Top 8 Games to Replace UNO – The All-Time Classic

While UNO remains a timeless party favorite, it’s absolutely natural to look for new games after having countless reverse and wild draw cards. The good news is, you don’t have to give up on fast-paced games just yet!

We have put together a list of the top 8 games that could replace UNO on your next game night, or simply, just give you another option to keep the party spirit alive. And no, we’re not talking about Uno Show ‘Em No Mercy, or its other editions!

1. Phase 10

Ages 7+ | 2 to 6 players | 110 cards | Gametime of 1 to 2 hours;

If you appreciate the special action cards in UNO, such as Skip or Wild, you’ll find similar ones in Phase 10, too. Although we’re talking about matching cards in both games, either by value or color, UNO and Phase 10 have different goals. While UNO is basically all about getting rid of your cards, Phase 10 is more of a progression: it’s slower, and you have to complete 10 specific phases to win, unable to advance to the next round without completing the current set of cards.

2. Skip-Bo

Ages 7+ | 2 to 6 players | 162 cards | Gameplay of 20-45 minutes;

There are people who wish that UNO had a little more strategy and planning included. If you’re people, Skip-Bo is the right option. In this game, you have to stack cards sequentially, from 1 to 12, and the colors of the cards don’t have any effect. The goals of the games, though, are similar: in UNO, you try to get rid of all your cards, and in Skip-Bo, you try to get rid of your stockpile. If you end up liking the game as much as we do, check out games like Skip-Bo, too!

3. Hanabi

Ages 8+| 2 to 5 players | 60 cards | Gameplay of 30 minutes;

At first sight, sure, UNO and Hanabi share a few similarities: both are centered around number and color matching. However, the main game philosophies are different. While in UNO everyone is against each other and aims to be the winner themselves, in Hanabi, you all cooperate to create the perfect fireworks show. You will build 5 color stacks of cards, but the biggest twist is that you cannot see your own cards, only the other players’! 

4. Llama

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

Although Llama has simpler rules to play, it requires more strategy and isn’t as luck-based as UNO. The idea of Llama is playing cards that are equal to or one higher than the previous card. Besides playing cards, you might draw or quit the round as well. And, the point of this game is all about deciding correctly when to take the risk and when to continue playing. So, unlike UNO, where you are really just trying to get rid of all your cards, Llama is more of a quiet calculation.   

5. No Thanks!

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

UNO and No Thanks! both use colored number cards and both involve player interaction, direct or indirect. Different from UNO, in No Thanks! you use bluffing and strategy to pass the unwanted cards to the other players, while judging if they help your score or not, or if they fit in any of your sequences. In this game, there aren’t any special action cards or ways for you to sabotage the other players. It’s more about deciding what cards to take or avoid taking.

6. Push

Ages 8+ | 2 to 6 players | 120 cards | Gameplay of 20 minutes;

Push, just like UNO, depends a lot on the luck factor. Push, however, is a much calmer game. On your turn, you decide if you want to take the card and add it to your score or push it into the table, which means passing it to the next player. Keep an eye on the special cards, though, since they might have some penalties for you, almost like the special cards in UNO. Yes, in both of these games, whoever has the most points wins, but the way these points are scored differs.

7. Cockroach Poker

Ages 8+ | 2 to 6 players | 64 cards | Gameplay of 15 to 25 minutes;

Cockroach Poker is another family-friendly card game, where your goal is to avoid being the one loser of the game. If you like the good chaos created in UNO, you’ll find that in Cockroach Poker too. In the latter, the deck features 8 creatures included in the cards, and on your turn, you play a card facedown, claiming its specific creature, truthfully or not. Depending on the guess of other players on whether you were being true or not, the loser of the game is decided. 

8. Skull King

Ages 8+ | 2 to 8 players | 66 cards | Gameplay of 30 to 45 minutes;

If you’ve missed a little bidding in the previous card games, Skull King has it all. In both UNO and Skull King, the fun comes from sabotaging and disrupting other players. However, in the latter, all players must bid on the number of tricks they think they’ll win each round, and then use the special action cards, all the way to the Skull King, to achieve that. It definitely includes less luck than UNO, and you must plan your plays and think your actions through. 

Final Thoughts

UNO has been a favorite for all generations, for over 50 years now, and that for the right reasons. But, if you’ve played it that much, so that even making your opponent draw +4 cards from the deck doesn’t sound exciting, it’s time to look for replacements.

Whether you’d prefer more strategy, bluffing, or a longer gameplay session, you will undoubtedly find something on our list to match your expectations.