Hit the Deck Card Game Review

Fast-Paced Card Game that’ll be a HIT with the Whole Family 2 – 6 players ages 6 and up

The first time that we played Hit the Deck, we thought it would be like Crazy 8s. Although the cards have a similar look and play is similar, Hit the Deck is nothing like Crazy 8s–it’s a whole lot crazier that that.

Can’t remember what Crazy 8s is like? You can check out the post here and Crazy 8s Countdown here.

Hit the Deck Object

The Object of Hit the Deck is to be the player with the least amount of points when a player hits 100 points.

Setting up Hit the Deck

The rules state that before you play Hit the Deck, you should remove all jewelry from your hands. (This was our first clue that this game wasn’t anything like Crazy 8s.) Next, a player is chosen to be the first dealer and seven cards are dealt to each player.

How to Play Hit the Deck

On a players turn, he tries to match the card on the discard pile either by color or number. If he can not play, he must pick up a card off the draw pile and play if he can. If that card is unplayable, his turn is over.

Special Cards

What makes Hit the Deck different from Crazy 8s is the special cards.

Cut the Deck

When a Cut the Deck card is played, the next player then must split the draw pile in about half and take the exposed card and place it on the discard pile as the new card. This counts as that players turn and play moves to the left.

Flip the Deck

When this card is played, the next player must turn over the discard pile making it the new draw pile. As well, the draw pile is flipped over and becomes the new discard pile. In addition to the cards flipping, the order of play changes direction. So if player A plays a Flip the Deck card, player B flips the decks and now it’s player’s A’s turn.

Hit the Deck with a Number Card

When a player plays one of these cards, the next player must play a card of any color that has that number. For example, if the card read, “Hit the Deck with a 5,” then the only card that can be played is a 5. If a player does not have a five, he picks up a card from the draw pile. This continues until someone has a card to play.

Hit the Deck with a Color Card

Similar to the hit the Deck with a number card, a card of the written color must be played next.

Hit the Deck with a Hand

This is the craziest card of the bunch. When a player plays this card, she must announce it loudly then all players must slap a hand on top of the discard pile as fast as they can. The last player to get his hand on the pile must draw four cards and add them to his hand. After the craziness settles down, the next player can choose any card in her hand to play.

If the player who played the Hit the Deck with a Hand card forgets to say the words, then he must draw the four cards instead of the last player to have a hand on the deck.

Ending a Round

A round is over when one player plays all the cards in her hand.

Scoring Hit the Deck

To score, all players who have cards add up the cards that are left in their hands. Word cards are worth 10 points each. The number cards are worth the face value (a 4 card is worth 4 points).

Winning Hit the Deck

The game is over when one player reaches 100 points. The player with the least amount of points at this point wins.

What we Like

The first thing we like about Hit the Deck is that it is similar enough to Crazy 8s that the feel of it is familiar and easy to understand. Next, the added addition of the special cards make is fresh and new. We also like the excitement of the Hit the Deck with a hand card. This adds an element of surprise and completion to the game.

What we Don’t Like

The fact that we are so completive makes a game where you slap each other’s hands a little dangerous. We will admit to being a little over zealous and having a few boo-boos. The other thing that was a drawback was that because it’s similar to crazy 8s, you think it will be a fast game to play. However, it takes a while to reach the 100 points needed to end the game. This isn’t a problem but the first couple of times we played it seemed to take a while to finish the game.

Lastly, the box could be a little bigger. As is common with cards games, the box is great until you play a few times and rough up the cards a little. Then it is hard to get all the cards back in the box and get it to shut.

Is Hit the Deck Worth Adding to You Family Game Shelf?

Hit the Deck is an easy to play, freshened up version of Crazy 8s with added layers of completion. The game is guaranteed to liven up any game night with laughs and cries. We recommend adding Hit the Deck to your Family Game Shelf.

To get your own hand slapping good time, get your copy of Hit the Deck. Canadians can get theirs here. This game is a University Game.

And if you’re looking for more get out of your seat games that will make you laugh, be sure to look up Taco Cat Cheese Goat Cheese Pizza, Spot It and Blink.

Pros: easy, familiar, added completion
Cons: longer play than Crazy 8s, box
Mom: color and number recognition, observation

Rating:

For more card fun read up on our card games.
If you’re looking for more family fun read our game reviews and dice games.