Four Colors is a free online card game similar to UNO. Here is a complete guide to the rules, from setup to scoring, so you can start playing right away.

Four Colors is a fast-paced, color-matching card game in the tradition of UNO and Crazy Eights. The objective is simple: be the first player to empty your hand by matching cards by color or number and using action cards to disrupt your opponents.

This guide covers everything a new player needs to know to sit down and start playing right away.

The Deck

A standard Four Colors deck contains 108 cards across four colors — red, blue, green, and yellow:

  • Number cards (0–9): One 0 and two each of 1–9 per color (76 total).
  • Skip cards: Two per color (8 total). The next player loses their turn.
  • Reverse cards: Two per color (8 total). Play direction switches.
  • Draw Two cards: Two per color (8 total). The next player draws 2 cards and loses their turn.
  • Wild cards: 4 total. Can be played on anything; the player picks the next color.
  • Wild Draw Four cards: 4 total. The player picks the next color and the next player draws 4 cards.

Setup

  1. Shuffle the deck thoroughly.
  2. Deal 7 cards to each player.
  3. Place the remaining cards face-down to form the draw pile.
  4. Flip the top card of the draw pile face-up to create the discard pile. If the flipped card is a Wild Draw Four, return it to the deck and flip another.

How to Play

Play proceeds clockwise. On your turn you must play one card that matches the top card of the discard pile by color, number, or symbol. If you have no playable card, draw one from the draw pile. If the drawn card is playable, you may play it immediately; otherwise your turn ends.

Matching Rules

  • Same color: A red 5 can be played on any red card.
  • Same number: A blue 7 can be played on a red 7.
  • Same action: A green Skip can be played on a red Skip.
  • Wild cards: Can be played on any card regardless of color or number.

Action Cards Explained

Action cards add strategic depth and are the heart of what makes Four Colors exciting.

Skip

The next player in turn order loses their turn entirely. In a two-player game, this effectively gives you another turn.

Reverse

The direction of play switches. In a two-player game, Reverse functions identically to a Skip.

Draw Two

The next player must draw two cards from the draw pile and forfeit their turn. They cannot play a card that turn.

Wild

Play this card on any turn. You declare which color is now active. The next player must match that color or play another Wild.

Wild Draw Four

The most powerful card in the game. You choose the next color and the next player draws four cards and loses their turn. Officially this card should only be played when you have no other card matching the current color, but house rules vary.

Calling Out Your Last Card

When you play your second-to-last card, leaving yourself with just one card, you must announce it — typically by saying “last card” or a similar call. If you forget and another player catches you before the next player begins their turn, you must draw two penalty cards.

This rule adds tension to the endgame and rewards attentive players.

Winning the Round

The first player to play all of their cards wins the round. The round ends immediately when a player’s hand is empty, even if the last card played is an action card that would normally affect the next player — the effect still applies for scoring but no further turns are taken.

Scoring (Optional)

In multi-round games, the winner of each round scores points based on the cards remaining in opponents’ hands:

Card Points
Number cards (0–9) Face value
Skip / Reverse / Draw Two 20 points each
Wild / Wild Draw Four 50 points each

The first player to reach a target score (commonly 500) wins the overall game.

Quick Reference

  1. Match by color, number, or symbol.
  2. Draw one card if you cannot play.
  3. Call out when you are down to one card.
  4. First player to empty their hand wins.
  5. Wild cards can be played at any time.
  6. Action cards skip, reverse, or force draws.

With these rules in hand, you are ready to jump into your first game. The best way to learn is to play — the mechanics become second nature within a round or two.

Ready to play? Try Four Colors for free on Rare Pike — no download needed.