Or buy for Playdate on itch.io ↗︎
Five classic card games. One classy raven.
Welcome to Carte Blanche! In this cozy card game parlor, owner and operator Blanche is excited to share her love of card games. Pull up a chair and let Blanche teach you a new favorite. (And if you play enough, she might just share some of her most treasured possessions with you.)
Get a physical Carte Blanche deck!
Straight from the Playdate to your table, you can buy an official Carte Blanche deck of cards to share your love of card games with friends and family.
What shall we play?
Cribbage
Cribbage is a game just as loved by players as it is famous for its score-keeping board. Careful planning can net you points not just for your hand, but also for tactical play against your opponent's cards. Watch a Cribbage gameplay video ↗︎
Gin Rummy
Draw and discard cards to make the best groups you can. There's a bonus for a perfect hand at stake, but take too long and your opponent might swoop in and score the points instead. Watch a Gin Rummy gameplay video ↗︎
Spades
In this two-handed variant of the strategic trick-taking game, players draft a hand of 13 cards that they'll battle against each other. The better you can predict the strength of your hand, the more points you can score. Watch a Spades gameplay video ↗︎
Cassino
Match cards from your hand with those on the table to collect them for points in this fishing game. If the table doesn't have exactly what you want, you can build it. But first, your opponent gets a chance to steal your hard work. Watch a Cassino gameplay video ↗︎
Spite & Malice
Use the cards in your hand and the ones you've discarded to play all the cards in your goal pile before the other player. Be careful not to set them up for success along the way, though. Watch a Spite & Malice gameplay video ↗︎
Penny Ante
Blanche loves to get others excited about card games. Play against her, and she'll give you some pennies for her Penny Ante machine. Play enough, and you can win some great prizes! (Well, Blanche says they're great, at least.)
FAQ
What games are included?
Carte Blanche includes two-player versions of five classic card games: Cribbage, Gin Rummy, Spades, Cassino, and Spite & Malice.
What if I don't know how to play?
Blanche wants everyone to play, and she's ready for players of all experience levels. Each game features a guided tutorial to walk you through how to play. In addition, each game includes a comprehensive rulebook that you can read at any time. And if you feel like just jumping in and playing a hand or two, Blanche will do her best to make you comfortable.
What are these prizes?
As a raven, Blanche has been known to collect… things. And the more you play card games with her, the more likely you are to win some. She'll proudly display any prizes you win in her Gallery. So, that's special, right?
Where can I play?
Carte Blanche is available now, exclusively on the Playdate handheld gaming system. You can purchase it on Catalog or Itch.
Where can I learn more?
You can check out our YouTube channel. You can also follow How Seven! on Bluesky and Mastodon.