UNO is perhaps one of the most recognizable card games ever, so it should come as no surprise that there are plenty of great games like UNO you should try as well.
You may already be familiar with the classic UNO rules, but there are many, many different versions of the game you can explore as well to freshen up the core game.
Related: All UNO Game Topics | UNO Swap Hands Card
Created in 1971 in Ohio, UNO has sold 15 million+ units worldwide to date. A UNO deck can be surprisingly versatile with other games to play with UNO cards.
However, you may already be a UNO expert and looking for the next great card game to play.
Our list of 16 of our favorite UNO alternative games should help you find the most suitable card games that should pique your interest.
16 Awesome Games like UNO
DOS
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Players: 2 – 4 players.
Playing Time: 15 – 20 minutes.
Age: Ages 7+.
Game Type: Card games.
Publisher(s): Mattel.
Game Overview:
Across multiple rounds of Dos, players compete to be the first player to reach 200 points. Played similarly to UNO, players add cards to the discard pile if it matches the color or number of the card on top.
When a player is left with 2 cards, they must shout out ‘’DOS’’ otherwise, they face a penalty if caught not saying the word.
At the end of the round, the players who still have cards left must add the value of their remaining cards together. That sum is awarded to the winning player as their reward for winning the round.
RELATED: Dos rules.
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SWITCH CARD GAME
Players: 2 – 8 players.
Playing Time: 20 – 40 minutes.
Age: Ages 7+.
Game Type: Card games.
Publisher(s): N/A
Game Overview:
Uno, but with a standard deck of cards, the Switch card game is a great alternative to play if you don’t have a specific deck to hand. Players need to get rid of all their cards first; they do this by matching either suits or ranks. Other players can halt their opponent’s progress with the cards they play and the decisions they make as well.
RELATED: Switch card game.
SKIP-BO
Players: 2 – 6 players.
Playing Time: 15 – 60 minutes.
Age: Ages 8+.
Game Type: Card games.
Publisher(s): Mattel.
Game Overview:
Skip-Bo requires players to place their cards that are in their designated stockpile until there’s none left to win the game. Players either get 30 or 20 cards, depending on how many participants there are.
Players move these cards from their stockpile into the middle ’building piles’, done by successfully adding cards in numerical order starting from 1.
RELATED: Skip-Bo rules.
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BLINK CARD GAME
Players: 2 players.
Playing Time: 2 – 10 games.
Age: Ages 7+ (most suitable for kids).
Game Type: Card games.
Publisher(s): Mattel.
Game Overview:
Blink, and you’ll miss it. The Blink card game is best played with kids due to its simplistic gameplay where players match cards to be the first player to get rid of their hand. Like a cross or UNO and Snap, players start with 3 cards and flip them over. They compete to find cards that match the cards that get flipped over.
RELATED: Blink card game rules.
3 UP 3 DOWN
Players: 2 – 6 players.
Playing Time: Around 10 minutes.
Age: Ages 7+.
Game Type: Card games.
Publisher(s): OK 2 Win.
Game Overview:
Just like UNO, the goal for players in 3 Up 3 Down is to get rid of all their cards. To do this, players need to lay down a card on the discard pile that is equal to or greater value than the card on top.
There are different cards included to add some challenge and confusion to proceedings as well, it’s definitely not a version of UNO for beginners.
SKYJO
Players: 2 – 8 players.
Playing Time: Approx. 30 minutes.
Age: Ages 8+.
Game Type: Card games.
Publisher(s): Magilano.
Game Overview:
Skyjo begins by deciding who starts the game by drawing cards, and the player with the highest value card begins. Players take it in turns deciding to either keep what’s in their hand or swap it for an unknown card of different value. The goal is to end the game with as few points as possible, collecting cards across different rounds.
At the end of the game, players count up the combined value of all their cards, with the winning player being whoever has posted the lowest score.
RELATED: Skyjo rules.
AVOCADO SMASH
Players: 2+ players.
Playing Time: 10 minutes.
Age: Ages 6+.
Game Type: Card games.
Publisher(s): Ridleys.
Game Overview:
Players need to be quick and react to special cards and combinations in a bid to be the first player to get rid of all their cards in Avocado Smash.
Without hesitating, players need to follow the instructions on the cards. Any hesitation or mistakes means the offender needs to pick up the entire discard pile as play starts over.
RELATED: Avocado Smash rules.
THE GREAT DALMUTI
Players: 2 – 8 players.
Playing Time: 15 – 30 minutes.
Age: Ages 8+.
Game Type: Card games.
Publisher(s): Avalon Hill.
Game Overview:
The Great Dalmuti is a card game where players get rid of the cards in their hands by placing matching cards together in the discard pile. Each card has 2 numbers – which card it is and also a number that tells players how many of that type of card is in the deck. A strategic alternative to UNO, the first player to rid their hand wins the game.
PHASE 10
Players: 2 – 6 players.
Playing Time: 5 – 10 minutes.
Age: Ages 7+.
Game Type: Card games.
Publisher(s): Mattel.
Game Overview:
Phase 10 has 2 goals for players to work toward – the first is to complete 10 phases by forming 10 melds with their cards, and the second is to get rid of all cards in their hand.
There are specific melds that players need to make in a particular order so that they can move on to the next round. The first player to complete both goals wins the game.
RELATED: Phase 10 rules.
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SLAMWICH
Players: 2 – 6 players.
Playing Time: 20+ minutes.
Age: Ages 6+.
Game Type: Card games.
Publisher(s): Gamewright Stores.
Game Overview:
In Slamwich, players are required to gather cards as opposed to getting rid of cards to win this game. Occasionally, a combination of cards is laid, which gives the quickest player the opportunity to slam the deck and gather all the cards currently played. If a player runs out of cards, they’re out of the game.
The last player still in the game or whoever gathers all of the cards first wins the game.
RELATED: Slamwich rules.
HIT THE DECK
Players: 2 – 6 players.
Playing Time: 20 minutes.
Age: Ages 6+.
Game Type: Card games.
Publisher(s): University games.
Game Overview:
The aim of Hit The Deck is to be the player with the lowest score once the game ends. The game finishes when a player has hit 100 points. Players need to add cards to the discard pile if they have either a matching color or matching card. There are 5 special cards that affect gameplay to look out for as well.
When a player runs out of cards, they get a score of 0 for the round. The other players add up the numbers on their cards and get given a score. The key is to either win each round or have as few cards as possible at the end of the round.
RELATED: Hit The Deck rules.
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FIVE CROWNS
Players: 2 – 7 players.
Playing Time: 15 – 25 minutes.
Age: 8+ years.
Game Type: Card games.
Publisher(s): SET Enterprises.
Game Overview:
Rummy is like a harder version of UNO games, and Five Crowns is one of the best and most accessible versions of Rummy. Players need to turn their hands of cards into melds, doing this by picking up cards from other players and drawing new cards. The player who can create the most melds wins the game.
RELATED: Five Crowns rules.
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HAPPY SALMON
Players: 3 – 8 players.
Playing Time: 5 minutes.
Age: Ages 6+.
Game Type: Card games.
Publisher(s): North Star games.
Game Overview:
Happy Salmon is a card-matching game ideal for younger kids that has fast gameplay. The aim is for players to be the first to get rid of their cards, and they achieve this by matching cards with the other players by shouting out different phrases to find a pair. Speed is key, so if you can’t find a match, push that card to the back and try again later.
RELATED: Happy Salmon rules.
SPOT IT
Players: 2 – 8 players.
Playing Time: 15 minutes.
Age: Ages 6+.
Game Type: Card game.
Publisher(s): Zygomatic.
Game Overview:
To win at Spot It, players need to be the first player to get rid of all their cards. Deal out all the cards to participants, each card has a different combination of images on them. Lay down the first card, players put their card on top if one of the images matches the top card on the discard pile.
RELATED: Spot It game rules.
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NO THANKS
Players: 3 – 7 players.
Playing Time: 20 minutes.
Age: Ages 8+.
Game Type: Card games.
Publisher(s): Amigo.
Game Overview:
No Thanks is all about avoiding taking cards, and players can either pay chips out for the privilege of avoiding having to take a card. If players take a card and cannot say No to it, then they earn points, but points are bad in this game.
At the end of the game, whoever has the lowest combined score wins the game.
TACO CAT GOAT CHEESE PIZZA
Players: 3 – 8 players.
Playing Time: 10 minutes.
Age: Ages 8+.
Game Type: Card games.
Publisher(s): Self-published.
Game Overview:
Like many games like UNO, Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza requires players to be the first player to get rid of their cards by matching cards before anyone else playing can. It may sound simple, but the cards are designed to encourage mistakes to be made in subtle yet surprising ways.
RELATED: Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza rules.
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