Strategy games: 12 best Android card games

Card games are a fantastic form of entertainment. They work anywhere and everywhere, they’re small enough to fit into a bag for travel, and there are so many different kinds of card games. With our smartphones always on us, we can also play card games on mobile as a way to pass the time or goof around with friends. On this list, we’ll look at the best Android card games.

It’s important to note that there are two distinct kinds of card games. There are fantasy card games like Magic: The Gathering and the regular card games using the 52-card deck that we all know and love. On this list, we’ll include both of those types of games. Also don’t forget that many entries on this list hold more than one game, so there are vastly more than just 12 games total. Playing!

1. 6 Takes

6 Takes is a game inspired by famed board-game creator Wolfgang Kramer. The idea of the game is that each player must avoid getting cards. When cards are dealt, players are assigned points based on how many bullheads are on each card. The player with the least number of bullheads at the end wins. It requires some strategy as well as luck like any good card game. It’s also great for kids and you can play against the CPU or there’s a local multiplayer mode where you can play with friends on the same device.

2. AI Factory Limited collection

 
AI Factory Limited is a developer on the Google Play Store who has released a ton of card and board games on Android. These include standalone versions of Gin Rummy, Euchre, Hearts, Spades, and Solitaire. There are also some non card games like Chess, Checkers, and Sudoku. Pretty much all of them are pretty good and most of them were updated in the last year so the developers are still working hard on these. If you click the button, we’ll take you to the AI Factory Limited page on Google Play so you can see their entire collection. 

3. Ascension

 
Ascension is a fantasy card game where you must build a deck and battle against other players. There are 50 cards in total but those cards can do a vast number of things. It’s also worth mentioning that an expansion called Realms Unraveled was released very recently which adds to the total number of cards. There is online multiplayer support that is also cross platform so you can face foes on Android or iOS and you can play against AI opponents as well. It’s a good looking card game that has only gotten better in recent updates.

4. CardShark

 
CardShark is one of the best regular card game apps available. It includes a huge number of games including Solitaire, Gin Rummy, Rummy, various forms of Poker, and even some more obscure games like Crazy Eights, Egyptian Rat Screw, and more. There are literally dozens of games and they’re presented on a simple interface. There are even different card deck styles so you can customize it to your likes. It hasn’t been updated in a while and that’s a shame, but for now this is the best if you want a lot of games in a single app.

5. Deck Heroes

 
Deck Heroes is a fantasy card game with hundreds of cards you can get. The game play is of a similar style of Magic: The Gathering and Hearthstone so those familiar with those kinds of rules should be able to pick this up pretty quickly. There is online multiplayer mode along with a campaign mode for offline play, and plenty of other things to do. It’s a solid card game with a little depth to it for those that want depth.

6. Eradan Arena

 
Eradan Arena is a mix between a dice game and a card game. You choose five heroes from a deck of 120 and then in battle you throw dice to trigger their abilities. It’s a unique premise that combines multiple elements of tabletop gaming. There are a lot of strategies which helps keep the game fresh and heroes level up and unlock new abilities. Thanks to the randomness of the dice rolls, pretty much any match can go any way and that also helps keep things even.

7. Hearthstone Heroes of Warcraft

 
Hearthstone is a long-anticipated card game that finally hit Android late in 2014. It’s a fantasy card game with hundreds of cards you can use to build your decks and you can play against people online or against AI characters if you prefer. The only downside is that the game is only available on tablets and phones with screens that are larger than 6-inches. There are ways around that, though, and we expect there to be a release for phones eventually. 

8. Live Holdem Poker Pro

 
Sometimes people just want to play a good old fashioned game of Holdem and this app lets you do that. The game features extensive online play that includes a live chat, personal avatars, and the ability to quickly sign up with Facebook. We would’ve liked to have seen Google+ included as well. It features well over a million players and it’s a great way to play a classic card game with other people in a comfortable setting. 

9. Magic 2015

 
When it comes to real life fantasy card games, there are few that can even approach the massive following and customization of Magic: The Gathering. We acknowledge that the video game versions aren’t nearly as good as the real life game, but they’re still really good card games. Magic 2015 features a number of pre-made decks that you can start with and unlock new cards and decks as you go. There are expansion packs, online multiplayer, a campaign mode, and plenty of other things to do. It’s a big finicky from time to time but overall it’s a good entry point for people interested in Magic: The Gathering. 

10. Star Realms

 
Star Realms falls into the category of fantasy card game but with sci-fi and it was designed by a couple of the same people who worked on Ascension. Like most, it features online multiplayer so you can battle it out with other people and many cards so you can customize your decks. The free version features six campaign missions with the full version giving you an additional nine missions. It’s worth noting that online multiplayer mode is for full version players only while the free version acts mostly as an open ended trial. 

11. Solitaire MegaPack

 
Solitaire is one of those games that we all played when we were younger because it was on Windows computers. Solitaire MegaPack features a wealth of Solitaire variants including FreeCell, Spider, 3 Towers, Clock, and Pyramid variants along with others. It has an easy-to-use interface, includes stats like fewest winning moves and longest win streak, and even allows for Samsung’s Multi-Window feature. It’s $2.99 but there are no in app purchases and no advertisements.

12. World Series of Poker

 
It’s a rarity when a name brand product like the WSoP makes a top list. Generally they’re sub par (read: Wipeout 2) but World Series of Poker managers to be pretty good. It features multiple variants of poker, online leaderboards, the ability to play with your friends through an invite system, and more poker fun. The in app purchases aren’t very good and, with patience, you can play without them but other than that, it’s a solid online poker experience.