It’s that time of year again, when a percentage of the population celebrates a religious holiday by indulging in chocolate and all things bunny. But instead of filling those Easter baskets with nothing but sugar, maybe consider adding a little bit of fun that will last beyond the buzz. There are some enjoyable card games that would make great additions to any basket. 

If the kids are really young, you can’t go wrong with classics like  Fish, Hearts or Crazy 8s, all of which can be played with standard decks or found for only a few bucks with color illustrations. There are also games based on characters like Cat in the Hat, Shopkins and more. Plus, there’s always Memory (or 52 Pick Up, if you really want to keep those young ones busy)!

For kids who are about 7 and older, there are a couple of games that will keep not only their interests, but are fun for the entire family. One is Waterworks. It’s a game that a lot of people have played, but often forget it exists. The rules are simple: put pipes together to get the water to flow. But the game play requires strategy as some pipes have leaks, others bend in the wrong direction and some just stop. It’s a game that requires a bit of thinking, which is never a bad thing.

Then there is Dementalism, an original and incredibly creative card game by Andy Hopp.
“Due to the continuing idiocy of you and your fellow security guards a whole bunch of clones have escaped from the Primordial Soup Kitchen and are now wandering the various countrysides of Mutha Oith. You guys better get your wazoos in gear and recapture them before your bosses find out and you lose your jobs.”
It takes elements of Memory and puts them in a blender with Denizens and Giggities (the creatures depicted on the cards) – and the results provide hours of amusement (though each game takes only 30-60 minutes). Head to the Mutha Oith Lowtique to check out some of the artwork and the more on how to play.

For the tweens and young teens who are still getting Easter baskets, the options are even better for card games. Various series like Fluxx, Munchkin, Killer Bunnies and more are widely available not only in gaming stores, but also the toy aisles of department stores. And a lot of pop culture properties, like Marvel, DC and Harry Potter, have deck building games. Plus, there’s always the standby Magic, especially if you know the kids are already into it.