Branded card games: Uno, Skip-Bo and Phase 10 rules
Branded card games are games sold as a distinct, trademarked product with one company controlling the name and the official rules, unlike classic games such as Rummy or Spades that nobody owns. This hub covers three branded lines built by Mattel: Uno, Skip-Bo, and Phase 10, including every official Uno variant.
The rules on every linked page are written in our own words after cross-checking several independent sources, not copied from the box or the publisher's site, since the rules themselves aren't protected the way exact rulebook wording is. Use the comparison table below to see how the three lines differ before picking one for your next game night.
Which branded card game fits your group?
Uno, Skip-Bo, and Phase 10 share a family resemblance: all three are built around matching, sequencing, or set-building with their own dedicated deck, but they differ enough in player count and pace that picking the right one matters. The table below lines up the base version of each line, plus Uno Flip and Uno Attack as the two spin-offs groups reach for most often. Age recommendations are printed on the boxes but aren't included here, since we haven't independently verified them as a fixed, current standard.
| Game | Players | What makes it different | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uno (classic) | 2–10 | Color/number matching, action cards, stacking house-rule debates | Large mixed groups, quick rounds |
| Uno Flip | 2–10 | Double-sided deck with a harsher "dark side" | Groups who already know Uno and want more chaos |
| Uno Attack | 2–10 | Battery-powered card launcher replaces the draw pile | Kids and party settings where randomness is the fun |
| Skip-Bo | 2–6 | Sequencing 1 through 12 across shared stock and building piles | Small to mid-size groups, longer game-night sessions |
| Phase 10 | 2–6 | 10 fixed phases of sets, runs and color groups played in order across rounds | Players who like a structured, escalating challenge |
The Uno family
Uno is the base of this whole family: a 108-card deck of colored number and action cards, played by matching color or number and using action cards like Skip, Reverse, and Draw Two to change the flow of turns. It supports 2 to 10 players, one of the most flexible player counts on this site, and a round ends the instant one player empties their hand. Read the full Uno rules for setup, the missed-"Uno"-call penalty, and how the Wild Draw Four challenge works.
Mattel has published several official variations, plus enough house-rule debates over things like stacking (playing a matching Draw Two or Draw Four on top of another one instead of drawing) that they're worth their own pages:
- Every Uno special card explained: what each action and wild card does, card by card
- Uno Flip's dark side rules: the double-sided deck with a harsher alternate ruleset
- Uno Attack and its card launcher: the battery-powered version that fires a random number of cards
- Popular Uno house rules: stacking and other common table variations
- Uno's five spin-off games: Show 'Em No Mercy, All Wild, Dos, Stacko, and Spin, in one roundup
Skip-Bo
Skip-Bo plays differently from the matching games above: each player races to empty a personal stock pile by building four shared sequences from 1 up to 12 in the middle of the table. It supports 2 to 6 players, and the stock pile actually starts bigger per player in a 2-player game, 30 cards each, than with a full table of five or six. A single hand ends the moment someone empties their stock pile, and tournament play tracks points across several hands toward a 500-point target. Full setup and scoring on the Skip-Bo rules and scoring page.
Phase 10
Phase 10 borrows Rummy's idea of building sets and runs, then adds a structure Rummy doesn't have: 10 phases, from simple sets up to combined color runs, that every player completes in that exact order across the game. Fall short of the current phase and you replay it next round; the first player to finish phase 10 and go out wins the game outright. It supports 2 to 6 players and rewards patience over speed, since chasing your current phase sometimes means passing up cards that would win you a single round instead. See all 10 Phase 10 phases for the complete list, or use the Phase 10 scoring calculator to add up round-by-round points automatically.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between Uno and Uno Flip?
Uno Flip uses a double-sided deck: the familiar light side plays like classic Uno, while the dark side has harsher versions of the same action cards plus its own additions. A Flip card mid-game switches the whole table to the other side. Full details on the Uno Flip Rules page.
Is Phase 10 similar to Rummy?
Phase 10 shares Rummy's basic idea of building sets and runs, but instead of open-ended melding, every player works through the same fixed sequence of 10 phases in order, one phase per round, and can't move to the next phase until they've completed the current one.
Can you play Skip-Bo with two players?
Yes, Skip-Bo supports 2 to 6 players, and the stock pile size actually changes with player count: a 2-player game deals a larger 30-card stock pile per player than a 5 or 6-player game. See the full setup breakdown on the Skip-Bo Rules page.
Which Uno variant should we try after classic Uno?
Uno Flip is the most common next step since it keeps the same core matching rules but adds a second, harsher side of the deck. Uno Attack changes the pace more dramatically with its card-launching device, which makes it a better pick for younger or more chaotic groups.
Is there a scoring calculator for any of these games?
Yes, Phase 10 has a free interactive scoring calculator that adds up points automatically across all 10 phases instead of doing the math by hand. Find it on the Phase 10 Scoring Calculator page.