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Old Maid

(Public Domain), (Self-Published), (Unknown) · Board game · 1874
2–6 · best 4 5 min Weight 1.0/5
3.8 rating Ludopedia
3.8 rating BGG
Buy
3.8 rating Ludopedia
3.8 rating BGG
Buy Ask about Rules
Our Verdict

If you love simple, fun games to play with kids, Old Maid is a must. Pure nostalgia in card form!

Highlights
  • Quick and easy to learn
  • Great for playing with kids
  • No special components needed
Keep in mind
  • Low strategic depth
  • May feel repetitive for adults
RECOMMENDED
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About the game
Old Maid, known as 'Mico' in Brazil, is a classic children's card game that everyone has played at least once. The premise is simple: you need to avoid being stuck with the lone card (the 'old maid') while pairing up the others. With a standard deck, just remove three queens and leave one — that's the cursed card! The game is pure fun and tension, especially when you see someone draw the old maid from your hand and pray you're not the last one holding it. Kids love the thrill of passing the old maid around, and adults can use it to teach basic bluffing strategies. It's quick, easy to learn, and perfect for family game nights or casual hangouts.
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Rules videos

In English

BEST PLAYER COUNT
2 OK
3 REC
4 BEST
5 BEST
6 REC
WHERE TO BUY
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Game details

Mechanics

Hand Management Hot Potato Set Collection

Categories

Animals Bluffing Card Game Children's Game Comic Book / Strip Novel-based Sports

Families

Animals: Apes / Monkeys Animals: Bears Animals: Bees Animals: Birds Animals: Camels Animals: Cats Animals: Chickens / Roosters Animals: Crows / Ravens / Magpies Animals: Deer / Antelope Animals: Dogs Animals: Donkeys Animals: Ducks Animals: Fish / Fishes Animals: Frogs / Toads Animals: Hippopotamuses Animals: Lions Animals: Llamas / Alpacas Animals: Mice Animals: Owls Animals: Penguins Animals: Pigs Animals: Rabbits / Hares Animals: Sheep Animals: Skunks Animals: Tigers Authors: Astrid Lindgren Authors: Mother Goose Books: Alice in Wonderland Books: Felix Books: Heidi Books: Mr. Men Books: Paddington Bear Books: Pippi Longstocking Books: The Jungle Book Books: Winnie the Pooh Brands: Disney Characters: Hello Kitty Characters: Max & Moritz Characters: Mickey Mouse Characters: Miffy Characters: Smurfs Comic Strips: Garfield Components: Traditional Playing Cards Creatures: Die Olchis (designed by Erhard Dietl) Folk Tales & Fairy Tales: Little Red Riding Hood Folk Tales & Fairy Tales: Peter Pan Folk Tales & Fairy Tales: Pinocchio Folk Tales & Fairy Tales: Puss in Boots Folk Tales & Fairy Tales: The Frog Prince Movies: Finding Nemo Movies: Frozen Movies: Ice Age Movies: Pixar Movies: Pocahontas Movies: Ritter Rost Movies: The Lion King Movies: The Rescuers Movies: Universal Studios Monsters Promotional: Board Games Religious: Judaism Religious: Noah and the Ark Series: Game in a Tin (HABA) Series: World's Smallest (Super Impulse) Sports: Bicycling / Cycling Sports: Football / Soccer Theme: Cacti and Succulents Theme: Cereal Games Theme: Circus Theme: Dolls Theme: Food / Cooking Theme: Motorcycles Theme: Mushrooms Theme: Police Theme: Witches Toys: Lalaloopsy Toys: Playmobil Traditional Card Games: Old Maid TV Shows: Bob the Builder TV Shows: Bugs Bunny TV Shows: Captain Kangaroo TV Shows: DuckTales TV Shows: Maya the Bee TV Shows: Paw Patrol TV Shows: Peppa Pig TV Shows: Warner Bros. TV Shows: Woody Woodpecker Versions & Editions: Bigger Versions of Regular-Size Games
Publisher (Public Domain), (Self-Published), (Unknown), (Web published), Adolf Johnsons förlag, AG Müller (AGMüller), Algazarra, AMIGO, Andrews & Blaine, Anker Play Products, Antwerpsche Hypotheekkas, Arrco Playing Card Co., Arrow Games Ltd, ASS Altenburger Spielkarten, Bazoo Global, Berliner Spielkarten, Bielefelder Spielkarten, Birkel Teigwaren GmbH, Bizerba, Brandstätter Group, Built-Rite, Cardinal, Carlit, Cartamundi, Cathay Pacific, CES, Chad Valley Co Ltd., Cheatwell Games, Chiefton Products Ltd., Chronicle Books, Clifford Toys, Clown Games, Comas, Copag Cards (Copag), Creative Child Games, Dagobert, danspil, Diddl Spiele, Djeco, Dr. Herbert Schulze, Dr. Rolf Ottmüller, Drechsler, E. E. Fairchild Corporation, ED-U-Cards Mfg, Editoy, eeBoo, Eldorado, Ensslin & Laiblin, Esslinger Verlag J. F. Schreiber GmbH, F.X. Schmid, Falcon Games (I), Fan Games, Fisher Price, Franz Schmidt, Frito-Lay, Fritz Schulz Jun, Fundex, Garant Schoenmode, General Mills, Golden, Gramicus, Granna, Green Giant Company, Greenbrier International, Inc., H-B Productions, Inc., H. Reichardt, HABA, Hallmark Games, Hamleys, Hausser, Haywire Group, Heidmük-Verlag, Henbrandt Limited, Hensel's Drei Glocken, Heraclio Fournier, Hoffmann & Campe, Holtz & Willemsen, Homann Erzeugnisse, Horizon Group USA, Hoyle Products, IKEA, International Games, Invicta Games, Ivory Tower Publishing, J. CH. Mellinger Verlag, JA-RU Inc., Jeux FK, Jeux Stella, Jewish Educational Toys, Jogojoy, John Dickinson & Co, Jos. Scholz, Josef Hohlweg Wien, Jumbo, Kärnan, Kaysons Novelty Co., KiK Textilien und Non-Food GmbH, King Cards, King International, Lademann Forlagsaktieselskab, LandesFeuerwehrVerband Bayern e.V., Magtoys, McLoughlin Brothers, Melissa & Doug, MGA Entertainment, Michael Stanfield, Milton Bradley, moses. Verlag GmbH, Mudpuppy, Mulder, Muppets, Inc., Music Games, N.W. Damm & Søn (Damm), Nathan, Nature Conservation, Norisbank, Novel Toy Company, Nürnberger-Spielkarten-Verlag, Obchodni Tiskárny, Oetinger Spiele, Omnium-Waalwijk, Oriental Trading Company, Otto Maier Benelux B.V., Otto Maier Verlag, P:OS Handels GmbH, Paletti, Papita, Parker Brothers, Patch Products, Paul Lamond Games Ltd, Peaceable Kingdom, Peliko Oy, Pepys (Castell Brothers), Pestalozzi-Verlag, Piatnik, Play Plus, PlayMobil Interactive, Porst-Spiel, Pressman Toy Corp., Professor Puzzle Games, Raeapteek, Ravensburger AG, Rewe, Richard Hauenstein, Roberts Brothers Games, Rudolf Forkel KG, Russell Manufacturing Company, Salamander, Schaper, Schmidt Spiele, School Zone Publishing Company, Schwager & Steinlein, Selecta Spel en Hobby, Shuffle, Simba Toys, Sondertyp-Zigaretten, Søstrene Grene, Sparkasse, Spear's Games, Die Spiegelburg, Spin Master Ltd., Super Impulse, Tampereen Paperikonttori Oy, Teepe Sportverlag, ThinkFun, Tietz und Pinthus, Tower Press, Toysmith, Trefl, The United States Playing Card Company, University Games, VEB Landesdruckerei Sachsen, Vereinigte Kunstanstalten Senkeisen, Verlag für Lehrmittel Pössneck, Verlag Rudolf Forkel, Volkswagen/Audi, W. H. Cornelius Ltd., Waddingtons, Waldman, Walt Disney Productions (Disney), Walter Flechsig, Warren Company, Warren Paper Products Co., Western Publishing Company, Whitman, WHSmith, Wild Party Games, Winning Moves International Ltd, Zahnärztekammer Schleswig Holstein, Zynga
Designer (Uncredited)
Artist (Uncredited), Alex Graham, Alex Portal, Anja Wrede, Anne Erler-Reichold, Annet Rudolph, Beatrice Braun-Fock, Benjamin Rabier, Carl Olof Petersén, Constanza Droop, Dagmar Launhardt, Dick Bruna, Eric Sturtevant, Ernst Stapelfeld, Eva-Maria Ott-Heidmann, Friedrich Petersen, Hans Meier-Freiberg, Hans Räde, Hans-Joachim Behrendt, Harri Parschau, Heinz Rodewald, Helge Jepsen, Herbert Zeise, Ingeborg Scherer, Janosch, Jens Schumacher, Jim Davis, Karl Fischer, Kevin Hill (II), Klemens Franz, Liesel Lauterborn, Lisbeth Honigsmann, Ludek Manásek, Manfred Fischer, Marilia Poggiali, Markus Wagner, Oliver Freudenreich, Otto Pech, Peyo, Racey Helps, Robert Lips, Roger Hargreaves, Rolf Kauka, Ryan Noonan, Senta Stein, Stefan Senninger, Thomas Goletz, Valeria Petrone, Vernon Grant, Walter Lantz, Werner Graichen, Wilhelm Busch, Willy Mayrl, Wolfgang de Haèn
Frequently Asked Questions
How many players can join?
2 to 6 players, but it works best with 4 or more.
What's the recommended age?
5 and up, as it's simple and fun for kids.
Do I need a special deck?
Nope! A standard deck works—just remove three queens.
How long does a game last?
Around 5 minutes, perfect for multiple rounds.
Is it good for teaching strategy?
Basic skills like bluffing or observing opponents, but it's mostly about fun.
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