Games for large groups
These are the games on this site that take 6 or more players, card games first. Notes below give the most players each game takes.
Card games for 6 or more players
Rummy
A draw-and-discard card game for 2 to 6 players.
Plays 2 to 6 with one deck. A version on its page plays 7 or more with two decks.
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Go Fish
A simple card game for 2 to 6 players that young children often play.
Hearts
A trick-taking card game where points are bad.
Best with 4. A two-deck version on its page plays 6 to 10.
Canasta
A rummy game for 4 players in 2 teams, played with two decks and four jokers.
Written for 4. A version on its page plays 6.
Hand and Foot
A rummy game for partners, played with several decks and plenty of wild cards.
Written for 4. A version on its page plays 6.
Crazy Eights
A card game for 2 to 8 players with a standard deck.
Kings in the Corner
A card game for 2 to 4 players who all play onto the same piles in the middle of the table.
Usually 2 to 4. A version on its page plays 5 or 6.
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Old Maid
A card game for 2 or more players that young children can play.
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Slapjack
A card game for 2 or more players that young children can play.
BS (Cheat)
A bluffing card game for 2 to 10 players, also called Cheat and I Doubt It.
31
A quick draw-and-discard card game for 2 or more players.
Card games for 6 or more with their own cards or tiles
Uno
A fast card game for 2 to 10 players with its own deck of colored number cards, action cards and wild cards.
Phase 10
A rummy-style card game for 2 to 6 players with its own 108-card deck.
Skip-Bo
A card game for 2 to 6 players with its own deck of cards numbered 1 to 12 and wild SKIP-BO cards.
Rummikub
A rummy game played with numbered tiles for 2 to 4 players.
The standard set plays 2 to 4. A version on its page plays 5 or 6 with a larger set.
Dice, domino and board games for 6 or more players
Dominoes
A tile-matching game for 2 to 4 players.
Usually 2 to 4. A version on its page plays 5 or more with a bigger set.
Mexican Train
A dominoes game for a double-12 set and a big table of players.
Bunco
A dice party game, usually played by 12 people at 3 tables of 4, in teams of 2.
Usually 12 players. Versions on its page play 2 to 11 and 16 or more.
Left Right Center
A dice game of pure luck for 3 or more players.
Shut the Box
A dice game played with a tray of tiles numbered 1 to 9.
Backgammon
A race for two players.
Written for 2. A team form on its page, the chouette, plays 3 or more.
Choosing a game for a large group
- Bunco is usually played by 12, at 3 tables of 4 in teams of 2. Its page has versions for 2 to 11 players and for 16 or more.
- Old Maid takes 2 or more players, with two decks for more than 6. Spoons takes 3 to 12 with one deck and 2 decks for a bigger group.
- Slapjack takes 2 or more players and plays best with about 4 to 10.
- BS (Cheat) and Uno take 2 to 10 players, and Hearts and Mexican Train take 3 to 10 and 2 to 10. Left Right Center takes 3 or more, and one box has chips for 8.
- Crazy Eights takes 2 to 8, with two decks for 6 or more. Rummy 500 takes 2 to 8, with two decks for 5 or more.
- Golf takes two decks for 5 to 8 players and a third for more than 8. 31 takes 2 to 9, and bigger groups play too.
- Yahtzee and Shut the Box take 1 or more players, and Farkle takes 2 or more.
- Go Fish, Phase 10, Skip-Bo, Trash and Uno No Mercy take 2 to 6 players. Rummy takes 2 to 6 with one deck, and its page has a version for 7 or more with two decks.
- Canasta and Hand and Foot are written for 4 players, with a version for 6. Rummikub needs the larger 160-tile set for 5 or 6.
- Kings in the Corner is usually 2 to 4, with a version for 5 or 6. Dominoes is usually 2 to 4, with a version for 5 or more that uses a bigger set.
- Backgammon has a team form for 3 or more, the chouette.
- By stated playing time, Old Maid takes about 10 minutes, Uno about 10 minutes a round, Left Right Center 10 to 20 minutes, Slapjack about 15 and BS (Cheat) 15 to 30.
Questions
What card games can a large group play?
Old Maid takes 2 or more players and Spoons 3 to 12 with one deck. BS (Cheat), Hearts and Uno take up to 10, and Slapjack takes 2 or more. Crazy Eights takes 2 to 8, with two decks for 6 or more. Go Fish and Phase 10 take 2 to 6.
How many people can play Uno?
Uno is for 2 to 10 players. Uno No Mercy, which uses its own deck of 168 cards, is for 2 to 6 players.
How many people can play Bunco?
The usual game is 12 players at 3 tables of 4, in teams of 2. The Bunco page also has versions for 2 to 11 players and for 16 or more.
Can 7 or more people play Rummy?
Yes, with two 52-card decks shuffled together. One deck is enough for up to 6. The rule books checked do not agree on the deal, so the page says to pick a way before you start.
What dice and domino games work for a large group?
Left Right Center takes 3 or more players, with a version for 9 or more. Mexican Train takes 2 to 10, dealing 8 tiles each to 9 or 10. Dominoes has a version for 5 or more with a bigger set. Yahtzee and Shut the Box take 1 or more, and Farkle 2 or more.
Which games use extra decks for a big group?
Several do, and this is not a full list. Spoons uses 2 decks for more than 12 players. Trash uses 3 decks for 5 or 6. Canasta for 6 uses 3 decks and 6 jokers, and Hand and Foot for 6 uses 7 decks. Crazy Eights, Golf, Rummy 500, Rummy, Old Maid and Hearts also add decks as the group grows.