Virtual card games have been around since the early days of PCs. You can now play any game card imaginable on your computer or smartphone. Here are the best offline card games for when you’re stuck without an internet connection.
These games are available for various platforms, including iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, and Xbox One.
Best Blackjack Mobile App: Blackjack by MobilityWear
With a casino feel, and an impressive array of themes and settings, this version of mobile Blackjack adds extra excitement to sliding your chips across the virtual felt. Most real-life Blackjack strategy options are offered, including the ability to take insurance on a hand.
Settings are highly customizable.
Choose up to eight decks.
Free with in-app purchases.
The house seems to have a distinct advantage.
The free version has excessive ads.
The game features Hi-Lo and KO strategies that help you learn to count cards. Real-time advice can be toggled off and on, depending on your comfort level, letting you gradually perfect your craft as time goes on.
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Best Baccarat Game for iOS: Baccarat: Casino Style
Designed by casino industry pros, this app doesn’t require an internet connection and does a great job simulating the true Baccarat vibe. Features like manual card shuffling, squeeze play, and pattern detection supplements an eye-pleasing interface that is customizable.
Thorough tutorials.
Highly addictive.
Free with in-app purchases.
No Android version.
There is no pattern board available.
Play Cribbage On-the-Go: Cribbage Pro
The race to 121 points is on, and Cribbage fans will enjoy this feature-packed app that offers a lot for offline players. The game really shines with its multiplayer tournaments. Still, single players without an internet connection aren’t left in the dark.
A truly random card shuffling engine.
Free with in-app purchases.
In-game ad placement can be distracting.
A little too easy for real Cribbage pros.
With dozens of achievements available and varying levels of gameplay difficulty, Cribbage Pro’s in-depth logic ensures that even the most advanced players will be challenged and rewarded.
Best Gin Rummy App for iPhone: Gin Rummy
A modern adaptation of a traditional title, this version of Gin Rummy features the expected basics along with an impressive set of modifiable settings, including the option for separate melds and the ability to modify the width and curvature of your cards. There are also several deck styles to choose from.
Sort your hand by rank with the tap of a button.
Helpful tutorials.
Free with in-app purchases.
AI decision-making has room for improvement.
Most features are behind a paywall.
The game includes an easy-to-follow rules section along with a link to the Wikipedia entry for Gin Rummy. This ensures that beginners learn this game.
A paid edition is available, which removes advertisements, keeps statistics, and unlocks access to advanced difficulty levels.
Play Gin Rummy on Mac or iOS: Gin Rummy Royale
Gin Rummy Royale presents a sharp aesthetic that will stand out on your Mac. Its game engine is better than most in its class.
Higher levels are challenging and can get intense.
Costs $1.99 with in-app purchases
Annoying pop-up ads.
Must pay for extra features even after you buy the game.
You can choose from five variations, including Hollywood, Oklahoma, Straight, and the always-entertaining Speed Gin. The app contains several themes, gradually increasing difficulty levels, and a single-player mode that can be played while offline.
Free Hearts Card Game for Windows: Hearts Deluxe
A fun game where a low score is good, this version of Hearts is a great fit for PCs without an active internet connection. Pit your skills against virtual opponents on your Windows desktop while avoiding the dastardly Queen of Spades.
Unintrusive ads.
Available for Windows 10 and Windows 8.1.
It’s free.
AI players frequently attempt to shoot the moon.
The typical Hearts strategy doesn’t always apply.
Best Free Spades App for Windows: Spades for Windows
This free version of Spades features a sharp interface and multiple difficulty settings.
Best offline Spades option for Windows.
Available for Windows 10, Windows 8.1, and Xbox One.
It’s free.
Virtual partners make questionable moves.
Often feels repetitive.
You have the option to choose between a standard game type where you play to 500 or Suicide Mode where one player from each team must bid nil with no blind nil in play.
If you need to take a break, you can resume your game where you left off at any time.
Best Mobile Spades App: Spades+
Because of the sheer amount of cards that need to be displayed simultaneously, Spades apps are not always a comfortable fit for smaller screens. Spades+ gets it right, with crisp visuals and smooth gameplay that’s perfect for your portable device.
Fast-paced but not overwhelming.
Optimized interface for small screens.
Free with in-app purchases.
The opponent AI in single-player games needs improvement.
Occasional bugs.
Features like multiplayer matches and in-game chat require a live connection. Still, you can get the full single-player Spades experience while offline.
Best Mobile Poker App: Texas Holdem Offline Poker
This game was designed solely with offline play in mind, and the attention to detail really shows. Turn-based offline multiplayer contests are even offered, a feature non-existent in most competing apps.
Compact and easy-to-use interface suitable for smartphones.
Offline multiplayer competitions.
Free with in-app purchases.
The virtual opponents win on the river card a bit too often.
A little too challenging for beginners.
Hold ’em newbies will benefit from on-screen advice. Seasoned rounders will be pleasantly surprised at the toughness of their computerized opponents in the game’s advanced levels.
A Gin Variation for iOS: Tonk Royale
A derivative of Rummy, Tonk (or Tunk) is a criminally underrated card game that is just as fun when played in digital form. The app does a decent job of walking you through the rules since most people may not be familiar with the game’s structure.
Replace game sounds with vibrations.
Daily offline rewards.
Free with in-app purchases.
The interface doesn’t support portrait mode.
Not familiar to casual card players.
Multiple versions, including Knock and No Knock, can be played, and daily rewards are provided to offline players.
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