Uno Ultimate: DC Version

• Designer: Aaron Weil
• Publisher: Mattel
• Players: 2-4
• Age: 7+
• Time: 30 minutes
• Played with copy provided by publisher

If you can’t be a superhero at least you can play UNO like one with the DC Comics UNO Ultimate Card Game! Each player chooses the identity of a DC character who has powers you can use on every turn! After you choose your character, you play the game with a corresponding Character Deck.  

In the UNO Ultimate card game you match colors, numbers, and symbols just like classic UNO. Each Character Deck has special power and Wild Cards designed just for that character. There’s also a Danger Deck with “Event”, “Enemy”, “Item” and “Location” cards that can really change the game!

Like any great superhero battle, there’s going to be a lot of powers and stuff lying around, so buckle-up and pay attention! There are also two ways to win: Get rid of all your cards in your hand or be the last player standing with cards in their character deck. Look out for more add-on decks to expand your game (sold separately)

In Uno Ultimate, the designer has taken the very familiar game of UNO and added individual character decks to the equation.  In the game, each player chooses which superhero they want to play, and they take the individual deck for that character.  The choices are: 

Aquaman: The king of the seven seas, Aquaman needs to have his locations in play to really take control of the game. Use your cards to “fish” for new locations and get the benefits of battling in your character-specific locations as well as from your character power.

Wonder Woman: Always thirsting for battle, Wonder Woman thrives when she is fighting and defeating enemies. Play your “!” Cards purposefully to get enemies into the game so you can then defeat them! Don’t be afraid to keep Enemy Cards around longer to activate your character power when you need to take control of the game.

Superman: More powerful than a locomotive and faster than a speeding bullet. The big blue Boy Scout is not to be underestimated. With a well-balanced deck of utility wild cards, Superman is perfect for going up against any other character. Since his power is reactive make sure to always be on your toes when someone tries to skip you.

Green Lantern: Protector of sector 2814, Hal Jordan battles with all his will and might. As a Green Lantern, your power is related to your willpower. Green Lantern’s power mirrors his will power. Use his character power strategically when you have powerful cards in your burn pile to surprise your opponents. Remember to keep an eye on your character deck so it doesn’t get down to only a few cards!

Once each player has chosen their character, they separate off their Danger Deck cards.  All players combine their Danger cards to make a single Danger Deck for the game.  Each player takes their character card and lays it on the table, and then shuffles their own Character deck, drawing seven cards for their initial hand.  The Character card stays out all game, and each character has a unique ability which can be triggered/activated during the game.

Players will need space on the table in front of them for their Character card, a draw pile and a Burn pile.  Burned cards are generally taken from the top of your deck – and you will be instructed by cards and attacks when to Burn cards.  There is a single discard pile in the center of the table which all players will play to.

As with UNO, you win by ridding your hand of cards.  However, you can also win by being the last player with cards left in your Character deck.  In general, you play cards by matching either the number, symbol, or color of the card on top of the discard pile.   Wild cards can be played on any card, and each one in this game comes with unique instructions that must  be followed.  The Action cards which you are used to seeing are still in the game

• +2 – Draw Two – the next player in turn order must draw two cards from their deck into their hand
• Skip – the next player loses their turn
• Reverse – change the direction of play

There are a few extra rules thrown in.  Some of the cards have a Danger icon above the number (an orange starburst with an exclamation point) – when this happens, the top card of the danger deck is flipped over and this will change the game up.  It might be a Location card that shows a specific location associated with one of the Characters in the game.  There can be one in play at any time.  Each comes with special rules/bonuses/penalties as shown on the card.  It might be an Item card which gives special benefits to the player who holds it.  It might be an event card which has specific instructions.

Additionally, each character has Enemy Cards found in their deck.  If one if drawn, it is kept in front of your character card, and it comes with instructions on what it does when drawn and then at the start of each turn when it attacks you.  It remains in front of the character until the defeat cost is played by the player.

The game turns out to be an interesting meld of standard UNO and a CCG/TCG.  You can focus on just winning the usual way – getting your hand empty of cards by matching the discard pile (and don’t forget to yell out UNO! When you have a single card left).  However, the Danger Deck and the enemies definitely make this feel a bit more fight-y.  

While the bulk of the game is still UNO, there is certainly more to think about on a turn.  Now, you have to check to see if someone is fighting your hero, decide if you’re going to do anything about it, and then still try to play onto the discard pile.  As the game wears on, the amount of cards that you have to burn may become an issue – because you can lose if your deck runs out – so be sure to pay attention to this!

For gamers who like superhero themed games, this is a great fit.  For people who are looking for something slightly more complex but still feeling comfortable, this UNO variant is a good option.  It is expandable as there are more hero decks available and everyone can choose the character they want to play!  

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Until your next appointment

The Gaming Doctor