Five Gems Card Game Review: Collect Gems, Dodge Coal, and Outspark Your Opponents

Disclosure: This review is written by the team at Timepass Games. We created Five Gems and sell it on our website. We are sharing this to help you decide if it is right for your group.

What Is Five Gems?

Five Gems is a gem-collecting card game for 2-8 players built around one deceptively simple mission: collect sets of gems to reach 5 counts across different gem types. The higher your score, the closer you are to victory. But coal cards are scattered throughout the deck, and drawing one can knock you out of the round. Special power cards give you a fighting chance to cancel coal cards or shift the game in your favor — but only if you use them at the right moment.

With 200 cards in the box, simple rules, a colorful illustrated manual, and compact 45mm x 68mm cards designed for smaller hands, Five Gems works for ages 4 and up and plays with up to 8 players — one of the most generous player counts in our entire lineup.

How It Plays

Players collect gem cards on their turns, building toward sets of matching gem types. Reach 5 counts across your gem sets and you are in a strong position to win. The coal cards are the threat — draw one and you risk being knocked out of the round. Power cards are your defense and your weapon: use them to cancel coal, disrupt opponents, or protect your own hand at a critical moment.

The more players at the table, the harder it becomes to collect the gems you need — competition for specific gem types intensifies, coal becomes more dangerous, and power cards become more valuable. One reviewer who played with a larger group noted this directly: "The more players, the harder it is to get the gems you need." That scaling difficulty is a feature, not a flaw — it means the game naturally gets more tense and strategic as you add players.

One family even started adding their own house rules during play: "My granddaughter loves gems and rocks, making this the perfect card game for her. It was fun and easy and she added rules as we went along that make it even more fun." A game flexible enough to invite house rules from an 8-year-old is doing something right.

Let Us Talk About the Card Size

The cards are 45mm x 68mm — intentionally smaller than a standard playing card deck (roughly 1.75 by 2.5 inches). This comes up in nearly every review, so it is worth addressing directly rather than glossing over it.

The size is a deliberate design choice: smaller cards are easier for young children to hold and manage, and the compact format makes the whole game genuinely pocket-sized. One reviewer noted: "My favorite part is the cards are the perfect size for kids and not big like most adult cards." Another appreciated the travel angle: "The box is nice and small so perfect for my RV game cabinet."

That said, a couple of adult reviewers mentioned the cards felt small in their hands. One said: "I feel like a giant holding these small cards." Another noted they were a little hard to hold at first. Both still enjoyed the game — but if your group is primarily adults who prefer standard-sized cards, it is worth knowing upfront. The card quality itself is consistently praised: good stock, colorful gem illustrations, and slide-y enough to shuffle well even in a card shuffler.

The Gem Theme — Surprisingly Beloved

The gem and crystal theme resonates more than you might expect. Multiple reviewers specifically called out the gem illustrations as a reason they were drawn to the game. One crystal enthusiast wrote: "I am obsessed with crystals and am always looking for family games. This was a perfect game for us. I have never seen a game like this before!" Another bought it specifically for a granddaughter who loves gems and rocks, calling it the perfect match.

The illustrations are vibrant and distinctive — each gem type has its own color and visual identity, which also helps younger players quickly identify what they are collecting without having to read card text.

What Customers Are Saying

A grandparent who brought it camping with teen granddaughters shared: "First thing is the cards are so pretty, we loved the pictures of the gems. The game is fun and easy having to collect sets of gems with the nasty coal cards spoiling things. A bonus is the box is nice and small so perfect for my RV game cabinet."

A reviewer who gave a detailed breakdown noted: "This small-sized set of 200 cards is colorful with attractive graphics and easy to learn for 8 year olds, younger maybe, up through adult. The instruction sheet is clear and the rules are simple. An attractive, simple, fun game."

A buyer focused on the large-group angle: "I love having a card game that 6 people can play. It really helps extended family time." At 2-8 players, Five Gems handles larger gatherings that most card games struggle with.

Who Should Buy Five Gems

• Families with young kids aged 4 and up — the smaller card size is specifically designed for little hands, and the gem-collecting mechanic is immediately intuitive for young players
• Crystal and gem enthusiasts — the theme and illustrations genuinely resonate with this group, making it a perfect themed gift
• Larger groups of up to 8 players — one of the few games in our lineup that handles 8 players well, making it ideal for extended family gatherings
• Campers, RV travellers, and road trippers — the compact box fits in a cabinet, glove compartment, or backpack easily
• Gift buyers — 200 colorful cards in a neat compact box, works for ages 4 to adult, great stocking stuffer under 0

Who Might Want Something Different

• Adults who prefer standard-sized cards may find the 45mm x 68mm format takes some getting used to — though most reviewers report this stops being noticeable after the first round
• Players who want deep complex strategy — Five Gems is an accessible family game with a luck element, not a heavy strategic experience
• Two-player sessions work fine but the game is at its best with 4+ players when gem competition gets genuinely intense

The Bottom Line

200 colorful gem cards, coal cards that keep everyone on edge, power cards that flip the game at the last second, and a compact box that fits anywhere — for .99. Designed for ages 4 and up, plays with up to 8 people, and comes with card dimensions specifically built for small hands. Whether you are buying it for a crystal-obsessed kid, a large family gathering, an RV trip, or a stocking stuffer, Five Gems delivers genuine sparkle at a genuinely reasonable price.

Ready to start collecting? Pick up Five Gems here