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?

If this sounds like you, then you may want to read about the Phase 10 rules.

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.

Like any good Rummy game, forming melds is key. 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.

What Is Phase 10?

Phase 10 shares elements of gameplay with Rummy games such as Five Crowns and Conquian. It also differs in several ways though, so that it becomes a unique game in its own right.

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. The player with the lowest score after all 10 phases get completed is the winner of the game.

The game originally dates back to 1982 until game giants Mattel bought the rights to the game in 2010. However, the Phase 10 rules and same fun gameplay has stayed the same ever since its creation date.

Number of Players Required: Recommended for 2 – 6 players.

Who Can Play It: Designed for all ages.

Difficulty: Easy, although harder for young kids to pick up as it can be a long game.

Length of Play: 60 minutes (5 – 10 minutes per round)

Similar to: Michigan Rummy; Pitty Pat; Five Crowns; UNO; Pic Flip; Skip-BO

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. There is also the secondary aim of getting rid of all your cards first as well. Scores get given based on the remaining cards in the player’s hands, with the lowest score winning.

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. Anyone in the family can join and have great fun playing it, and games can also get really involved and tactical as well.

Playing Phase 10 – What You’ll Need

Phase 10 requires its own unique deck before playing – unfortunately you cannot use a standard 52 card deck for this game.

Fortunately, due to Phase 10’s popularity, the deck of Phase 10 cards that you need is widely available to purchase.

A deck of Phase 10 cards should include 110 cards made up of:

• 2 reference card which displays all the phases
• 24 numbered red cards
• 24 numbered blue cards
• 24 numbered green cards
• 24 numbered yellow cards

• 4 skip cards, which allows players to force the left player to miss a go.
• 8 wild cards, which act as any number that’s needed to complete a sequence.

If you are also someone who really enjoys their card games, developers Mattell make Phase 10. As a result, they have sets available with both UNO and Pic Flip included as well.

One of the most frustrating things about card games is that the actual cards themselves are so easily ruined, but consider buying a card-carrying case to avoid that possibility.

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.