Just opened the box for Mario Uno and ready to race to the finish line? Let’s skip the confusing little rulebook. Getting your game started is as easy as 1-2-3, and this guide provides the official Mattel Super Mario Uno directions to get you playing in minutes. This guide focuses only on the Super Mario Uno setup and deal, ensuring you start the game correctly every single time. To know more, check out UFAZEED
First, pick a dealer (the youngest player goes first, according to the rules!), who will then prepare the game. This simple three-step process is all you need to know about how to play Uno Super Mario from the get-go:
- Shuffle the deck and deal 7 cards, face-down, to each player.
- Place the rest of the cards face-down in the center to create the Draw Pile.
- Flip the top card of the Draw Pile over to start a new, face-up stack. This becomes the Discard Pile.
But what happens if that first card on the Discard Pile is an Action Card, like a Skip or Reverse? The rules state the player to the left of the dealer must perform that action immediately. For example, if a Draw 2 is the first card, Player 1 must draw two cards and their turn is skipped. Now, let’s-a-go!
The Core Rule of Your Turn: How to Match Cards
Once the game is set up, the player to the left of the dealer starts. Your goal on every turn is simple: play one card from your hand that matches the card sitting on top of the Discard Pile. A match can be made in two ways: by color or by number/symbol. For example, if Princess Peach starts the game by flipping over a Red 4, the next player could play any of their red cards or any card that has a 4 on it, regardless of its color.
But what happens if you look at your hand and realize you have no moves? If you cannot match the top card by either color or number, you must draw one new card from the face-down Draw Pile. Take that card and add it to your hand. Normally, your turn would end right there.
However, you might get a lucky break! If the single card you just drew can be legally played (meaning it matches the Discard Pile’s color or number), you are allowed to play it immediately. If you can’t play it, your turn is over, and you simply keep the new card. This core loop of matching or drawing is the heart of the game, but things get exciting when you start using special Action Cards.
How to Use the Classic Action Cards: Skip, Reverse, and Draw 2
Action Cards are your chance to change the game’s rhythm and put your opponents in a tough spot. Unlike number cards, playing one of these forces a special action to happen. To play an Action Card, you still must match it to the top card of the Discard Pile by color or by its symbol. For example, you can play a Red Skip on any other red card, or on any other color Skip card.
The simplest of these are the Skip and Reverse cards. When you play a Skip card, the very next player in line loses their turn completely. The game simply “skips” over them to the following player. The Reverse card is just as straightforward: it flips the direction of play. If the game was moving clockwise (to the left), it now moves counter-clockwise (to the right), and vice-versa, until another Reverse card is played.
Forcing an opponent to add cards to their hand is a key part of winning, which is what makes the Draw 2 card so powerful. If you play this card, the next player must draw two cards from the Draw Pile and, just as importantly, they lose their turn for that round. Imagine Bowser plays a Yellow Draw 2; the next player, Mario, must take two cards and can’t do anything else.
Mastering these three cards is essential for both offense and defense. They give you a little more control over the chaos of the Mushroom Kingdom. However, even these cards pale in comparison to the game-changing power of the Wild cards, which let you take control of the color itself.
The Power of Wild Cards: How to Change the Color and Wreak Havoc
Sometimes, you just don’t have the right color to play. That’s where the standard Wild card saves the day. You can play this card on top of any other card, regardless of its color or number. After playing it, you simply announce which color you want the game to continue with. If the pile is yellow but all you have are green cards, play a Wild, declare “Green,” and keep the game moving.
For a truly devastating move, there’s the Wild Draw 4. This card is a double-whammy: you get to choose the next color of play, and the next player must draw four cards and lose their turn. However, there’s a huge catch! You are only supposed to play this card if you have no other cards in your hand that match the COLOR of the top card on the discard pile. You can still legally play it if you have a card of the same number but a different color.
What if you suspect a player used a Wild Draw 4 illegally? You can challenge them! If you issue a challenge, the player who used the card must show you their hand. If they played it illegally (meaning they did have a card of the matching color), they must draw the four cards themselves. But be careful—if your challenge is wrong and they were telling the truth, you must draw the original four cards plus two extra penalty cards, for a total of six!
These Wild cards can turn the tide of a game in an instant, representing the peak of power in classic Uno. But the Mushroom Kingdom has its own special tricks that can even counter these mighty cards.
The Mario Twist: What Does the Invincible Super Star Card Do?
Just when you think a Wild Draw 4 has sealed your fate, Mario’s most iconic power-up comes to the rescue. Think of the Super Star card as your personal shield, an invincible moment just like in the video games. This is a special defensive card that you can play even when it’s not your turn to protect yourself from a Draw card attack, turning the tables in an instant.
Here’s how this powerful reversal works. When another player targets you with either a Draw 2 or a Wild Draw 4 card, you can immediately play the Super Star card from your hand. Instead of you drawing cards, the penalty is bounced right back at the attacker! They must draw the two or four cards, while you remain completely safe from the attack.
Imagine Bowser plays a Wild Draw 4 on you, trying to knock you out of the running. If you have a Super Star card, you can play it right on top of his card. Now, Bowser must draw four cards himself! After he draws, the attack is over, and the game continues with you taking your turn as normal. But the Super Star isn’t the only surprise the Mushroom Kingdom has in store; the Item Box holds its own chaotic surprises.
Unleash Chaos with Mario’s Item Box Card: The Rules Explained
If the Super Star is all about defense, the Item Box card is pure, chaotic offense. This special card acts like a Wild card, meaning you can play it on top of any color to change the active color of play. But its real power lies in the surprise it forces upon the next player—just like hitting an item block in a Mario game, you never know exactly what they’re going to get.
Using this card is simple but effective. After you play the Item Box card and declare the new color, the very next player must immediately draw the top card from the Draw Pile and show it to everyone. This is where the fun begins, as the card they reveal determines their fate. Their turn is then over, regardless of the outcome.
The result of that draw creates a moment of high-stakes luck. If the player reveals a number card (any card from 1-9), they are in trouble! They must draw that number of cards from the pile. For example, if Peach draws a Blue 7, she has to pick up seven new cards. However, if they draw an Action Card or a Wild Card, they get off easy—they simply add that single card to their hand.
How to Win the Round by Correctly Shouting “UNO!”
Getting down to your last card is exciting, but there’s one critical step you can’t forget if you want to win. The moment you play your second-to-last card, leaving just one in your hand, you must proudly shout “UNO!” This signals to all other players that you are on the verge of winning the round. Think of it as your victory lap announcement before you cross the finish line.
Forgetting this crucial shout can snatch victory from your grasp. If you don’t say “UNO!” and another player catches you before the next person’s turn begins, you receive a penalty. You must immediately draw two cards from the pile, taking you further from the win. For example, if Luigi quietly plays a card and is left with one, but Bowser notices and calls him out, poor Luigi’s hand suddenly jumps back up to three cards.
This rule also works in your favor, so pay attention! If an opponent is down to one card and forgets to yell, you can be the one to catch them and force them to draw. It’s a key part of the Mario Uno card game rules that can turn the tables in an instant.
From Round Winner to Game Champion: How Scoring Works
Winning a round feels great, but the game isn’t over yet! The true goal in Super Mario Uno is to be the first player to reach a total of 500 points. Going out first by playing all your cards is simply how you get the chance to rack up those points and race ahead of your friends and family.
Here’s how Super Mario Uno scoring works: the player who went out gets all the points for that round. You, as the round’s winner, get to collect every card left in your opponents’ hands. If Peach goes out while Mario is holding three cards and Bowser is holding five, Peach gets the points for all eight of those cards.
To figure out your score, you just need to add up the value of each card you collected. The values are simple and consistent:
- Number Cards (0-9): Worth their face value (e.g., a 7 is 7 points)
- Draw 2, Reverse, & Skip Cards: 20 Points each
- Wild, Wild Draw 4, Super Star, & Item Box Cards: 50 Points each
Keep a running tally after each round. The first person to hit that 500-point milestone is crowned the ultimate champion of the Mushroom Kingdom.
Super Mario Uno vs. Classic Uno: A 60-Second Breakdown
If you’ve played a game of classic Uno, you’re already 95% of the way to mastering Super Mario Uno. The good news is that the core rules are exactly what you remember: match cards by color or number, and use the familiar Skip, Reverse, and Draw 2 cards to disrupt the turn order. You don’t need to relearn the fundamentals of how to play, so you can jump into the action much faster.
The key difference—and where the Mushroom Kingdom chaos comes in—lies with two powerful special cards unique to this version. Instead of just standard Wilds, this game introduces the Super Star Card and the Wild Item Box Card. These cards add exciting new ways to protect yourself or create chaos. Mastering these two cards is the only new skill you need to learn to claim victory.
Settle Any Argument: Your Quick-Answer Rule Guide
It happens in every game of Uno: a controversial play brings the action to a halt. Is that move even legal? Whether you’re learning how to play Uno for 2 players or with a whole party, arguments can slow down the fun. To keep the game moving, here are the official answers to the most common questions, based on the Mattel Super Mario Uno directions.
- Can you stack Draw cards? (e.g., play a Draw 2 on a Draw 2) No. This is the most common house rule, but it’s not in the official rulebook. If someone plays a Draw 2 on you, your turn is skipped and you must draw the two cards. You cannot “stack” another Draw card to pass the penalty to the next player.
- What happens if you don’t say “UNO!”? If you don’t say “UNO!” before the next player begins their turn, another player can catch you. If they do, you have to draw two penalty cards.
- Can you win the game by playing a special card? Absolutely. Your final card can be a Skip, a Wild Draw 4, or even a Super Star card. Go out with a bang!
- What if the Draw Pile runs out of cards? Don’t panic! Just leave the top card of the Discard Pile in place, then shuffle the rest of the discards. This shuffled stack becomes the new Draw Pile.
With these key rules clarified, you can handle any dispute and keep the focus where it belongs: getting rid of your cards and racing to that final, glorious “UNO!”
Your Strategy for Winning
While matching colors and numbers will get you through a turn, understanding the special Mario cards gives you a strategic edge, turning a simple game of luck into one of fun and strategy. The best way to win is to master the two unique cards.
Think of the Super Star card as your ultimate defense—a perfect shield to turn an opponent’s attack right back at them. Use the Item Box card for pure, chaotic offense, giving you a chance to unleash a game-changing ability. Focusing on when to play these two cards is your path to victory.
Now you have all the rules you need to go from shuffling the deck to shouting “UNO!” in your very first game. Just remember to protect yourself with the Super Star and cause a little chaos with the Item Box. Now, grab your friends and family—it’s-a-time to play!
