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Large print games are cards and board games with oversized, high-contrast numbers, letters and symbols, so people with low vision can read the pieces without a magnifier and keep playing with family and friends.
Part of our Adaptive Daily Living series, which covers tools that make everyday tasks easier to do independently.
Many people stop playing games when their eyesight changes. A standard deck has small corner indexes, and the red and black suits look the same in dim light. A standard Scrabble board has tiny letters on busy squares. The fix is often simple: bigger print, stronger contrast and a plain table. I went through retailer listings and low vision organization guides to sort the options, and I picked five that cover both card players and word-game players.
Here’s what I’m covering below:
- What makes a game readable with low vision
- A quick comparison of the five picks
- Full reviews with who each is best for
- Other games worth knowing about
- Setup tips that help as much as the product
- Answers to common questions
I haven’t tested these myself. The details below come from retailer listings and low vision organizations, so check the current listing before you buy.
Quick Comparison
| Product | What Makes It Readable | Listed Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Neasyth Jumbo Index Large Print Playing Cards (2 decks) | Large faces and big numbers, poker size | About $9 | Best everyday deck |
| Low Vision Playing Cards with Colored Suits | 1½-inch numbers, four-color suits | Check listing | Best for severe low vision |
| Marinoff Low Vision Playing Cards | 1¼-inch numbers outlined in black | Check listing | Best for telling suits apart |
| Large Print Scrabble Board Game | 16-point black letters, rotating board | Check listing | Best board game |
| Scrabble Tiles for Low Vision | Bold black letters on white tiles | About $14 | Best upgrade for a game you own |
What Actually Matters
- Size of the print. Bigger is better, but numbers outlined in black or set on strong backgrounds help as much as size alone.
- Suit colors. Red and black are easy to mix up. Four-color decks use a different color for each suit, which is easier than telling hearts from diamonds by shape.
- Contrast. Black on white is easiest. Patterned card backs and busy boards make it harder to find what you need.
- “Large print” is not a standard. Labels such as “jumbo” or “large print” can mean very different type sizes. Look for a stated measurement, like the number height in inches.
- Standard-sized pieces. A poker-sized deck fits a normal shuffler and card holder. Larger cards are easier to read but harder to shuffle.
- Tactile cues. Raised dots on special squares, as on one large print Scrabble board, help players who use touch as well as sight.
The 5 Best Large Print Games and Playing Cards for Low Vision
1. Neasyth Jumbo Index Large Print Playing Cards (2 decks)
Price: About $9 | Type: Poker-size plastic cards, 2 decks (blue and red)
A mainstream two-deck set with large faces and big numbers. Each card is 3.5 by 2.5 inches, made of PVC plastic, and the seller describes the set as suitable for adults and seniors with vision problems. A retailer listing showed 4.6 stars from 36 ratings. The listing doesn’t give an exact index size, so check photos before you buy.
Why it’s a top pick: It’s inexpensive, it fits ordinary card holders and shufflers, and it comes with a spare deck.
Best for: Players with mild to moderate vision loss who want a deck that looks like any other.
2. Low Vision Playing Cards with Colored Suits
Price: Check listing | Type: Oversized numbers, four suit colors
Numbers and letters about 1½ inches tall, with each suit in its own color: spades black, hearts red, diamonds green and clubs blue. The cards measure about 2½ by 3½ inches, as VisionAware describes them.
Why it’s a top pick: The biggest numbers on this list, and no red-versus-black guesswork.
Best for: Severe low vision, or anyone who confuses the suits.
3. Marinoff Low Vision Playing Cards
Price: Check listing | Type: 1¼-inch numbers outlined in black
A deck designed by an ophthalmologist, Dr. Gerald Marinoff, with numbers about 1¼ inches tall and outlined in black so they stand out on the card face.
Why it’s a top pick: The outline makes the numbers stand out even when light is poor.
Best for: People with macular degeneration or glare problems.
4. Large Print Scrabble Board Game
Price: Check listing | Type: Large print board, tiles and racks
A large print version of Scrabble with 16-point black letters on white. One listing describes a 37-centimeter board that rotates to face each player, a tile-lock design that keeps tiles in place, tactile dots on premium letter squares and tactile dashes on premium word squares. It includes 100 large print tiles, four large tile racks, a cloth bag and a large print rules book, for two to four players aged 10 and up.
Why it’s a top pick: The complete set, including racks and rules, in readable print.
Best for: Families who play word games together.
5. Scrabble Tiles for Low Vision
Price: About $14 | Type: 100 replacement tiles
Replacement tiles with extra-large bold black letters on bright white plastic. Each tile measures about 11/16 of an inch square. They replace the tiles in a Scrabble set you already own, so you don’t need to put stickers on the old ones.
Why it’s a top pick: You keep your favorite board and only change what you read.
Best for: Anyone who already owns Scrabble and wants to keep playing.
Other Games Worth Knowing About
- Braille and large print Monopoly has extra-large cards, and a 20-inch square board with an overlay to identify spaces.
- Raised-dot dominoes and dice have bold, raised black dots that can be read by sight or touch. Dice with ¾-inch dots are listed.
- Giant wooden dominoes are sold with larger markings that match by number or color.
- Chinese checkers with different shaped pieces let players tell pieces apart by touch.
- Large print bingo, chess and checkers are sold in large print versions.
Setup Tips That Help as Much as the Product
- Light it well. An adjustable lamp over the table, with no glare on the cards, makes a bigger difference than most decks.
- Cover the table with a solid color. Patterns hide card edges. A plain dark cloth under light cards, or a light cloth under dark pieces, improves contrast.
- Use a card holder. Holding a hand of cards is tiring and hides the numbers. Our guide to playing card holders for arthritis and seniors covers racks that stand the cards up for you.
- Try a magnifier. A stand or neck magnifier can help with board games. An eye doctor or low vision specialist can advise on the right one.
Who Else Benefits
- People with macular degeneration, glaucoma or cataracts
- Older adults whose eyesight has changed
- Anyone playing in dim light
- Caregivers and families planning game nights with a relative
How to Choose
- Mild loss, want a normal-looking deck: jumbo index cards (pick 1).
- Severe loss: the colored-suit deck (pick 2).
- Glare or macular degeneration: outlined numbers (pick 3).
- Playing word games from scratch: the large print Scrabble set (pick 4).
- Already own Scrabble: replacement tiles (pick 5).
For quieter pastimes, see our guide to large print crossword puzzle books.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best playing cards for low vision?
Cards with large, high-contrast numbers, such as jumbo index decks, four-color suit decks or decks with numbers outlined in black, are the easiest to read. The right choice depends on how much vision you have.
Are there playing cards with different colors for each suit?
Yes. Some low vision decks use black for spades, red for hearts, green for diamonds and blue for clubs, so players do not have to tell red suits apart.
Can I play Scrabble with low vision?
Yes. Large print Scrabble sets have bigger letters, and replacement tiles with bold letters can be used with a standard board. Good lighting and a plain table also help.
How can I make a game easier to see without buying a new one?
Improve the lighting, use a solid-color tablecloth for contrast, and use a magnifier or card holder. Labels with bold marker or tactile stickers can also help mark pieces.
Do large print cards fit in a regular card shuffler?
Poker-sized large print decks usually do, while oversized cards usually do not. Check the card size on the listing against your shuffler or holder.
Final Thoughts
You don’t need a whole new collection of games. A bold deck, a rotating board or a set of replacement tiles can put a favorite game back on the table. For more game ideas and adaptation tips from a low vision organization, see VisionAware’s guide to cards and games.