Of all card games, UNO has grown in popularity since former American Barber, Merle Robbins, released the first original deck in 1971. UPI reported on January 23, 1992, that Mattel had an agreement to purchase international games, Inc.
According to PHL17, the card game is now considered “more popular than ever.” There are currently over 600 versions of UNO, some include significantly more aggressive game play than the original, like UNO no mercy, UNO liars, and UNO flip. There are also many that keep the same set of rules, yet just change the theme. Stores don’t just sell cards, but items Mattel has made to go with the game as well.
A high school Junior in Liverpool, England said with mock seriousness, “I’m not being funny or anything UNO makes me flip tables!”
Have you ever come across a video or a moment when you’re actively playing the game, and think, “Why are people so competitive about UNO?” Well, students in the CCSD school district might answer your question. A Liberty High School Junior, Mia Hafen, shared her response, “I think people get so competitive because the game becomes very fast paced when you make it towards the end, and you’re trying to figure out what color their last card is while also trying to lay your last card down.” The game is no longer simple, but now more intense and strategic. Easily placing cards that match has now become a mindset of sabotage and determination to many that play today.
Junior Liberty student, Carly Thomas – “It causes family feuds in my family.”
Many students during their free time, at lunch, and in class when allowed, play UNO. Some say it’s a good way to break the ice since the tension in the game rises high. Though, not everyone plays just for fun. As indicated by Mattel, there was an UNO championship launched by the company in November, 2021 that is still active. It was powered by Mobil 1 in Las Vegas, NV. Finalists occasionally compete for thousands of dollars and “the honor of being crowned the first official UNO World Champion” across different years, considering there isn’t a consistent schedule for the event. Most recently, there was a championship held on February 8, 2026, at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, NV, where qualifiers went head-to-head to win $10,000. A student who chooses to stay anonymous said “I would not compete against UNO for thousands of dollars.” On the other hand, graduate Alvin Campos says, “I would 100% compete…because UNO, unlike other card games, does not need an advanced skill set to get an upper hand, just a good sense of logic.”
When it comes to rules of the game, many will argue what they believe is right. “House Rules” are considered rules not officially on the directions, but made up or agreed on before the game. This is a way to make the game more chaotic and fun. Stacking has also become a debate between an abundance of players. Liberty Senior, Sarahi Reyes, also finds stacking to be a “reasonable” argument because “everyone plays differently and everyone has different interpretations.” Connecting to Reyes point, Campos says, draw two cards are allowed to be stacked, but draw 4 cards shouldn’t be stacked at all.
Currently, UNO still stands as a family favorite card game among young teens and has even gained enough popularity to result in championships at the national level. The next time you’re curious about what game to play on family game night, choose UNO to shake up your night!
