Decked out for Freshers’: the best card games to break the ice

As an avid card games fan, I believe I’ve cracked the code to hosting the perfect Freshers Week game night, for when you have no energy to go to a sweaty, overcrowded club but still don’t want your evening to go to waste. Card games are perfect with a round of cocktails or mocktails to shake off the nervous jitters and get to know your new flat better. After all, nothing breaks the awkwardness between a group of strangers better than a card game. 

1. Trash 

This is a card game that I always come back to, especially when we’re having a chill game night in a flat kitchen. The game itself is simple – each player starts with ten cards and tries to line up their cards from ace to ten, with jacks as wilds. The winner of every round starts with one less card for the next round and the first person left with one card wins the game overall. To spice it up, my friends and I add a special rule – everyone who loses a round has to take a shot. The best part about this game is how easy it is and requires nothing but a deck of cards. It works well with a whole kitchen or even just your best friend, which makes it perfect for early Freshers when you’re just getting to know people. 

It’s the perfect low pressure game to turn flatmates into friends

2. Uno Flip

Uno has always been a game night classic, but a friend brought a pack of Uno Flip to our uni kitchen and our flat has never been the same. The basic objective of the game is the same except for a flip card. Each card has a light and dark side – with the light side being the regular colours (red, yellow, blue and green) and the dark side being neon versions (pink, teal, purple and orange). The flip card switches the deck to the chaotic dark side which has a few dreaded cards including a plus five and a wild draw colour card. Since everyone already knows regular Uno, it’s incredibly easy to pick up and the fun twist gets people laughing and talking right away. It’s the perfect low pressure game to turn flatmates into friends. 

3. Chase the Ace

I grew up playing Chase the Ace with my family so I was delighted when someone suggested we play this together. It’s a simple game, only needs a deck of cards and usually works best for a bigger group of people. First, you take out all the aces in a deck except one. Then, the deck is divided and all the pairs are discarded so you should only be holding the cards that haven’t been paired yet. The objective of the game is to pair all your cards up and not be left with the last ace. The mix of luck and strategy means you don’t have to be “good” at cards to join in and it’s the perfect game to keep everyone engaged. 

In a week when money disappears fast, card games are free, fun and a lot cheaper than another night out

4. Go Fish 

The last game that is always on my list is Go Fish! It’s interesting, fun and just unpredictable enough to spark playful kitchen rivalries. While it’s easy to understand, it can get pretty competitive and is very unpredictable.  Each player starts with seven cards, and on your turn you ask someone for a specific number (like “do you have any sevens?”). If they have it, they hand them over; if not, they say “Go Fish!” and you draw from the pile. The aim is to collect sets, and the player with the most wins. It’s the perfect fast paced game to play because it needs just the right level of attention to win and enough memory and pattern recognition skills for friendly competition. 

The best thing about card games is how they end up becoming traditions that last well beyond the first week. They’re also a lifesaver on a student budget because in a week when money disappears fast, card games are free, fun and a lot cheaper than another night out. They offer the perfect balance because they’re a quieter and easier way to bond without missing out on the entertainment. There are, of course, plenty of other card games to choose from, but hopefully these will give you a few more favourites to add to your rotation.