9 Card Games Like Skip-Bo You’ll Love

Skip-Bo has earned its well-deserved place as a very preferred card game because of its fast-paced gameplay, family-friendly fun, and, of course, the great energy it brings. Typically, Skip-Bo is one of these games you can play over and over again, and doesn’t get boring. However, once you’ve played it dozens of times, it’s natural to want something new: something similar but fresh, and luckily, there’s a good number of such games! 

1. Dutch Blitz

Ages 8+ | 2 to 4 players | 160 cards | Gametime of around 30 minutes;

If you’d like something more chaotic and complex than Skip-Bo, but that is also centered around number sequencing, go with Dutch Blitz. In the latter, all players play at the same time, aiming to get rid of their blitz piles while playing cards in sequence. Both these games are considered fast-paced, but Dutch Blitz is absolutely on a higher level: it is very competitive, and perfect for people who want to thrive on quick reflexes.  

2. Skyjo

Ages 8+ | 2 to 8 players | 150 cards | Gametime of around 30 minutes;

While in Skip-Bo you race to build piles, in Skyjo you race to minimize your total score. You do that while swapping and strategically placing cards in a grid, which immediately makes it a calmer game, and honestly, more luck-based than Skip-Bo. Obviously, both games revolve around numbers and playing them in sequence, but the gameplay differs. Skyjo focuses more on quiet attention and well-timed decisions; on the other hand, Skip-Bo focuses on planning several steps ahead. 

3. Rack-O  

Ages 8+ | 2 to 4 players | 60 cards | Gametime of 45 minutes;

You can never go wrong with a classic as good as Rack-O. Differently from Skip-Bo, in Rack-O, there isn’t a communal play area, and all you care about is managing your 10 cards in a sequence. Because of this, the gameplay in the latter is quite calmer and not that competitive, as it is in Skip-Bo, however, both require strategic thinking and a bit of luck. In Rack-O, you also get card stacks, which makes it easier for you to arrange your hand of cards. 

4. Phase 10

Ages 7+ | 2 to 6 players | 108 cards | Gametime of around 60 to 90 minutes;

Phase 10 is a goal-oriented card game, therefore, it’s less chaotic than Skip-Bo. In Phase 10, while creating specific sets and runs of cards for each round, you complete phases and move upward until you complete all 10. Due to this, a game of Phase 10 lasts much more than Skip-Bo, and requires quite more planning in advance. In this game, players are more focused on their own cards and reaching their goals, rather than aiming to get rid of their piles. 

5. Scout

Ages 9+ | 2 to 5 players | 45 cards | Gametime of around 20 minutes;

Everyone who likes the gameplay of Skip-Bo but would prefer a different style of game, Scout is probably a good idea. Skip-Bo is a turn-based game, while Scout is more of a ladder-style one, in which you try to outdo the other players’ combinations. This makes Scout more dynamic and competitive, also requiring you to adapt to the current strategies and think quickly. However, there’s a twist: you cannot arrange your cards mid-game!  

6. No Thanks

Ages 8+ | 3 to 7 players | 33 cards | Gametime of 20 minutes;

Would you prefer a little chips and bluffing included? We’re still talking about ascending card building, just like in Skip-Bo, but in different ways. No Thanks is mostly about deciding if you want to take a numbered card or pay a chip, and reading your opponents’ gameplays. This makes No Thanks a quick-rounds game, where your goal is to end up being the player with the lowest total score. As is known already, this goal differs from the one in Skip-Bo, where everyone races to empty their stockpiles.

7.  Mille Bornes

Ages 7+ | 2 to 6 players | 115 cards | Gametime of 20 minutes;

Who wouldn’t want a themed card game, after all? Mille Bornes, exactly like Skip-Bo, is a turn-based game, but this game has a racing concept. The idea of this concept is that players will ‘drive’ 1000 km, by playing cards, and facing different hazards. It isn’t as competitive and strategic as Skip-Bo, but definitely more adventurous and catchy, especially for younger ages, making this one of the greatest card games for kids. 

8. Llama

Ages 8+ | 2 to 6 players | 56 cards | Gametime of 20 minutes;

Of course, both Llama and Skip-Bo are centered around playing cards based on their numbers. In Llama, you play cards that are the same, or one higher than the previous card, while in Skip-Bo, you build piles going in a sequence. In simple terms, Llama is more about knowing when to push your luck and when to play it safe, and Skip-Bo is absolutely about planning and pile management. So, if you like games that have a more emphasized luck factor involved, go for Llama!

9. Take 5 

Ages 8+ | 2 to 10 players | 104 cards | Gametime of around 20 minutes; 

Take 5, known as 6 Nimmt as well, is a card game that thrives in unpredictability. In this game, you secretly choose cards to play in the rows, trying to avoid getting penalty points. This gameplay is quite different from what we’re used to in Skip-Bo, the one that’s more about organizing your cards. Although both are pretty simple to play and learn, Take 5 brings many surprises to the play, and makes you feel tension every minute. 

Final Thoughts

We’re so glad we could share the whole world of games that bring the same energy as Skip-Bo, one of the people’s favorites, which brings together all ages. Whether you’re looking for a more chaotic gameplay, longer rounds, or clever simplicity, this list has it all: from Dutch Blitz to 6 Nimmt.

All you gotta do is read our comparative descriptions, consider the group’s preferences, and pick one of the 9 games like Skip-Bo, each with its unique features.