Introduction
UNO Flip! is a fun and exciting twist on the classic UNO card game rules. It builds upon the original gameplay by adding a “light side” and “dark side” to the deck, which players flip between throughout the game. The game is appropriate for ages 7 and up.
What is Needed
To play UNO Flip, you’ll need:
- The unique UNO Flip deck, which contains 112 cards
- 2-10 players
- A flat surface to play on
- A way to keep score, like paper and pen or a scorekeeping app
Goal
The goal of UNO Flip is to get rid of all the cards in your hand before any other player. At the end of each round, players tally up points based on the cards left in the opponents’ hands. The first player to reach 500 total points wins the game.
Deal and Setting Up
To set up a game of UNO Flip:
- Shuffle the deck and deal 7 cards to each player.
- Place the remaining cards face down in a draw pile in the center.
- Turn the top card of the draw pile face up to form the discard pile.
- Make sure all player cards and the draw/discard piles are set to the “light side” to begin.
Gameplay
UNO Flip gameplay follows the below rules and steps:
- Players take turns in clockwise order.
- On your turn, you must play one card from your hand that matches the top card of the discard pile either by color, number, or symbol.
- If you don’t have a match, you must draw a card from the draw pile, and your turn ends.
- If you draw a playable card, you can play it immediately or save it for later.
- Special action cards allow you to perform different moves like skipping players or changing direction.
- When you get down to one card, you must yell “UNO”.
- If the draw pile runs out, the discard pile is reshuffled to make a new draw pile.
Special Cards in UNO Flip
Card Meanings – Light Side
Numbered Cards (1-9)
These are the basic numbered cards. You simply match the number on the card to the top discard pile card to play it on your turn. For example, you can play a blue 7 card on top of a red 7.
Draw 1
When you play a Draw 1 card, the next player in turn must draw 1 card from the draw pile and their turn is skipped. You can only play a Draw 1 card on top of a card that matches its color, or on top of another Draw 1 card (the colors don’t have to match in this case).
Skip
The Skip card forces the next player, in turn, to be skipped. They lose their turn. You can play a Skip card on a matching color card or on top of another Skip card.
Reverse
This card reverses the direction of play. So if play is currently going clockwise around the table, it will switch to counterclockwise after a Reverse card is played. And vice versa. You can play a Reverse card on a matching color card or on top of another Reverse card.
Wild
A Wild card is very powerful because you can play it on your turn no matter what the top discard card is. When you play a Wild, you choose what the new color in play will be. All other players must now match that color until someone plays another Wild card.
Wild Draw 2
This allows you to choose a new color just like a regular Wild card. But it also forces the next player to draw 2 cards from the draw pile and skip their turn. The catch is that you can only play this card when you don’t have another card in your hand that matches the current color being played.
Flip
The Flip card switches all the cards from the light side to the dark side. When played, the discard pile, draw pile, and players’ hands all get flipped over. Play continues on the dark side until another Flip card sends it back to the light side. You can only play a Flip card on a matching color or on top of another Flip.
Ligh Side Cheat Sheet
| Card | Effect | Number of Cards |
|---|---|---|
| Numbered (1-9) | Match by number to play | 72 |
| Draw 1 | Next player draws 1 card and skips turn | 8 |
| Skip | Next player skips turn | 8 |
| Reverse | Order of play switches direction | 4 |
| Wild | The order of play switches direction | 4 |
| Wild Draw 2 | Choose any color, next player draws 2 cards | 4 |
| Flip | Switch all cards to the dark side | 8 |
Card Meanings – Dark Side
Numbered Cards (1-9)
Same as the light side, match the number on the card to the top discard pile card to play these.
Draw 5
This forces the next player to draw not 1, but 5 cards from the draw pile and skip their turn. Ouch! Play it on a matching color or on top of another Draw 5 card.
Skip Everyone
More painful than a regular Skip, the Skip Everyone card skips every player’s turn, not just the next player in line. You immediately take another turn after playing it. It can be played on a matching color or on another Skip Everyone.
Reverse
Functions the same as on the light side, reversing the direction of play. Matching color or Reverse card is required to play it.
Wild
Works the same as the light side Wild, allowing you to change the color in play to anything you want. Play it at any time.
Wild Draw Color
This card lets you choose a color, just like a Wild. But it also forces the next player to keep drawing cards from the draw pile until they get one color you chose. They also skip their turn once they finally draw the right color. You can only play this if you don’t have a card matching the current color in your hand already.
Flip
Flips all the cards back to the light side. A matching color or Flip card is required to play it.
Dark Side Cheat Sheet
| Card | Effect | Number of Cards |
|---|---|---|
| Numbered (1-9) | Match by number to play | 72 |
| Draw 5 | Next player draws 5 cards and skips turn | 8 |
| Skip Everyone | All players skip turn | 8 |
| Reverse | All players skip a turn | 8 |
| Wild | The order of play switches direction | 4 |
| Wild Draw Color | Choose any color, next player draws until they get that color | 4 |
| Flip | Switch all cards to the light side | 8 |
Scoring Explained
When a round ends, the winner scores points based on the cards left in the other players’ hands:
| Card | Points |
|---|---|
| Numbered cards | Face value |
| Draw 1 | 10 points |
| Draw 5 | 20 points |
| Reverse | 20 points |
| Skip | 20 points |
| Skip Everyone | 30 points |
| Flip | 20 points |
| Wild | 40 points |
| Wild Draw 2 | 50 points |
| Wild Draw Color | 60 points |
The first player to reach 500 total points wins.
UNO Flip Rules Summary
In short, the instructions for the game come down to the following:
- Take turns playing cards that match by number, color, or symbol.
- Use action cards for special moves like skipping players.
- Flip the deck between the light and dark sides with flip cards.
- Score points based on cards left in opponents’ hands.
- The first to 500 points wins.
Official Rules in PDF by Mattel
Strategy Tips
Use Wild Cards Strategically
Wild cards are very powerful in UNO Flip since they allow you to choose the color in play. Try to hold on to them until they give you a strategic advantage.
For example, if you have a Wild but the color currently in play matches a card you want to get rid of, you may want to hold off on the Wild so you can play your card.
Using a Wild to deliberately switch to a color you know another player is lacking can also be beneficial.
Pay Attention to What Cards Your Opponents Play
Keeping track of what cards your opponents have played – and which ones they haven’t – can help you make strategic plays.
For example, if you know a player is out of cards of a certain color, you may want to switch to that color using a Wild to force them to draw. You can also watch out for if a player seems hesitant to play a Wild or Wild Draw card, which likely means they have a match in their hand.
