UNO Flip Board Game Review
UNO Flip! is Mattel’s 2019 spin on UNO, released with no designer credited. Every card is printed on both sides, and a Flip card switches the table from a mild light side to a harsher dark side. It plays 2 to 10 people aged 7 and up in about 30 minutes.
This review covers the rules, the box contents and how the flip changes play.
UNO Flip overview and specs
As in classic UNO, you race to empty your hand and reach 500 points first.
| Designer | Uncredited |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Mattel |
| Year released | 2019 |
| Players | 2 to 10 |
| Age range | 7+ |
| Playing time | 30 minutes |
| Game type | Party card game |
| Complexity | 1.22 / 5 (BoardGameGeek) |
BoardGameGeek users rate it 6.27 from 4,371 ratings, and it ranks 430th among party games.
UNO Flip components: what’s in the box
- 112 double-sided cards (72 number and 40 action cards per side)
- A fold-out rule sheet
- A storage tin (tin edition only)
The card stock matches a standard UNO deck and scuffs with heavy shuffling. White borders mark the light side.
UNO Flip pros and cons
What UNO Flip does well
- UNO players learn the new rules in a minute.
- The Flip card adds a timing choice, like holding it until a rival’s dark side looks weak.
- You can see the hidden side of every opponent’s hand.
- One pocket-sized deck handles up to 10 players.
Where UNO Flip falls short
- A Wild Draw Color can leave one player drawing card after card.
- Luck decides most rounds, which leaves little for experienced gamers.
- Games to 500 points often run past 30 minutes with big groups.
- Wild Draw challenges can start arguments with younger kids.
How to play UNO Flip: rules and setup
UNO Flip setup
Each player draws a card, and the highest number deals 7 cards each. Hold your hand light side toward you.
Stack the rest dark side up as the draw pile, then flip its top card to start the discard pile. The player to the dealer’s left goes first.
Taking a turn
Match the top discard by number, color or symbol; Wilds go on anything. If you can’t, draw one card and play it if it fits.
Call “UNO!” when you play your second-to-last card, or draw 2 if someone catches you.
How the Flip card works
A Flip card turns over the discard pile, the draw pile and every hand. Play stays on the new side until someone plays another Flip.
UNO Flip action cards and scoring
| Card | Effect | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Draw One (light) | Next player draws 1 and loses a turn | 10 |
| Draw Five (dark) | Next player draws 5 and loses a turn | 20 |
| Skip (light) | Next player loses a turn | 20 |
| Skip Everyone (dark) | You play again | 30 |
| Reverse (both) | Turn order reverses | 20 |
| Flip (both) | Game switches sides | 20 |
| Wild (both) | Play on anything; name a color | 40 |
| Wild Draw Two (light) | Name a color; next player draws 2 and loses a turn | 50 |
| Wild Draw Color (dark) | Name a color; next player draws until they get it | 60 |
Number cards score face value. You can’t play a Wild Draw card if you hold the current color.
The first player out scores the cards left in other hands. The first to 500 points wins.
Where to buy UNO Flip
| Store | Region |
|---|---|
| Amazon (standard box and tin) | US and international |
| Walmart (tin edition) | US |
| Mattel Shop | North America |
| Game Nerdz and Noble Knight Games | US |
| BoardGameBliss | Canada |
| Zatu Games | UK and Europe |
| eBay and BGG GeekMarket | Worldwide |
UNO Flip game mechanics and strategy
BoardGameGeek lists hand management and take that, both carried over from classic UNO.
Part of every hand is public: the back of each rival’s hand shows what they will hold after a flip.
If the player near going out has a weak dark side, flip. If their dark side holds Wilds, keep the game light.
Dark-side cards hit harder: Skip Everyone gives you back-to-back turns, and Wild Draw Color can bury a leader.
Who should play UNO Flip?
Families with kids 7 and up who already play UNO get the most from it, since it adds one real decision and harsher penalties to the original.
It also suits big casual groups. Real-time games like Happy Salmon move faster, and Throw Throw Burrito fits groups who want physical chaos.
Skip it if your group hates attacking each other. Families who prefer teamwork can browse our cooperative board game rankings, and older kids can try these board games for tweens.
FAQ
Is UNO Flip good for beginners?
Yes. Its BoardGameGeek complexity weight is 1.22 out of 5, near the bottom of the scale. UNO players just need to learn the Flip card and the dark-side actions. Most kids aged 7 and up can follow along after one round.
How long does UNO Flip take to play?
The box lists about 30 minutes. Setup takes a couple of minutes, and single rounds are short. A full game to 500 points with eight or more players can stretch to an hour, so set a round limit if time is tight.
What’s the best player count for UNO Flip?
Four to six players works best, because flips come around often and the penalties spread out. At two players it turns into a trade of skips and draws. Couples who want more depth can look at cooperative games for two players.
Can you challenge a Wild Draw Color card in UNO Flip?
Yes. If you think the player held a card of the current color, challenge them and they show their hand. If they broke the rule, they draw until they find the chosen color. If not, you take the penalty plus 2 cards.
What games are similar to UNO Flip?
Classic UNO is the closest match. Mattel also sells UNO Flip Attack and themed versions based on Stranger Things, Transformers and Marvel. Outside the UNO family, Crazy Eights uses the same matching rules with a standard deck of playing cards.
