Classic Card Games' Timeless Appeal The earliest known playing cards are thought to have appeared in ancient China during the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD), which is where card games first appeared. Originally used as tiles or dominoes for a varecord satta king recordriety of games, these early cards were not the typical deck that we know today. These ancient card games started to spread to other areas, such as India & Persia, as trade routes grew, especially along the Silk Road. Card games arrived in Europe by the 15th century, where they experienced substantial changes. The 52-card deck's standardization & the introduction of the suits—hearts, diamonds, clubs, and spades—paved the way for many of the timeless games we still play today.