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 vanabob rummyriety 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.