UNO

UNO is the digital version of the Mattel card game by Ubisoft Chengdu. As with the physical original, players try to be the first to get rid of all their cards. The video game version combines familiar action cards with computer opponents, online matches and selectable house rules. Additional card designs and rule packs expand the base game without giving up the original UNO rules.

The Ubisoft version launched on Aug 16, 2016 on PS4 and Xbox One. Steam gives Dec 8, 2016 as the release date for the PC version. Nintendo Switch followed in 2017. Since Nov 2, 2023, there have also been native versions for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. The different dates refer to specific platform and store releases, not a single global launch.

UNO is available for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and Nintendo Switch. On PC, Steam and Ubisoft Connect are among the available distribution channels. Nintendo lists the Switch version as compatible with Switch 2, but still names Switch as the system: this is not a confirmed native Switch 2 release. Online play may require platform-specific accounts and subscriptions.

The basic rule stays familiar: a discarded card must match the card on the pile by color, number or symbol. Action cards can reverse the direction of play, skip a player or force a draw. Wild cards let you choose a different color. A player down to their last card must call UNO. The digital interface handles dealing and turns; tactical decisions still lie with the players.

UNO has several optional expansions alongside the base game. UNO Flip! introduces a two-sided card deck. Show 'Em No Mercy adds its own rules and extra action cards, while UNO FLEX! adds a mechanic for altered card effects. Themed packs such as Fenyx's Quest, The Call of Yara and Valhalla set different accents. The standard edition does not include this additional content automatically.

According to Steam, the Windows version of UNO requires at least 4 GB RAM and 3 GB free storage. The store lists an Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 or AMD Phenom II X4 945 as processor, and a GeForce GTS 450 or Radeon HD 5670 as graphics card. For current installations, Ubisoft lists Windows 10 or Windows 11. A Ubisoft account and Ubisoft Connect are required to activate the PC version.

Besides the classic rules, alternative house rules can be activated before a match. Ubisoft and Nintendo list Stacking, the 7-0 rule and Jump-In as selectable options. These variants affect, among other things, how certain action cards are handled and how hand cards are dealt. Several house rules can be combined, which can noticeably change how a round plays out.

UNO can be played alone against computer opponents and in multiplayer. Nintendo lists local, local wireless and online matches for Switch, each with different participant limits. PlayStation supports online matches with up to four people, but requires PlayStation Plus for this. The announcement of the PS5 and Xbox Series versions describes playing with friends on the same platform. No general crossplay between all systems should be inferred from this.

The standard edition contains the digital card game with its basic rules and the selectable house rules. Additional game variants are sometimes sold individually or bundled in collections. For the Nintendo Switch version of the Ultimate Edition, Nintendo names UNO Flip!, the anniversary content and Party! Mania, for example. Which packs are included should be checked against the specific store edition, rather than assuming a uniform scope across all platforms.

Beyond the rules, the visual presentation can be changed. The Switch version uses the MyDesign area for this, where card motifs, backgrounds, music and avatars can be adjusted. Some looks are unlocked in the game, others are part of additional theme packs. Such cosmetic content mainly changes appearance. New card effects and changed win conditions, by contrast, belong to separate rule expansions.