Ever since the 9th-century Chinese card games have been a big part of civilization. Commonly found in the French-suited standard 52-card pack, we all had long nights of good old Rummy, Cribbage, or Canasta with them.
Eventually, digital versions appeared. And playing hours of Solitaire on a computer was what we got used to. This was even more accelerated with this seemingly endless pandemic that has us all tied to our homes.
But, being in the virtual realm doesn’t mean playing only against the computer. There is a wide variety of games suited either for a single player or for playing with other people. Some of them are classics, while some take us to a faraway fantasyland. You can win a Poker or Rummy game, become the Witcher, go on a LOTR adventure, or just make silly jokes with Cards Against Humanity.
Here is our selection of some of the best single and multiplayer card games that you can play online on a lazy Friday night.
Gwent
Gwent started as a side game in The Witcher, one of the best RPG games of all time. It became so popular that today Gwent exists as a standalone game, in more than one version. It has both – a single-player and multiplayer mode.
Thronebreaker is a good way to play the game solo, but there is also an online version that has gained popularity even outside of The Witcher fanbase.
The mechanics of the game are a bit different from what you are used to if you played The Witcher 3, but in general, the gameplay is essentially the same.
Magic: The Gathering Arena
Magic: The Gathering is the most popular trading card game of all time. It also had many different digital versions. It is widely considered that Arena is the best option for online playing.
Magic: The Gathering, unfortunately, uses a rotation system in which old cards and entire decks eventually become unusable as new ones are being released. In Arena too, the older decks sometimes can’t be used. However, it’s fun and worth playing both solo and with friends.
Uno
Uno has had many different digital versions since its release, from a Game Boy version back in the day to a PC version which is the most popular now. Uno is one of many card games that you can also play using Facebook.
The simplicity of Uno makes it a perfect game for a family game night.
The goal of the game is to empty your hand of cards before everyone else does. The problems you might have while trying to achieve this goal are your own miscalculations as well as the actions of your opponents.
Video Poker
Video poker is another cult game. This classical casino game is based on five-card draw poker. It was originally played on a computerized console similar in size to a slot machine. Today, video poker has many different online versions. As mentioned by vegasslots.co.uk, at many casino sites, you will find dozens of video poker games. You can try Jacks or Better or hit the big progressive video poker.
Video Poker isn’t multiplayer. Unlike Texas Hold’em or Omaha where you are competing against other players or the dealer, here you play alone against the computer. All you need to do is make a hand that matches one of the paytable payouts. Managing that will make you receive a poker prize.
Shadowverse
Shadowverse has a lot in common with games derived from the Magic formula. Still, it stands out as both a solo and multiplayer experience. The anime inspiration is obvious, from quite funny plot points to the brilliant artwork. You have the option to completely ignore the monetization system and keep playing the game for free and enjoy its gameplay rewards system.
In the game, every leader card represents a different deck, and each deck has a unique play style. This means that the new players can have a lot of fun just by trying out different play styles and experimenting with them.
Solitaire
Ah, Solitaire, the king of hermetic single-player card games.
The origins of Solitaire or Patience are unclear, but the earliest records appear in the late 1700s across northern Europe. The term Patiencespiel appears in Das Neue Königliche L’Hombre-Spiel, a German book published in 1798. In the United States, the first card solitaire book, Patience: A series of thirty games with cards, was published by Ednah Cheney in 1870.
The card game that many people identify with Solitaire is Klondike Solitaire, which is the most played version. Although it was originally played with a physical deck of cards, it was especially popularized by Microsoft Solitaire, a digital implementation that was included with the Windows operating system from 1990 onward.
Today you have a variety of online versions of the game to choose from, as you can see on arcadium.com.
Yu-Gi-Oh Legacy Of The Duelist: Link Evolution
This game for Xbox One, PS4, Nintendo Switch, and PC has an absolutely stunning library of 10 000 cards for players to collect and use to battle each other online. In its story mode, you can relive duels from the various cartoons in the franchise.
Yu-Gi-Oh Legacy Of The Duelist: Link Evolution goes all-in with every summoning mechanic that will make your head spin when you start playing it for the first time. But, if you are looking for a challenge in your card games, this might be a good choice for you.
Cybil