Players compete in the same phase at the same time. Play goes clockwise around the circle, so start the game with the player to the left of the dealer.Īs stated, you play Phase 10 in phases, and you must play these phases in order. Once the dealer deals all the cards and set-up is complete, the game can begin. This is important to note and we will cover that in this guide. You may have also noticed that the cards have the numbers 1-12, with there also being 2 of each card. You play Phase 10 very like other similar card games, so if you are a card game veteran a lot of the aspects of this game will be familiar to you already. Turn the top card of this deck over and place it next to it to become the discard pile. The remaining cards leftover in the deck get placed in the middle of all players face down and become the draw pile. The dealer then deals out 10 cards to each player, face down. Setting up Phase 10 is the same whether you are playing with 2 players or 6, and is easy enough so that kids will have no problems in setting up the game too.Ĭhoose a dealer and have them shuffle the deck. If you would like to play with more than 6 players, you can buy 2 Phase 10 decks and the gameplay still stays exactly the same as well. As a result, they have sets available with both UNO and Pic Flip included as well. If you are also someone who really enjoys their card games, developers Mattell make Phase 10.
8 wild cards, which act as any number that’s needed to complete a sequence.4 skip cards, which allows players to force the left player to miss a go.2 reference card which displays all the phases.Phase 10 requires its own unique deck before playing – unfortunately you cannot use a standard 52 card deck for this game.įortunately, due to Phase 10’s popularity, the deck of Phase 10 cards that you need is widely available to purchase.Ī deck of Phase 10 cards should include 110 cards made up of: Anyone in the family can join and have great fun playing it, and games can also get really involved and tactical as well. Why we love it: Phase 10 occupies that void between kids game that becomes too easy like UNO and Rummy games that are too complex like the Hand, Knee, and Foot card game. Scores get given based on the remaining cards in the player’s hands, with the lowest score winning. There is also the secondary aim of getting rid of all your cards first as well. Main Objective: Become the first player to complete all 10 of their phases by turning their cards into melds, hence the name of the game. Similar to: Michigan Rummy Pitty Pat Five Crowns UNO Pic Flip Skip-BO Length of Play: 60 minutes (5 – 10 minutes per round) Number of Players Required: Recommended for 2 – 6 players.ĭifficulty: Easy, although harder for young kids to pick up as it can be a long game. However, the Phase 10 rules and same fun gameplay has stayed the same ever since its creation date. The game originally dates back to 1982 until game giants Mattel bought the rights to the game in 2010. The player with the lowest score after all 10 phases get completed is the winner of the game. The key difference between Phase 10 and other versions of Rummy is that you have to complete 10 different types or match-ups in the game. It also differs in several ways though, so that it becomes a unique game in its own right. Phase 10 shares elements of gameplay with Rummy games such as Five Crowns and Conquian.
But when you can add your own cards to other player’s already formed melds, paying close attention to what’s going on around you can offer rewards.
Like any good Rummy game, forming melds is key. Phase 10 is a game that rewards players who can hold their nerve, but also requires players to have a keen eye to notice opportunities when they arise. If this sounds like you, then you may want to read about the Phase 10 rules. Are you someone who loves slightly challenging card games? And would rather have a long yet rewarding battle with their pals to crown the winner?