an intentional nerdy pun, or just an example of a good vocabulary?

[@SvenBrekhofEriksson]

Good list! Especially mamma mia and point salad! Other games in the same genre that I enjoy are : high society, monikers, happy salmon, coloretto, facecards, spicy, r-eco, anomia, deckscape, memoarr, team play, the mind and spyfall

[@Aaackermann]

Star Realms, pi mal pflaumen, Spicy, Zoff im Zoo, Dobbel, Ohanami, The Mind

[@thedicetower]

I played Ohanami for the first time recently, really good choice! Not heard of Pi Mal Pfpaumen or Zoff I'm Zoo before. Thanks! ~Chris

[@corgas2838]

Thats the best shot of GTR Black Ive ever seen online. High society was on my mind when I read the title.

[@mandyandstephen]

Solo: Palm Island, SpaceShipped. Duet: Archaeology: The New Expedition, Paperback. Group: Tranquility. Party size: Dutch Blitz. Kids: Why I Otter. Shelf of Shame: Herbaceous.

[@blueshadesable]

I always like to hear Chris' opinions on games because you know they're going to be different from all the other popular lists. The other guys at Dice Tower always make fun of his choices but I respect that he tries games that no one has ever heard of. Will check Glory to Rome.

[@devinology7]

Interesting picks, very different from the list I would have chosen. It's tough because many games that are basically just cards still have a player mat of some kind, or even just a scoring track and/or point tracking chits, so I guess those do not count. Games that come to mind off the top of my head are Pixel Tactics, Arboretum, Bang!, Sushi Go, Fairy Tale, Wizard, Battlecruisers, Dominion, Hanabi, Saboteur, Flip City.

[@peacefuldragon742]

Love Fairy Tale, but my family doesn't seem to get it.

[@devinology7]

@@peacefuldragon742 I find it scratches the same itch as 7 Wonders but is faster and in a much smaller package.

[@boardgameknight2791]

So much Pfister love, but none for Port Royal?!? Also, Chris, again with the cool intro music! Where is this coming from?

[@pauljohnson8847]

It doesn't get much love, but Castles of Burgundy Card Game provides a lot of decision-making fun and playing options using only cards. Just make sure you are playing on a large table.

[@chillionaire7114]

Another vote for Innovation. Great list though, some new games to check out.

[@philheaton1619]

I kept looking for my favorite game in this category and it never came up. Is it possible that you have never played Port Royal? Except for the box it came in and the rules sheet, all it has is cards. This is my group's go to filler, along with Jump Drive (which doesn't qualify as it has victory point chips).

[@francisrichard7784]

Eminent Domain: Microcosm - Great game with only 36 cards. Surprisingly deep and strategic for a micro game!

[@benhoff901]

I would add Fox in the Forest, Battle Line (I like the Medieval version best) and Star Realms to the mix.

[@KissellMissile]

Battle line for sure.

[@monomundo]

Star Realms, so much game in a deck of cürds.

[@squared82]

Tybor the Builder is a great pick! Great list.

[@kennethpaschall4801]

One of my favorite card only games would have to be Boss Monster. Plays quick and is easy to teach.

[@JamesD2957]

Mottonai is my favorite; next is Innovation. Amazing what this designer (also gave us Glory to Rome) can do with just a small deck of cards.

[@gassie8952]

Spicy as a great party and bluffing game. Regicide is a great solo timekiller you can play with a normal deck of cards even

[@phryas]

I’d add Coloretto to that list, and red 7, and innovation. If you’re good at arithmetic then also fantasy realms. Great concept for a list! Small box card games for the win!

[@davidlove236]

Good list! I wanted to get a deck-builder on here, so I suggest Star Realms. I was going to suggest Ascension Apprentice Edition until scoring was brought up. However, Star Realms uses cars for keeping your life total, too, so I’m suggesting that one.

[@nshaw1299]

I think that top 10 is one that would really change for me every, like, few months. Love almost all the ones in the list. But my current favorite is 'The Game Face to Face'. Also, Tybor der baumeister, can we bauen it? Tybor the baumeister, yes we can!

[@palacsintaz]

Excellent list! Tybor and Dead Man's Draw are new to me, gotta check them out now.

[@guillermoz4914]

My two favorite card only games are “Parade” & “Coloretto” Exploding Kittens is also fun

[@KarlBlackOfDublin]

I would have put Flip City on my top 10 list of card only games.

[@philipmoser3784]

Great list! I would’ve squeezed Flip City and Red 7 in there somewhere, and possibly Saboteur with the right player count.

[@Hasmanian]

Timeline looks great for history buffs. It reminded me that the Star Trek Experience in Vegas featured a history of the future display and I think a Star Trek version of the game would be more my style.

[@gs24-xor]

Hi Chris, you could have mentioned Mottainai along with Glory To Rome 😉

[@nathansutterfield]

Cool list and great idea. Have you tried Timeline Challenge? Highly recommend it and a get iteration of Timeline and is more approachable with non-nerds. I know it is not a card game but definitely underappreciated.

[@ntmetroid]

If im not mistaken, the wooden pieces in the oniverse games are there sort of for a collectors thing. They all have their own unique one.

[@arthurwohlwill3837]

I am fan of Red7 and Piepmatz. Herbaceous would count if it didn't have the little dividers which you can probably skip if your table is big enough. I love Arboretum, but alas it has a scorepad.

[@kailax223]

Valley of the Kings is my favorite card game. There's a cardboard tomb in the version I have so it wouldn't make this list, but I'm not sure it was included in the original small box card game.

[@play-it-or-not]

I would add Cubirds, Stellar and Skyjo. We enjoy a lot Abandon All Artichokes !

[@AntoineLefebvr]

Dale of Merchants would make my list for sure!

[@yougoyougo1427]

Arburetum got to be my favorite pure card game out there

[@marklewis6990]

Not allowed in this list due to the scorepad.

[@silverfang6668]

Court of the Medici, Mille Borne, Urbion, the other 2 games in the Glory To Rome trilogy.

[@trbry.]

Excluding Dominion due to some expansions seems odd.

[@mikev8253]

I'm actually kind of glad he did it that way. That means that the games I have to go out and buy are only $15-$20 and not a $40-$50 game with several $40-$50 expansions lol.

[@dancondonjones]

Second edition comes with a mat for the trash pile too if that helps.

[@muhabwahby]

Check out Dragon's hoard, if you like mean yet tactical card games. No meaner than UNO, but for some reason, comes across as a constant stream of take-that turns. Lots and lots of fun, but hold on a sec, where the heckles is Cockroach Poker on your list? It has to be No. Zero, right?

[@JumpmanJRH]

How is Regicide not on this list?

[@asasprunger]

Great video!

[@kevinbhieey9188]

No love for Fantasy Realms? Yes, it technically comes with a scorepad, but it's really only a calculator. You punch your cards in the app and you no longer have a scorecard! Timeline is a good call but I only play with the Timeline Challenge board game expansion thingie, so I couldn't include it. Other than Fantasy Realms, which I am totally counting, I'd add Spot It only because it's one of the few kids' games I actually enjoy playing.

[@dpearson588]

Broncos shirt? Are you from Colorado?

[@mabos555]

Yes I can give you a ton of games that are cards only since most of my collection is with cards I hate playing games without cards : *Hero/star/cathulu realms - are cards only *way of the samurai, the road, after the virus are cards only (they have only token to help you track but I guess we can even play without it) * any other great button shy games like rage more, great ugly inn, spaceshiped, universal rule * super hot the card game * sweet spot the card game (again only has some small trackers for the ball and for the score but if can also be played without it) * Villages are card only * Urbion the prequal to Onirim is card only, abs Sylvion as well from the oniverse * sos titanic but it has a book as a bling, totally playable without it * pixel glory (renamed to pixel legends) but again some trackers to mark the life of the monsters, the same goes for Dunguen brawler Its hard to find games without any tokens as trackers but I guess most of this list is legit

[@CoryLovec14]

Sylvion! Oniverse game as well. More of deck construction and tower defense. I am generally in the minority I think but I actually prefer this to Onirim, though both are good fits. Yes it has a token like Onirim, but used only with a module. The Crew 2 would be close to fitting - yes technically it has a captain marker and 1 “communication token” each, but these could easily be cards instead. I think similarly of The Grizzled, which has speech “tokens”, but these could easily be a card and really do not need to be cardboard. But STRICTLY speaking neither would fit officially. I’d love to put Shards of Infinity on too but there are Heath trackers! Paperback - though there are wood tokens used in co-op version.

[@EfrainRiveraJunior]

My favorite Only Cards game would be Millie Bornes. I also enjoy SkipBo and Phase 10 (Sorry Tom).

[@bushibayushi]

for me the best one is Innovation with Figures in the Sand expansion ;)

[@aduraes]

Glory to Rome, technically, has the players "dashboard", which is used to tuck the cards, leaving only one of the possible uses available... One game I thought was Valley of the Kings, the original one in particular.

[@tonygilbert5256]

Thanks, Chris! Now if we can only FIND Glory to Rome....

[@independentfool]

Its available if you want to spend $100+.

[@thegillettefive]

That is why I said it shouldn't be on the list. Not even close to available

[@christianchildress2736]

Similio!

[@benjaminspears8488]

A lighter game that our family really likes is Just Desserts.

[@hanseathl]

Glory to Rome, Port Royal and Oh my Goods would be my favorite picks.

[@josephciaravino4115]

I thought this was a list of games that are like a standard 52 card deck. Like how uno, and slamwich is like crazy 8s and Egyptian rat screw.

[@kimhines9091]

Mille Bourne and Rook are family favorites.

[@netacadkpmim2058]

Fantasy Realms, Arboretum, Renegade

[@bolehtahan]

honestly though this was games using a standard deck of cards

[@sethvanorden1]

Doesn't glory to Rome include player boards? If so, I'm not sure it would count as cards only ;)

[@magicgeeks1955]

Star Realms is my suggestion for your list

[@markstamp3937]

My first thought was hero realms. Abandon all artichokes is a decent filler

[@ma-haelli-ham3546]

Star realms?

[@phillipsdanielj]

Linko would definitely make my list.

[@huan4230]

Great list! Although I like Port Royal much better than Oh My Goods and Tybor.

[@JeanDubuc]

I once played an only-card game that was about trains and completing routes or something. Does anybody know it? Artwork was really neat. Like cartoons but watercolour Illustrations. Really tight, thinky, 45min game of just multiuse cards ...

[@mikev8253]

Trambahn?

[@JeanDubuc]

@@mikev8253 hey, it was multiplayer. One deck of cards, nothing else. Main colour pallet was yellow. One day I'll rediscover it .

[@chandlerburke7574]

Isle of trains?

[@chocklad9]

Glory to Rome is really good!

[@thaovu9769]

UNO Flip, Unicorns, Red7, PUSH, Power Switch...

[@tzgardner]

Port Royal Star Wars Customizable Card Game Cockroach Poker Stew

[@veggylim]

Sleeping Queen, Ugly Dolls (on top of Point Salad and Mama Mia) for me…Saboteur?

[@jameskeegan7124]

Those have to the boring card games anyone would want to play. You have your own title well chosen Geek