Gather your friends for a virtual card game that's full of laughs
A fun group game for house parties, game nights, road trips and family gatherings. Everyone plays from their own phone, so there's no shuffling, no dealing and nothing to pack away. Easy to learn, quick to start, and funnier with every round.
What a round of Cards Out Loud looks like
One player is the judge. Everyone else gets a prompt on their screen and selects the best card in their hand to match the prompt. The judge reads the submissions out loud and picks their favorite. The person who played that card gets a point. Then the judge role moves to the next player and you go again.
The neighbors called the cops over .
Three answers in
The winner takes the point and the judge role moves to the next player.
How to set up a game in 3 easy steps
Three steps and you are playing online. Nothing to download and no accounts.
- 01Host a roomOne person taps Host. You get a QR code and a link.
- 02Send the linkDrop it in the group chat or hold up the QR code.
- 03Everyone joinsThey tap it, type a name, and they are in.
- PlayThe host starts the game and the first prompt appears on every screen.
It's best around one table, where you can hear the answers read out. But because it runs online, a remote game works just as well: everyone joins the same room code from wherever they are. The full rules cover scoring, bots and pass and play.
Our virtual party card game versus a boxed pack
A quick look at how playing on your phones compares to a box of cards on the table.
| Cards Out Loud | Physical deck | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free to start | $25 and up |
| Setup | 10 seconds | Shuffle, sort, deal |
| Scoring | Automatic | Somebody loses count |
| New cards | New packs, one-time | Buy an expansion |
| Lost cards | Impossible | Under the couch |
Virtual card packs for every occasion
Every pack has its own theme and they all play online the same way. The Base Game is always free to play. Pick the ones that suit the room.
- Base Game620 cardsFreeA collection of general topic cards that work for any group on any night.
- Christmas620 cardsFamily dinners, burnt cookies, Secret Santa and the thermostat argument.
- Girls Night620 cardsGroup chats, the ick, skincare shelves and men who cannot text.
- Family Game Night620 cardsSiblings, grandparents, car trips and board games taken far too seriously.
The host picks the version when they set up the room. You can see every pack and sample cards before you start. One pack is in play per game, so the pack you pick is the whole evening.
Real cards from the virtual deck
Every pack holds hundreds of cards, so the prompts and answers keep landing in combinations nobody saw coming. Mix packs together and there is more than enough for a whole night without the deck ever repeating itself.
My rock bottom looked a lot like .
Each game has an option of 5, 10 and 15 rotations.
Read 20 real cards from every packWhat players say about game night
“Everyone was in the game before I finished explaining the rules. Nobody had to install a thing.”
“We played the Clean pack with three generations at the table and my grandmother won twice.”
“One round turned into an hour of laughing. Easiest game night I have ever hosted.”
“The kids read their cards out loud in silly voices. It is now the standard Friday night thing.”
How to win
Every time the judge picks your card, you take a point. Everyone gets the same number of turns as judge, so nobody has an advantage. The host sets the length before the game starts, and the most points at the end wins.
The trick is that there is no objectively right card. You are not playing the prompt, you are playing the person judging. The card that destroys your best friend will get a blank stare from your mother-in-law.
If you are still deciding what to play, our game night ideas guide covers how to pick by group size and setup time.
FAQ
Is Cards Out Loud free to play?
Yes. The Base Game is always free to play in both the Explicit and Family friendly versions, with no card limit and no sign up. Every themed pack sits alongside it in the lobby, and the host picks which ones go into the game.
Do my friends need to download an app?
No. Cards Out Loud runs in the browser on any phone, tablet or laptop. Players open the link, type the four letter room code, pick a name and they are in. No app store, no account, no password.
How many people can play?
Three to eight players. Five or six is the sweet spot: enough answers to be a real contest, few enough that every round moves quickly.
How long does a game take?
Ten minutes to about an hour. The host sets the number of rotations before the game starts, so a quick game after dinner and a long game night both work.
Do we all have to be in the same place?
No. Everyone joins the same room code from wherever they are. It is great around one table, and it works just as well over a video call with the judge reading the answers out loud.
Is it appropriate for family game night?
Pick the Family friendly version when you host and the game stays family friendly. It is the same game with no adult content, so it works for kids, parents and grandparents at the same table.
What do I need to start a game?
One device per player and an internet connection. If you only have one phone at the table, pass and play hides each hand as the device goes round.
What is a round versus a rotation?
A round is one prompt: everyone plays a card and the judge picks a winner. A rotation is a full lap of the table, meaning every player has been the judge once. The host chooses how many rotations to play, which keeps the turns even.
How do you win?
Each round the judge picks their favorite answer and that player takes a point. A rotation is a full lap of the table, so every player judges the same number of times, and the most points at the end wins.
Can I play with the same friends again?
Yes. Host a new room, share the code, and the game remembers nothing about the last one, so the cards stay a surprise.
Ready?
Grab a room code and send it round the table.
Cards Out Loud is an independent party game with entirely original cards. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to any other card game or its publisher.