Don’t be fooled into thinking Uno Ultimate Edition is an entirely new game; it’s not – it’s simply a bundle which includes some DLC.
That doesn’t mean it’s not worth considering, though. If you don’t already own Uno on PS4, Xbox One or PC, then purchasing Uno Ultimate Edition is now the best way to play. If you do already own Uno, you’re better off buying the DLC separately. But however you do go about it, Uno Ultimate Edition‘s content is absolutely worth adding to your library.
If you’re not familiar with Uno, it’s a digital re-imagining of the physical card game of the same name. This videogame version allows you to play online with strangers or friends, or against AI bots. The rules are simple and easy to pick up: you start with a hand of seven cards, and to win you need to be the first to get rid of all your cards. You can play a card if it matches the colour or number of the one played before it. A few modifier cards change things up a bit (skip a turn, pick up cards, reverse order of play), but that’s the game in a nutshell. There’s a helpful tutorial to get you started, but within a round or two, you’ll feel like a pro.
“Once you’ve played a game of Uno Flip, it’s hard to go back to the regular deck”
How Uno Ultimate Edition differs from the base game is with the content that is bundled with it. It’s not a separate installation: if Uno is already in your games library, all you’re getting is some extra DLC so it’s not worth the asking price – it’s important to bear that in mind. You get three Uno card themes (one of which is free to download anyway) and a brand new game mode: Uno Flip.
Aside from the free theme (Winter), the other two (Rayman and Just Dance) change up play a little by adding some unique modifier cards. In the Rayman pack, for example, there’s a card that’ll shuffle and redistribute every player’s hand. They’re few and far between though; in half a dozen games of Rayman Uno, I only came across the special cards three or four times.
The real draw of Uno Ultimate Edition, however, is Uno Flip, which massively changes up standard Uno play. Here, your normal Uno hand has a ‘dark side’ on the reverse (and it turns out there’s a physical version of it, too). In play, if a player places a ‘change’ card, you flip over your deck to play with the reverse. Dark Uno cards have different modifiers, and constantly switching between two decks means you can never get complacent with the cards in your hand. It’s a hugely satisfying twist on an old classic which keeps gameplay feeling fresh and exciting. Once you’ve played a game of Uno Flip, it’s hard to go back to the regular deck.
“Uno Ultimate Edition‘s add-on content makes it an even sweeter deal, adding new and exciting modes of play”
Since the Uno Flip DLC is available on its own, if you already own Uno, it’s absolutely worth purchasing; it’ll cost you the princely sum of £3.99/$4.99. Each card theme is available on its own too, for £2.39/$2.99 a pop, which makes all the add-ons available separately for just £8.77/$10.97. The base game alone is £7.99/$9.99, so naturally Uno Ultimate Edition‘s asking price of £11.99/$14.99 makes it a steal for someone who doesn’t already own any of the content.
Uno remains to be one of the most enjoyable family card games out there, and its digitised version is just as fun as the real thing. Uno Ultimate Edition‘s add-on content – particularly Uno Flip – makes it an even sweeter deal, adding new and exciting modes of play. If you don’t already have Uno in your library, do yourself a favour and pick up Uno Ultimate Edition. Otherwise, just grab the Uno Flip DLC; you won’t regret it.
