Card games are popular because they're usually quick and easy. RPG card games give you the feel of role playing, combined with the quick and easy nature of card games.

Don't get me wrong, a card game isn't any substitute for a role playing game. But, if your entire group just got wiped out by a dragon, and there's still an hour left in the evening, why head home early? Or if a couple of your group couldn't make it that night, an RPG card game is a nice substitute for the ongoing campaign.

Munchkin

This is the most prolific of the RPG themed card games out there. It all started with the original Munchkin, which became popular with the role playing crowd. All the in jokes were there, with captions on the cards poking fun at the typical cliches in the hobby.

Munchkin is basically a game of kicking in doors, beating up monsters, and doing your best to stab your fellow players in the back. Any time that a player kicks in a door, they face a monster. Other players can play cards that make the monster easier or harder to deal with (generally harder). The first person to get their character to level 10 wins.

Munchkin is now an empire of games, all based on some role playing theme. There's Munchin Cthulhu, the horror themed version, The Good The Bad And The Munchkin for a wild west theme, Super Munchkin for superhero themed games, and more.

Magic The Gathering

Magic The Gathering represents a battle between two wizards, and so has been compared to role playing games because of the similarity in subject matter. But the game is more detailed and strategic than I'd prefer for a light break from role playing games.

A large part of the strategy in Magic is building your deck. It's a collectible card game, so not every card is available to every player. You have to continue to buy sets to collect the rare cards, and you only get so many cards in your deck. Picking just the right set of cards to both complement each other and to counter what your opponent may do is tricky.

If you like Magic, you're in good company! There are regular tournaments all around the country, many held for free in game stores.

Bang!

Bang! is a card game that puts you into a wild west role. You can be the sheriff, the deputy, outlaw, etc. Each role has its own victory conditions, and part of the game is keeping other players from figuring out who you are.

The game's only tenuously connected to role playing, and you could play it as a straight card game. The basic mechanic of the game is to shoot at other players by playing a Bang! card, and try to kill them. They can play cards to cause you to miss, and other cards give various special abilities.

But it's more fun if you get into your role, and play in character. Play your Bang! card, and exclaim, "Take that you lowlife outlaw!" Just remember to not give away who you are in your role playing!

Unfortunately, you can't find the original Bang! these days, only expansions. And all the expansions require the original set to play. You might hunt around at game shops that carry used games.


Out of the three, Bang! and Munchkin are the ones I'd recommend for a light non-role playing get together. Munchkin is still generally available, but if you get a chance to grab a copy of Bang!, go for it.