From single-player deck-building games to competitive CCGs, there are many great card games on Android. Whether you’re looking for a new multiplayer game to stretch your competitive muscles or just want to build perfect decks, the Play Store has you covered.
We’ve rounded up the best card games on the Play Store. While you can enjoy these on your Android phone, we recommend picking up one of our top Android tablets, as the bigger screen is handy for card games.
17
Geo Gods
Geo Gods was one of the best Android games released in July 2023, thanks to its stunning artwork and unique gameplay. Rather than embarking on an adventure or defeating other players online, you’ll build a garden using the magic of a pantheon of gods. It sounds bizarre, but the result is a deep and strategic card game that should appeal to puzzle game fans.
Geo Gods is free to play, but you’ll need to pay $4.99 to unlock the whole game. Beyond this, there are no in-app purchases.
16
Dawncaster
Dawncaster is a single-player card game with RPG mechanics. It’s a card game, first and foremost, so while you’ll adventure through a fantasy realm and battle monsters, the focus is on building the best deck. There are elements of roguelike games creeping in here, but each playthrough is an entirely standalone adventure.
We recommend playing Dawncaster if you prefer the RPG side of digital card games. Best of all, there are no in-app purchases within this premium card game.
15
Voice of Cards
Voice of Cards is a trilogy of card-based RPGs that is an excellent choice for any fans of card games or tabletop RPGs. Thanks to the narrator, you feel like you’re playing with a human dungeon master as his voice-over is accompanied by coughs, mumbles, or meandering sentences. Far from frustrating, it drags you deeper into the narrative.
We recommend giving the free version of Voice of Cards a go first. This has the added benefit of acting as a prologue for the main trilogy (available for purchase separately).
14
Marvel Snap
Developed by former Hearthstone director, Marvel Snap blends classic collectible card game themes with original mechanics. As we noted in our hands-on, it’s a breath of fresh air to anyone intimidated by the bloat of established card games like Hearthstone. Marvel Snap limits your deck to 12 cards, and games last only six turns. This doesn’t mean the game is simplistic; far from it. Each match is a high-stakes affair; you’ll need all your wits to beat your opponent. Overall, Marvel Snap is just what the card game genre needed; a brilliantly fun, highly competitive, fast-paced game with fair monetization.
13
Exploding Kittens
Exploding Kittens is one of the best physical card games you can buy, and the Android version is no different. It contains all the content offered by the original game, including all the expansions plus exclusive ones for Android.
Exploding Kittens is a family-friendly game of Russian Roulette for those unfamiliar with the popular party game. You’ll take turns drawing cards, but if you draw the Exploding Kitten, you’re out. Thankfully there are plenty of cards to move, mitigate, or skip the explosive cat.
12
Slay the Spire
Slay the Spire is one of the best roguelikes for Android and is a deck builder. At the beginning of each game, you’ll build a deck that hopefully contains everything you need to climb to the top of the spire. Enemies you encounter are randomized each time, so it’s impossible to know what cards to bring each time. However, the more you play, the better you’ll adapt to the ever-changing spire. One of the most demanding games on this list; it’s bound to satisfy the hardcore gamer.
11
Hearthstone
Anyone familiar with card games will recognize the name Hearthstone. One of the biggest card games around, it tasks players to build the perfect deck from a cast of World of Warcraft characters and creatures. There are multiple game modes, but the original PvP mode offers a straightforward premise; reduce your opponent’s health pool to zero before they do the same to you.
There’s a colossal amount of cards available, and with new expansions released regularly, it can seem a little overwhelming to new players. However, there are plenty of PvE game modes to practice with, so you can pick up the fundamentals in no time. Hearthstone is the best game on this list for the most competitive card game players.
10
GWENT
Like Hearthstone, GWENT is a PvP card-battler, but that’s about where the similarities end. This game is adapted from the mini-game in The Witcher 3, simulating massive battles instead of private duels. Each game is split into three rounds, and players win by scoring more points than their opponents. However, cards are not replenished between rounds – deplete your deck to win the first, and you may struggle in the second and third rounds.
GWENT is a complex game that takes some time to wrap your head around. However, persevere, and you’ll find yourself lost in this beautiful and challenging card game.
9
Reigns
Reigns is a single-player card game that puts you in charge of managing a kingdom by drawing cards. To keep things stable, you’ll need to keep the church, people, and military happy, all while keeping your funds in check. To make decisions, you’ll swipe left or right on cards when they appear. It’s certainly not a hard game to learn, but exile or death will come sooner than you think.
Reigns is a fun, light-hearted game that is incredibly addictive. With each new playthrough, you’ll try to learn from past mistakes, but thanks to an enormous amount of events, no two playthroughs are the same. The best thing about it is that you can compare each reign to previous ones and find out which of your monarchs was the most successful.
8
Magic: The Gathering Arena
Magic: The Gathering is one of the oldest collectible card games, and now you can have the same experience on mobile. You’ll battle players in real-time using the spells, monsters, and tools at your disposal to reduce your opponent’s health pool to zero. It might seem difficult at first, but a series of tutorials will quickly get you up to speed.
Whether you’re a fan of the original physical game or want a new card battler to play, Magic: The Gathering Arena should satisfy you. There are plenty of game modes to try out, so you’re bound to find something to enjoy. After all, the game has been around for 29 years, and it’s stood the test of time; just be prepared for a sharp learning curve.