What game is most like Skull King?

Tichu (1991) is the closest match to Skull King, sharing card game, predictive bid, trick-taking. It rates 7.6/10 on BoardGameGeek.

What should I play if I like Skull King?

Tichu, The Crew The Quest for Planet Nine, Wizard are the top-ranked alternatives to Skull King in the MeeplePick database, matched on medium-light complexity as well as mechanics. All 18 are ranked on this page with the shared mechanics shown for each.

Is Tichu harder than Skull King?

Compared with Skull King, Tichu is +0.6 heavier and ~30 min longer (2.3 vs 1.7 complexity on BoardGameGeek's 1–5 scale).

Skull King / Similar games

18 games like Skull King

The best games like Skull King are Tichu, The Crew The Quest for Planet Nine and Wizard — the closest of 18 ranked alternatives, scored by shared mechanics and category. Tichu shares card game, predictive bid, trick-taking with Skull King.

Every alternative below links to its own Skull King-style fact page, drawn from MeeplePick’s card game / nautical shelf.

Ranked by shared category (3 pts) and mechanics (2 pts), bonus within 0.7 of Skull King’s 1.7 weight, then BoardGameGeek’s Bayesian rating — one entry per series, 18 shown.

As an Amazon Associate, MeeplePick earns from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.

1. Tichu (1991)
4 players · 60 min · ★ 7.6 · Medium-light
Shares with Skull King: Card Game, Predictive Bid, Trick-taking · 2 of Skull King’s 2 mechanics (100%)
vs Skull King: both play at 4 · ~30 min longer · +0.6 heavier
View Tichu on Amazon →
2. The Crew The Quest for Planet Nine (2019)
2–5 players · 20 min · ★ 8.0 · Medium-light
Shares with Skull King: Card Game, Trick-taking · 1 of Skull King’s 2 mechanics (50%)
vs Skull King: overlaps at 2–5 players · ~10 min shorter · +0.3 heavier
View The Crew The Quest for Planet Nine on Amazon →
3. Wizard (1984)
3–6 players · 45 min · ★ 6.9 · Medium-light
Shares with Skull King: Card Game, Predictive Bid, Trick-taking · 2 of Skull King’s 2 mechanics (100%)
vs Skull King: overlaps at 3–6 players · ~15 min longer · same complexity
View Wizard on Amazon →
4. Zing! (2003)
3–5 players · 30 min · ★ 6.9 · Medium-light
Shares with Skull King: Card Game, Predictive Bid, Trick-taking · 2 of Skull King’s 2 mechanics (100%)
vs Skull King: overlaps at 3–5 players · about the same length · same complexity
5. Spades for Dummies (1938)
4 players · 60 min · ★ 6.8 · Medium-light
Shares with Skull King: Card Game, Predictive Bid, Trick-taking · 2 of Skull King’s 2 mechanics (100%)
vs Skull King: both play at 4 · ~30 min longer · +0.3 heavier
6. Atlantic Storm (1997)
2–6 players · 60 min · ★ 6.5 · Medium-light
Shares with Skull King: Card Game, Nautical, Trick-taking · 1 of Skull King’s 2 mechanics (50%)
vs Skull King: overlaps at 2–6 players · ~30 min longer · +0.3 heavier
7. Port Royal (2014)
2–5 players · 20–50 min · ★ 7.1 · Medium-light
Shares with Skull King: Card Game, Nautical, Pirates · 0 of Skull King’s 2 mechanics (0%)
vs Skull King: overlaps at 2–5 players · about the same length · same complexity
8. The Fox in the Forest (2017)
2 players · 30 min · ★ 7.2 · Medium-light
Shares with Skull King: Card Game, Trick-taking · 1 of Skull King’s 2 mechanics (50%)
vs Skull King: both play at 2 · about the same length · same complexity
9. John Silver (2006)
2–4 players · 30 min · ★ 6.0 · Medium-light
Shares with Skull King: Card Game, Pirates, Trick-taking · 1 of Skull King’s 2 mechanics (50%)
vs Skull King: overlaps at 2–4 players · about the same length · same complexity
10. Hispaniola (2004)
3–5 players · 30 min · ★ 5.2 · Medium-light
Shares with Skull King: Card Game, Pirates, Trick-taking · 1 of Skull King’s 2 mechanics (50%)
vs Skull King: overlaps at 3–5 players · about the same length · 0.2 lighter
11. Diamonds Second Edition (2014)
2–6 players · 20–30 min · ★ 6.9 · Medium-light
Shares with Skull King: Card Game, Trick-taking · 1 of Skull King’s 2 mechanics (50%)
vs Skull King: overlaps at 2–6 players · about the same length · 0.2 lighter
12. Haggis (2010)
2–3 players · 45 min · ★ 7.0 · Medium-light
Shares with Skull King: Card Game, Trick-taking · 1 of Skull King’s 2 mechanics (50%)
vs Skull King: overlaps at 2–3 players · ~15 min longer · +0.4 heavier
13. Stick 'Em (1993)
3–8 players · 30–60 min · ★ 7.0 · Medium-light
Shares with Skull King: Card Game, Trick-taking · 1 of Skull King’s 2 mechanics (50%)
vs Skull King: overlaps at 3–6 players · scales to 8 · ~15 min longer · +0.2 heavier
14. Meuterer (2000)
3–4 players · 60 min · ★ 6.9 · Medium-light
Shares with Skull King: Card Game, Nautical, Pirates · 0 of Skull King’s 2 mechanics (0%)
vs Skull King: overlaps at 3–4 players · ~30 min longer · +0.6 heavier
15. Claim Pocket (2017)
2 players · 25 min · ★ 7.0 · Medium-light
Shares with Skull King: Card Game, Trick-taking · 1 of Skull King’s 2 mechanics (50%)
vs Skull King: both play at 2 · about the same length · same complexity
16. The Fox in the Forest Duet (2020)
2 players · 30 min · ★ 7.3 · Medium-light
Shares with Skull King: Card Game, Trick-taking · 1 of Skull King’s 2 mechanics (50%)
vs Skull King: both play at 2 · about the same length · same complexity
17. Turn the Tide (1997)
3–5 players · 30 min · ★ 6.8 · Medium-light
Shares with Skull King: Card Game, Trick-taking · 1 of Skull King’s 2 mechanics (50%)
vs Skull King: overlaps at 3–5 players · about the same length · 0.2 lighter
18. Bridge (1925)
4 players · 60 min · ★ 7.5 · Medium-heavy
Shares with Skull King: Card Game, Predictive Bid, Trick-taking · 2 of Skull King’s 2 mechanics (100%)
vs Skull King: both play at 4 · ~30 min longer · +2.1 heavier

Check Tichu on Amazon →

As an Amazon Associate, MeeplePick earns from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.

Frequently asked

What game is most like Skull King?: Tichu (1991) is the closest match to Skull King, sharing card game, predictive bid, trick-taking. It rates 7.6/10 on BoardGameGeek.
What should I play if I like Skull King?: Tichu, The Crew The Quest for Planet Nine, Wizard are the top-ranked alternatives to Skull King in the MeeplePick database, matched on medium-light complexity as well as mechanics. All 18 are ranked on this page with the shared mechanics shown for each.
Is Tichu harder than Skull King?: Compared with Skull King, Tichu is +0.6 heavier and ~30 min longer (2.3 vs 1.7 complexity on BoardGameGeek's 1–5 scale).

Narrow it down

best 2-player board games · best 3-player board games · best 4-player board games · best 5-player board games · best 6-player board games · trick-taking games

Looking for the original? See the full Skull King fact page — players, play time, age and complexity.