Calling Uno on Arcade

The classic card game UNO® has surfaced on Xbox Live® Arcade, and it's bringing the same fast-paced, scream at your friends, deal 'em and weep gameplay it's known and loved for.

The Basics
For those not familiar with the mechanics of Uno, I can promise that you'll feel right at home if you've ever played Crazy Eights. If you're still not with me, here's a basic breakdown.

Behold … The Card of Doom!

Uno is played with four players, with each player being dealt seven cards. The goal of the game is to get rid of all your cards, which you can do in one of the three following ways:

• Match the suit of the last card played.
• Match the number of the last card played.
• Play a colorless wild card.

If you can't play a card, you must either draw one, or draw as many cards as you need until you can play, depending on how you set the rules. Once you play your second to last card, you must call "Uno" by tapping X before playing it. If you don't, you can be challenged by an opponent and then you'll have to suffer a two card penalty. Uno is also filled with wild cards that:

• Change the color of the suit to whatever you choose.
• Change the color of the suit and force the next player to draw four cards.
• Force the next player to draw two cards.
• Flips the rotation of play.
• Force the player opposite of you to play next.

Thirty-Fifth Anniversary Edition
If you have downloaded the full version of Uno, you can also download the Thirty-Fifth Anniversary Edition free. Aside from a more festive looking deck, this edition throws a wild new rule into the mix. Special Thirty-Fifth Anniversary Edition cards litter the deck. When you play one, your opponent must play a three, a five, or another Anniversary Edition card to avoid a penalty.

Draw from your Uno weapon of choice.   

The Draw
Uno is a classic party card game that rises to its full online potential when you face down three other opponents. Helpfully, if you don't have enough people, the computer will stand in for you until more opponents stop by.

Uno also comes with the requisite leaderboards, plus custom house rules, partner play, and achievements worth up to 200 Gamerscore points. Some Xbox Live Arcade titles offer brutally difficult goals, but you can net the full 200 Gamerscore in Uno naturally over the course of play and sometimes just within the space of a few hours. In keeping with many of the titles on Xbox Live Arcade, you'll find Uno to be simple, but addictive and vastly entertaining. You might just be surprised at how much it starts to eat into your gaming time. 

Article by Ryan Treit