I first played Uno when I was a child.  I have continued to enjoy the game over the years.  I recently picked up a special version of the game, Harry Potter Uno.

Uno is a card game played with a special deck that was created in 1971 by Merle Robbins.  The first decks were created in his home and he sold them himself before eventually selling the rights to the game to International Games in 1981.  The game has been made by Mattel since 1992.  Over the years I have seen different special versions of the game, usually connected to a televison show or movie.  

Harry Potter Uno comes in a small box that holds the game cards and the directions.  The box clearly states that this is the Harry Potter version of the game.  There is a little sticker over the top of the box that has to be removed the first time the box is opened.  The cards are in two piles in the box, covered in shrink wrap.  After playing, the cards need to be put back into two piles to fit back in the box.  

Contents

There are 112 cards in the game in four different colors and some special cards.  There are nineteen cards of each color, numbered zero through nine.  Each color has two draw two cards, two reverse cards, and two skip cards.  The last cards are four wild cards, four wild draw four cards, and four Voldemort cards.  The backs of the cards have an image of Harry, Ron, and Hermione and say Harry Potter Uno on them.  The cards feature different characters from the Harry Potter movies.  All of the same cards have the same character regardless of the color.  For example, all of the four cards feature Professor McGonagall on them.  The characters are pictures of the actors as the characters from the movies and not just illustrations of the characters.  The rules are included on a folding piece of paper that also explains what the different special cards do.

Special Cards

The special cards in Harry Potter Uno include draw two, reverse, skip, wild, draw four wild, and Voldemort.  When the draw two card is played, the next player must draw two cards.  Play then goes on to the next player.  If the reverse card is played, the direction of the play changes.  For example, game play starts going to the left.  When a reverse card is play, the direction changes to the right.  The skip card makes the next player lose their turn.  Those three special cards have symbols in two corners to indicate what they are.  The wild card allows the current player to pick a new color that continues game play.  The wild draw four card does the same thing, though the next player has to draw four cards.  This card can only be used when the player has no other playable card.  

The Voldemort card is a special card just for Harry Potter Uno.  When a player uses this card, they can also discard all of the cards they currently have in their hand that have an image of Harry Potter on them.  The last card discarded determines the color and/or number that continues the play.  If the player doesn’t have any Harry Potter cards, they can use the Voldemort card like a wild card and pick a new color to continue the play.  I did see some information online about this version of the game that mentioned other special cards, so there could be an earlier Harry Potter Uno.  There is a copyright date of 2010 on the back of the box of the one I have.

Game Play

Harry Potter Uno is played the same way traditional Uno is played.   It is for ages seven and older and for two to ten players.  The players draw cards and whoever gets the highest number acts as the dealer.  Each person gets seven cards and the person to the left of the dealer goes first.  The remaining cards are put face down in a draw pile and the top card is turned over to start the discard pile.  On a turn, the player has to put a card in the discard pile that matches the color, number, or symbol of the top card in the discard pile.  The turn ends and it is the next player’s turn.  

The wild cards can be used to change the color being played when the player doesn’t have another card that can be used.  If the player doesn’t have any card that can be used, they have to draw one card from the draw pile.  If the card can be played, they play it.  If it can’t be played, the turn ends.  I know of some people who use an alternate rule with this, making people draw until they can play a card.  Players can choose not to play a playable card and draw a card instead.  

When a player only has one card left, they have to say Uno.  If they don’t say it and someone points it out before the next player goes, the original player has to draw two cards.  Once a player is out of cards, the round ends.  If the cards in the draw pile run out before a player runs out of cards, the discard pile is shuffled and a new draw pile is started.  Points are added up and then a new round begins.  Points are given to the person who ran out of cards based on the cards that are left in the other player’s hands.  The first player to reach 500 points wins.  I have also played it where the people who have cards left get points for their cards.  The game ends once someone gets to 500 points and the person with the lowest amount of points wins.  

Uno is a fun, family friendly game.  Harry Potter Uno gives a little twist to the game by using cards with characters from the movies and having a special Voldemort card.  It is a fun variation on the game.  Fans of Harry Potter may enjoy having this version of the game.

Harry Potter Book Reviews
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone ~ Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets ~ Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban ~ Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire ~ Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix ~ Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince ~ Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows ~ The Tales of Beedle the Bard ~ Harry Potter Film Wizardry ~ Harry Potter Page to Screen: The Complete Filmmaking Journey ~

Harry Potter Movie Reviews
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone ~ Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets ~ Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban ~ Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire ~ Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix ~ Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince ~ Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 ~ Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 ~ Discovering the Real World of Harry Potter ~

Other Harry Potter Related Reviews
Scene It? Harry Potter 2nd Edition (Trivia Game) ~ 2011 Harry Potter Golden Snitch Ornament (Hallmark Ornament) ~

Recommended: Yes

Amount Paid (US$): 7.00
Type of Toy: Game