Crazy Eights
A shedding-type card game where players take turns matching cards by suit or rank. Eights are wild and can change the suit, giving the game its name.
What You'll Need
About This Game
A shedding-type card game where players take turns matching cards by suit or rank. Eights are wild and can change the suit, giving the game its name.
How to Play
- Deal 5 cards to each player (or 7 for two players)
- Place remaining deck face-down as draw pile
- Flip top card to start discard pile
- Players must play a card matching suit or rank of top discard
- Eights are wild: can be played anytime and player names new suit
- If unable to play, draw until you can (or pass if draw pile empty)
- First to empty their hand wins the round
- Score opponent's remaining cards: face cards = 10, 8s = 50, others = face value
- First to 100 points loses (or play single rounds)
Where to Buy
History & Background
Crazy Eights evolved from the German game "Mau-Mau" in the 1930s. The name comes from the military designation for a mentally unstable discharge ("Section 8"), playing on the game's "crazy" wild cards.
The game gained popularity during World War II among American soldiers who sought simple, quick card games. It spread globally as soldiers returned home and taught it to their families.
Crazy Eights inspired numerous commercial variants, most notably Uno (1971), which added colored cards and special action cards. The basic mechanic of matching suits or ranks while using wild cards became a template for countless games.
Today, Crazy Eights remains a staple of family game nights and casual play. Its simple rules make it accessible to children while maintaining enough interest for adults, and it requires only a standard deck of cards.