If you hear "card game," your first thought might be solitaire, or maybe poker, Uno, euchre or another classic card game played for decades. But a new generation of card games has arrived, introducing more complex strategy, more imaginative themes and more fun possibilities. In Everdell, players invite forest critters to their communities, build new structures and compete for various combinations. In zombie-infested towns,
Tichu
David Priest/CNET
If you've played Rook, euchre or other trick-taking, partner card games, Tichu will be easy to pick up. The cards are fairly traditional (2 through Ace), with the addition of four unique cards: the mahjong, the dog, the Phoenix and the Dragon. Besides these cards, what makes Tichu unique is its blend of card-playing (in addition to single cards, players can play full houses, straights and other combinations) and strategy (before rounds, players must trade cards with partners and opponents).
Tichu has simple mechanics, but a few smart subversions of traditional trick-taking rules turn this great card game into one of the most enjoyable classic-style card games around.