Karata: Matatu Cards

Karata is the card game East Africa grew up with, now on your phone. Match the suit or rank, attack with 2s and 3s, cut the deck at the right moment, and be the first to empty your hand.

PLAY YOUR WAY
• Vs Computer – play anytime, even with no internet. Every win earns you points.
• Online with friends – invite 1 to 3 friends to your table, or fill the empty seats with AI players.
• Two modes – Classic, the original rules, or Joker, where Jokers join the 2s and 3s as attack cards and the Ace of Spades blocks an attack.

THE RULES YOU KNOW
• Aces are wild – play one on anything and call the suit.
• 2s, 3s and Jokers make the next player pick up, unless they counter.
• Jacks reverse play and 8s skip the next player, or switch on the "play again" house rule.
• Cut with the 7 that matches the cutter card when your hand is low, and the lowest hand wins.
• First out wins the pot, or play on for places.

WIN POINTS, CLIMB THE LEADERBOARD
Online games are played for points: stake yours and win your opponents'. Earn points free by beating the computer, or buy a pack in the Store, which helps keep online play running. Then see how you rank this week, this month and of all time.

MAKE IT YOURS
• Pick a character: Mama Chapati, Boda Boda Ben, Mzee Kadi and many more.
• Choose your card back, from a kitenge pattern to the crested crane.

MADE FOR YOUR PHONE
Smooth card animations, real card sounds, and quick games that fit any break. Sign in with Google and keep your points and progress on any phone.

Points are for fun only. They have no cash value and can't be withdrawn or exchanged for money.

Deal the cards. Karata is waiting.

Recent changes:
• Leaderboards now rank by skill: who you beat counts, not points
• React during online games with eight emoji; tap a player to mute theirs
• Fairer tie-breaks, served from a freshly shuffled deck
• Tap the pile to see the cards played since the last shuffle
• Smoother play, and card sounds land with the cards
• Going out on an Ace keeps its suit for the next player
• Home notices no longer move the game modes
• Continue on the results screen is now Exit
• A refreshed app icon with a gold rim