Five Crowns Card Game Review: Still Worth It?

In this article, I’m sharing my honest Five Crowns card game review for anyone wondering if this lesser-known rummy-style game is still worth picking up in 2025.

Spoiler: it’s easily one of my personal favourites — compact, quick to learn, and perfect for travel, family nights, or airport delays.

From the very first time I played it, Five Crowns became a staple. One game turned into several that night, and it’s now a go-to for easy, satisfying fun with friends and family. If you love card games that don’t require hours to teach or play, this one deserves a spot in your game bag.

Let’s break down what makes it so special and you can decide whether or not it belongs in your collection too.

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Should You Buy Five Crowns?

Buy if:

• You’re looking for a compact, travel-friendly card game.

• You enjoy simple but strategic games that don’t overstay their welcome.

• You want something fun for family, friends, or casual game nights over snacks and drinks.

• You love rummy-style mechanics with a clever twist.

Don’t Buy if:

• You’re only into high-strategy or complex card games like The Crew or Race for the Galaxy.

• You need heavy player interaction or high-stakes bluffing.

• You dislike games with a bit of luck and light math.

Five Crowns Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Super easy to learn

• Great for 2–7 players

• Inexpensive and highly portable

• Quick rounds with light strategy

• Excellent replay value and flow

Cons:

• Gameplay is more relaxing than competitive

• Heavy luck of the draw can be frustrating for strategic players

• Slight scoring imbalance if someone falls behind early

How to Play Five Crowns

Each game of Five Crowns consists of 11 rounds — and each round adds one more card to your hand. So round one starts with three cards per player, round two with four, and so on up to thirteen.

Here’s the quick rundown:

1. Each player is dealt a hand (starting with 3 cards, increasing each round).

2. Jokers are always wild, and so is the number of cards in your hand (ie, in the first round 3s and jokers are wild, in the 10th round 10s and jokers are wild).

3. On your turn, you draw one card (from the deck or discard pile) and discard one.

4. The goal is to be the first to go out by forming all cards into books (same number) and runs (consecutive numbers, same suit).

5. Other players get one last turn, then everyone tallies their remaining cards as points.

6. Lowest score at the end of 11 rounds wins!

It’s got that addictive “one more round” feel — with just enough strategy to keep you thinking and enough luck to keep it lighthearted.

Five Crowns Price

At the time of writing, Five Crowns is available on Amazon for under $20 CAD, which is an incredible value for a game with this much replayability.

You’ll get a custom deck with five suits, wild cards, and a helpful instruction booklet. It’s small enough to tuck into any bag, making it the perfect travel companion.

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Gameplay: 4.5 / 5

Five Crowns is a peaceful, rhythm-based game that works equally well with two players or a group of seven. Each round feels like a mini-puzzle — should you go for a quick win or gamble on drawing the exact card you need?

Because it’s rummy-style, it has a familiar flow for many players — but the rotating wild suits and increasing hand sizes add just the right amount of novelty.

Games take 30–45 minutes, depending on player count, and you’ll almost always hear, “Let’s play again.”

Sometimes it comes down to minimizing risk by discarding high cards, other times its all about hoping you can get the card you need to make that set of 3+ Kings!

Design & Components: 4.0 / 5

The custom deck is nicely themed and includes five suits instead of four (stars are the fifth — a cute touch). The cards are good quality and the artwork is colourful but clean. It’s not a flashy game, but it’s surprisingly charming.

There’s also a scorepad included, but you can also use a phone calculator or scrap paper after a few plays if you want to make it even more travel friendly.

Player Interaction: 3.5 / 5

Interaction is mostly indirect — you’re each building your own sets, but you’ll find yourself side-eyeing the discard pile and cheering (or groaning) when someone goes out.

It’s great for relaxed nights, but don’t expect much in the way of take-that or negotiation.

Replayability: 4.5 / 5

Because of the changing wild card and varied player counts, Five Crowns stays fresh much longer than you might expect.

It works beautifully for mixed-age groups or players with different skill levels, and every round brings a new challenge.

It’s not flashy or reinventing the wheel — but that’s kind of the magic.

Is Five Crowns Still Worth It?

100% yes. This is one of those hidden gem card games that quietly becomes your most-played without you even noticing.  As you can see, our box has a little wear and tear on it from many games of use.

It’s affordable, easy to pack, and genuinely enjoyable no matter the setting — casual weeknights, family visits, camping trips, road stops, airport delays… you name it.

If you’re looking for a game that brings people together without the pressure or prep of a big board game, Five Crowns fits the crown just right.

Why We Keep Playing

If I could only pack one game for a weekend away or a night at the airport, Five Crowns is often it. It’s compact, super easy to teach, and never gets old — which probably explains why we ended up playing it on repeat the first time I learned. Whether it’s paired with drinks and friends or a family snack night, it always fits the mood.

There’s something addictive about watching the wild cards change each round and figuring out the best way to sneak in a low score. It’s casual, clever, and genuinely one of my all-time favourites.

Value: 5 / 5

Scoring Breakdown

Gameplay: 4.5 / 5
Design & Components: 4.0 / 5
Player Interaction: 3.5 / 5
Replayability: 4.5 / 5
Value: 5 / 5
Total: 21.5 / 25

Our Rating: 8.6 / 10

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Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of game is Five Crowns?

It’s a rummy-style card game that adds a unique twist with rotating wild cards and five suits instead of four. It’s light, easy to learn, and full of replay value.

Is Five Crowns good for travel?

Absolutely! It’s compact, requires very little space, and can be played just about anywhere — perfect for flights, cafes, or camping.  A small coffee table is more than enough space for the centre deck and everyone can hold their own cards without table space in their hands no problem.

How many players can play Five Crowns?

The game works well with 2–7 players. It scales nicely and stays engaging whether you’re playing one-on-one or in a bigger group.

How long does a game of Five Crowns take?

Expect about 30–45 minutes, depending on how many players are at the table.

How We Tested and Why You Can Trust This Review

Dicey Moves is a proudly independent blog dedicated to helping you find the best board and card games to play offline, together. Every game we review is played multiple times in real-world scenarios — around the kitchen table, on vacation, or during relaxed nights with friends. No sponsored opinions here — just honest takes from real-life play.