Photo by Wayne Low on Unsplash
Ah, middle school – that painfully awkward period of time where you’re caught between being a moody teenager and a little kid. Middle school can be one of the most uncomfortable eras of your life. You struggle to find your identity, and that often leads to you going to embarrassing extremes.
That doesn’t mean your middle school-aged children are beyond reach, though. To up the ante on family game night, we’ve gone out and gathered some of the best card games for middle schoolers.
We’re confident that the games we picked are age-appropriate without making your kids feel like you’re treating them as if they’re babies. Take a look at what we chose.
Best Card Games for Middle Schoolers
What Do You Meme? – Family Edition
Whether or not you personally understand them, there’s no denying the lasting impact of memes. These viral and ever-evolving jokes are here to stay.
Chances are, your preteen has a few (if not more) favorite memes. Using the family edition of the smash-hit card game What Do You Meme, you can take advantage of this interest by making your own memes right at home.
Each round, there will be a new prompt card with a picture on it. Players will then use cards from their hand to make captions for the picture, and the winner will be chosen by the judge based on how funny their home-brewed meme was.
Pros:
- Easy to learn.
- Takes advantage of a trendy and growing interest in the cultural phenomenon of memes.
- Has 65 pictures and 300 captions – the potential combinations are virtually endless.
- Can easily support tons (3-20+!) of players, so no one will be left out.
Cons:
- Some players report that it has a bit too much potty humor, so adults might not find it as entertaining.
Never Have I Ever Family Edition
Chances are, you’ve played the famous drinking game Never Have I Ever at some point in your life. You’ve probably never thought to yourself, “I really wish I could play this game with my kids!”
But here we are. And surprisingly, it turns out it’s pretty fun to play with kids, as long as it’s family-friendly.
Never Have I Ever Family Edition will allow you to play the timeless classic with the whole family. This is a great way to make your kids feel “adult” and potentially even find out things about them you never knew before.
Pros:
- A family-friendly version of an old classic.
- Simple to learn and play.
- Will lead to crazy stories and laughter.
Cons:
- It can start to feel a little repetitive in time.
Throw Throw Burrito
If you’ve got really energetic middle schoolers, then we can all but guarantee they’ll love Throw Throw Burrito. This game is very true to its name, as it will require players to throw foam burritos at each other throughout the course of the game.
That’s why it calls itself the world’s first – and quite possibly only – combination of dodgeball and a card game. The rules are pretty straightforward, too. Each player’s goal is to collect three matching cards to earn points.
As the game goes on, however, you’ll come across these burrito action cards that force two or more players to duel by hurling burritos at each other. Obviously, this isn’t a game you’ll want to play around fragile knickknacks, but other than that, it’s perfect for a lively game night.
Pros:
- Exciting burrito-throwing element will no doubt entertain all your kids.
- The artwork on the cards is fun, bright, and interesting.
- Includes two strangely adorable foam burritos that you’ll love chucking across the room.
- It’s easy for everyone to learn.
Cons:
- Some people have said the foam burritos aren’t very durable and will start to rip after a few vigorous games.
Exploding Kittens
If you and your family like the crazy, whimsical, cartoony style of Throw Throw Burrito, then you’ll love Exploding Kittens, too. It’s made by the same company and has that same insane style.
Furthermore, it’s a super-fast game. If you’re looking for something you can use to pass the time while you wait for a pizza delivery, before a movie, or while you wait for your order at a restaurant, this is probably a solid choice. We’ve actually played this one in the lobby of restaurant once.
Pros:
- Zany artwork and humor that kids are sure to love.
- You can learn to play it in minutes.
- Games are ultra-short and can usually be finished within 15 minutes.
- Has several expansions if you decide you want more of it.
Cons:
- The random humor can be unappealing to some adults.
Kids Against Maturity
Cards Against Humanity took the card game world by storm when it was released. It has a simple enough concept: players respond to a fill-in-the-blank prompt with random cards of their own, and the judge picks a winner.
Unfortunately, even though it’s amazingly easy, it’s not suitable for younger teens and kids because of its adult humor. Kids Against Maturity works to fix that issue, though, by creating a child- and teen-friendly game with the same concept.
If you’re worried it’s going to be too tame, don’t be. It’s got plenty of jokes designed to go over your children’s heads while being accessible for the adult players in your group.
Pros:
- Has humor that appeals to both kids and adults.
- You can learn to play it in just a couple minutes.
- Comes with tons of question and answer cards, so you can play over and over again while seeing different combinations.
Cons:
- Some parents have reported that there are tons of innuendos in the cards, and it can be difficult to explain why you’re laughing to younger players.
Beat That!
Kids are show-offs. It doesn’t matter how frankly unimpressive the feat is, if they can do it well, they’ll love to show it off.
Well, Beat That! is a game all about showing off silly feats. Players win by demonstrating they can complete various challenges.
We realize that this isn’t a card game in the strictest sense of the word. It does include a bunch of pieces aside from its cards. However, we had to include it, anyway, because we think middle schoolers would love having an excuse to show off a little.
Pros:
- Interesting gameplay that requires players to complete unique challenges.
- You can learn how to play in literally just seconds.
- Capable of supporting up to eight players, so you can be sure to get the whole family involved.
- The challenges have been designed so that anyone can do them, regardless of age.
Cons:
- A few people have noted some of the challenges are a little too challenging.
Pick Your Poison
At first, Pick Your Poison probably sounds kind of ominous, but trust us when we say it isn’t. It’s really just a teen-friendly version of the age-old classic, Would You Rather.
There are over three hundred “poison” cards in the box. Each round, one person will ask the other players which choice they would rather cope with, and then they’ll tally up the votes.
Not only are the combinations of choices virtually endless, but this will undoubtedly get you and your family talking. You’ll certainly be curious about why someone thinks they could deal with never seeing the sun again, for instance.
Pros:
- Has a straightforward concept.
- Hundreds of potential combinations means the games could feel different every time.
- Could result in interesting debates and conversations.
Cons:
- Some people have said the point system can be a bit confusing to learn at first.
One Night Ultimate Werewolf
Are your children into mysteries or horror? Then we would strongly suggest One Night Ultimate Werewolf, which combines social deduction and horror together into one spooky card game.
To play it, each player will assume a role, with one of them being the secret werewolf. After getting their roles, players go through a night phase where they exchange roles with each other.
Then, they must guess after said phase who the werewolf among them is. It’s a tricky game because a lot is up to chance, but it’s fun and fast.
Pros:
- Uses a fun mystery mechanic that keeps all players guessing.
- Games are incredibly quick, so you can finish rounds in minutes.
- Perfect for teens and preteens who are into all things creepy.
- Up to ten people can play at once.
- Includes an app that helps increase your immersion and walks you through the game.
Cons:
- Unlike many of the other games on this list, there is a learning curve with this one, so it may take some time to get the hang of.
Magic: the Gathering
If you have children who have geekier interests, Magic: the Gathering is the perfect thing to introduce them to. There are so many different ways to play it, but the simplest explanation is this: opposing players must try and reduce each other’s life points to zero using decks of cards they’ve created.
Having existed for almost 30 years, Magic: the Gathering offers players thousands of options for just about every play style. Plus, many of the cards are collectible and may even increase in value over time.
There are a few drawbacks, though. Magic isn’t just a one-and-done sort of game; it’s a hobby that can last years – if not a lifetime. If your children fall totally in love with it, it’s easily something you could spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars on over the course of time.
But hey – it’s not the worst thing your kids could be into. Its intense strategic gameplay is also perfect for sharpening critical thinking and math skills.
Pros:
- The gameplay naturally encourages critical thinking and math skills.
- Can be played in a wide variety of different ways.
- Collectible cards can sometimes increase in value over time.
- Many of the cards have beautiful artwork on them.
- There’s a whole community around the game and tons of resources to access for guidance, including our own Magic: the Gathering posts.
Cons:
- A steep learning curve means it will take time to learn the game.
- Unless your whole family is into it, this probably isn’t something you’ll be able to play together.
- Can be expensive.
Note: There isn’t one specific box of cards you buy for Magic. We have instead linked to a core set booster box, as they’re excellent for introducing to beginners.
What to Consider
Choosing the right card games for your middle schoolers requires some thought. You can’t just pick anything, and there isn’t one specific game that we’d say is fun for literally everyone.
To find the best match, consider the following qualities:
- Theme
- Duration
- Learning Curve
- Replayability
Theme
Gone are the days when all you had for card games was a basic deck of playing cards and your own imagination. Nowadays, card games are designed around an endless variety of themes and play styles.
You should start by thinking about what sorts of interests your kids have. If they like fun and random things, then Exploding Kittens is an excellent choice.
For those horror nuts, think about going for a card game like One Night Ultimate Werewolf, as an example.
Other games like Kids Against Maturity are safe bets. They don’t have a particular theme or art style, and can fit in just about anywhere.
Duration
Another question to ask yourself is how long you’re willing to play a game on average. Do you want something that will take up an entire evening, or something you can play just to pass a little time?
You can usually confirm the duration for any card game on the box. Look through the pictures to find the back of the box or check the description if you can’t find it there.
Learning Curve
Some games are significantly more difficult to learn to play than others. These are the types of games where you’ll have to study the rules closely before playing. This is called learning curve, and the steeper it is, the harder it is to learn to play the game.
We’ve said it before, and we’ll likely say this again: a steep learning curve doesn’t mean a game is bad. I only means you need to spend some more time adjusting to it.
However, not everyone wants a game that’s challenging – some people just want games they can sink their teeth into right away. Learning curve isn’t something that’s as easy to determine as duration or theme, though.
We recommend glancing at the customer reviews to see what they’ve had to say about the difficulty of the game in advance, if that’s a concern for you.
Wrap Up
Family game night doesn’t have be an awkward experience where you struggle to find something that’s appropriate…while alienating your almost high school-aged kids. With some thoughtfulness and planning in advance, you can find a card game that bridges the gap between generations.
So, which one should you pick if you’re still feeling unsure? We’d recommend Throw Throw Burrito, if you don’t mind a little action-packed gameplay. It’s lively, the artwork is fun, and we guarantee it will keep all parties involved on their toes.
If you’d prefer something a bit more laid-back, then we’d suggest something like Kids Against Maturity. It’s easy to learn, and the fill-in-the-blank gameplay is appealing to the broadest range of people.