If you love card games, you will undoubtedly have heard about and played Uno many times.
While it’s a fantastic game, you might have played it so much that you’re wondering if any other games on the market are similar. Well, I’m here to tell you that there are many.
For a start, there are so many variations of the classic Uno game where you can mix things up by trying out different games using your Uno cards. Still, suppose you have already explored all these avenues.
In that case, it might be about time you found a new game that still has some similarities to the popular 70s game.
I have put together this handy guide, which will tell you all about some games available on the market that are like the popular card game Uno.
1. Angry Mum’s
- Players: 2-6
- Difficulty: Medium
- Recommended Age: 13+
- Playing Time: 20 minutes
Angry Mum’s made it to my list of games similar to Uno because it has many of the same traits. It also follows the same rules regarding playing and burning your cards.
This is different because Angry Mum follows a novelty theme, making it more fun. Instead of playing with numbers alone, as you would in Uno, you play with fun and exciting events and implements.
Probably the best thing about this game is when you throw a slipper at one of your opponents.
How To Play?
Start the game by placing a pair of slippers in the center of the playing area. The rest of the deck should be placed next to the slippers; face-down, this will be the draw pile. Next, select a dealer to dish out seven cards to each player.
The dealer now flips the top card of the draw pile so that all players can see it, and this is now the start of your discard pile.
Each player takes turns putting down matching “Chore Cards” to the last one shown in the discard pile. You can match the cards using color or chore, and some unique action cards are thrown into the mix, which you can do as well.
You can use these unique cards to match against any other card. When one of these Angry Mum cards is played, any player can grab one slipper and throw it at one of their opponents.
Whoever the unlucky person is to get with a slipper must collect five cards from the draw deck. The winner is the person with no cards left in their hand at the end of the game.
2. Avocado Smash
- Players: 2+
- Difficulty: Easy
- Recommended Age: 6+
- Playing Time: 10 minutes
Avocado Smash is similar to Uno because of the high-pressure, fast-paced format of the game.
The best thing about Avocado Smash is that it is simple enough for anyone to understand, so it’s great to get the kids involved. It’s the perfect game to play if you want something to enjoy and laugh about with any group of friends or family.
How to Play?
First, choose someone in the group to be the dealer. This can be anyone you like. Everyone should have the same number of cards.
The dealer now needs to deal out all the cards amongst the players evenly. If you have any cards left over, discard them to one side.
Choose a player to go first. That player should now select an upper card from their hand and put it facing up in the middle of the table while yelling “one avocado.”
Then, the player to their left follows with an upper card from their deck, yelling, “two avocados.” The game continues like this for now.
If a smashing card is presented, all players must smash their hands onto the pile and yell, “Smash!” Whoever is the slowest, putting their hand on top, takes the pile. This action also happens when the number put down matches the card in the stack.
Also, when the number that appears on the card is the same amount as your turn. For example, if you’re saying “five avocados, and you place down a five-card, “everyone must slap their hands and yell “Smash!“
There are other cards, too, such as the Guacamole card, which means everyone shouts “Guacamole!” but this time without smashing your hands onto the pile.
You lose if you hit the bundle because you’re caught up in the moment. The same goes if you’re the last to shout. This game aims to shed your cards as fast as possible. The winner is the first person to have no cards left in their hand.
There is no scorekeeping in this game, so it’s super simple. But remember, if you get rid of all your cards, you must shout “SMASH!” to win the game; otherwise, your win doesn’t count, and you’re out.
3. Crazy Eight’s
- Players: 2 – 5
- Difficulty: Medium
- Recommended Age: 10+
- Playing Time: 20 minutes
I think the Crazy Eight’s card game is probably the game with the most likeness to Uno. Only for this, you’ll need a standard deck of 52 cards.
This is another card-shedding game, meaning that the game aims to end up with zero cards in your hands before the rest of your opponents.
How to Play?
To start the game, the cards must be dealt according to the number of players. After this, place the remaining cards in the center of the table.
One person then needs to flip over the top card and place it face down for everyone to see. From here, all players take turns playing a card selected from their hand that matches the color, number, or suit.
If you can’t make a move at any time, you need to take a card from the draw deck.
If you still can’t play, that card becomes part of your hand, and you take another card. This continues until you can place down a matching card.
When you get down to your last card, you must remember to announce the “last card!” to your group. Otherwise, your win won’t count. The first person to have no cards in their hand is the winner.
4. Skip-Bo
- Players: 2 – 6
- Difficulty: Easy/medium
- Recommended Age: 7+
- Playing Time: 15 – 45 minutes
Skip-Bo is often compared to the game solitaire, but it does share some traits with the classical game of Uno.
How to Play?
The game’s main point is that you need to eliminate your cards while simultaneously trying to block your opponents from shedding their cards.
You’ll need to gain a Skip-Bo deck to play. This comprises 144 cards numbered from 1 to 12 and 16 wildcards.
To start the game, each player is dealt their cards according to the number of people playing. The idea is to eliminate all your cards as quickly as you can. Colors also mean nothing in this game, so we only concentrate on numbers.
The stock is in your hand. You will need four piles: a stockpile, a discard pile, a draw pile, and a build pile.
The draw pile is used for drawing new cards, the build pile is where the cards go that you’re playing, and the discard pile is the cards you get rid of at the end of each round.
The game is won by ridding yourself of your cards, but along the way, you can block your opponents from playing their cards because you can see their hands. So you can be pretty strategic with this game.
5. L.L.A.M.A
- Players: 2 – 6
- Difficulty: Easy/Medium
- Recommended Age: 6+
- Playing Time: 15 – 20 minutes
L.L.A.M.A is another card-shedding game with many similarities to Uno. The difference with L.L.A.M.A is that a few novelty llama images are thrown in there, and the rules are slightly different. You need to rid yourself of your hand before the rest of the players.
This game is a race to the end, so you’ll need to think, act fast, and be on high alert throughout.
How to Play?
To start your game, all players are given six cards, and the cards will be a mixture of llama cards and numbered cards. Each player then takes turns to play a card from their hand, collect a card from the draw deck, or quit the game.
You can only play a card if you have a matching card to the one placed down before you, or it can be one higher. You can put a llama card down on top of any other card. The person following the llama card must either play another llama card or a one.
The first person who gets their hand to zero wins the game.
6. Phase 10
- Players: 2 – 6
- Difficulty: Easy/Medium
- Recommended Age: 7+
- Playing Time: 5 – 10 minutes
People who love Phase 10 will know it is an updated version of the Liverpool Rummy card game. It is a two-player game, but you can also make it enjoyable with up to six people.
It gets its name because each player must pass through ten phases to complete the game and win.
How to Play?
Phase 10 can be a little complicated, especially while you’re learning, so before you play, check out the Phase 10 rules and strategies to win, which will give you a fully comprehensive breakdown of how to play the game correctly.
The basic idea is that there are two main goals: get through the ten phases and get rid of all your cards.
Throughout gameplay, you will have to create melds in a particular order, enabling you to move on to the next phase. Ultimately, the first player to succeed in both goals is the winner.
Summary
So there are my six favorite card games like Uno to enjoy with your friends and family. So for your next game night, you should have plenty to choose from.
So if you find that you have overplayed Uno but don’t want to steer too far away from it, this is an excellent selection without being too different from what you’re familiar with.
