Mattel Phase 10 Card Game – A Chill Little Upgrade for Game Night

If you like UNO or simple rummy games but want a bit more tension and progress, the Mattel Games Phase 10 Card Game on Amazon.ca is exactly that: familiar, but with a twist.

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What is Phase 10, in plain terms?

Phase 10 is a rummy-style card game where everyone is racing through a list of 10 "phases."

Each phase is basically a small goal made of specific card combinations, like:

• Sets of the same number (for example, three 7s)

• Runs in number order (like 1–7)

• Multiple cards of the same colour

You start at Phase 1 and try to complete it before the others. Finish a phase? You move on to the next one. If you don't? You're stuck repeating it while other people pull ahead, which is both funny and slightly painful.

It's simple enough for casual players, but there's still that satisfying "I finally did it" moment when you lay your phase down.

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The basics at a glance

This version is:

• Brand: Mattel Games

• Age: Recommended for 7 years and up

• Players: Typically 2 to 6 players

• Theme: Card play / rummy-style

• Material: Paper cards

• Size: Roughly 9 × 11.5 × 1.8 cm and light enough to toss in a bag

It's literally just a box of cards and instructions. No batteries. No apps. No tiny plastic pieces to step on.

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What's actually in the box?

You get a dedicated Phase 10 deck with:

• Numbered cards in four colours

• Wild cards (these can stand in for anything and save your life at the last second)

• Skip cards (these let you skip another player's turn, which is where friendships are tested)

• A rules sheet that explains all ten phases

It's built to be portable and low-maintenance: small box, no setup beyond shuffling and dealing.

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How the game flows

A round of Phase 10 usually looks like this:

1. Everyone tries to complete the same numbered phase (Phase 1, then 2, and so on).

2. On your turn, you draw a card and discard one.

3. If at some point you can lay down the full requirement for your current phase (like "two sets of three" or "one run of seven"), you put those cards on the table.

4. After that, you try to get rid of the rest of your cards by playing onto your own or others' sets/runs.

5. When someone runs out of cards, the round ends; players who completed their phase move on, others repeat it next round.

The charm of the game is that people progress at different speeds. Someone might sprint ahead early, then suddenly get stuck on a later phase while others quietly catch up. That swingy feeling is a big part of the drama and fun.

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Colourblind-friendly design

One cool detail on this Amazon.ca version: it's colourblind accessible. Each card has graphic symbols that show the colour, so even if red/green/blue look similar to you, you can still play without guessing.

It's a small touch but a meaningful one, especially for mixed groups and families.

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Who will actually enjoy Phase 10?

This deck works well if you're looking for:

• Family game night: The rules are simple enough for older kids (around 7+) but still interesting for adults.

• Casual hangouts: It's easy to chat while playing, since turns are straightforward.

• Travel or cottage trips: The box is small, doesn't need a big table, and no pieces get lost in the car.

• People who like progress-based games: That feeling of "Phase 5 unlocked!" keeps people engaged longer than a plain one-round card game.

On Amazon.ca, the game has a strong 4.7 out of 5 rating with thousands of reviews, plus an Amazon's Choice badge in its category, which is usually a good sign that it's a reliable, widely-liked pick.

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What makes it stand out?

A few things that make Phase 10 more than "just another card game":

1. Clear sense of progression

You're not just trying to win a single hand; you're moving through a ladder of goals. That gives the game a light campaign feel, even though it's just cards.

2. A mix of luck and planning

• The luck comes from the draw (of course).

• The strategy comes from when you lay down your phase, how you use wild cards, and how you manage your hand so you don't get stuck holding high-value cards when someone goes out.

It's not a heavy strategy game, but it isn't brainless either.

3. Easy to teach

Most people who've played UNO, Rummy, or any matching game will get the idea in a couple of turns. Many reviewers call it easy to pick up and good for mixed ages.

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Little caveats to keep in mind

No game is perfect, and Phase 10 has a few quirks:

• It can run long

  With more players, the full 10 phases can take a while. Some reviewers and board game folks mention that it feels too long if you play strictly by the original rules and don't stop early.

• Luck can feel swingy

  If you're stuck waiting on one specific card to complete a phase, it can be frustrating, especially when someone else breezes through. Some people love that drama; others find it annoying.

• Player elimination-ish feeling

  You're never actually eliminated, but being stuck on an earlier phase while someone is several phases ahead feels bad. A lot of groups soften this by agreeing to play fewer phases (like up to Phase 8) or setting a time limit instead of finishing all ten.

If your group likes relaxed, chatty games where winning isn't super serious, those "downsides" probably won't bother you much.

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When is Phase 10 a good choice?

This deck fits nicely in these situations:

• You want something more engaging than UNO, but not as complex as big board games.

• You're hosting people who don't play a lot of games and need something easy to explain.

• You want a small, cheap-ish game to throw into an order for free shipping.

• You like games where there's a story by the end: "Remember when you were stuck on Phase 4 for half an hour and then suddenly caught up?"

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Final thoughts

The Mattel Games Phase 10 Card Game on Amazon.ca is one of those low-effort, high-use items: small price, big mileage. You're getting:

• A portable, family-friendly game

• Simple rules with a sense of progress

• Enough luck and chaos to keep everyone talking

If your game shelf currently has things like UNO, Skip-Bo, or Monopoly Deal and you're looking for another easy card game that can quietly take over a whole evening, Phase 10 fits right in.