UNO Braille is the first official version of the classic UNO card game to include Braille on every card, letting blind, low-vision and sighted players share one deck. Released by Mattel in partnership with the National Federation of the Blind, it keeps the familiar matching-and-shedding gameplay intact while adding tactile markings that identify each card by touch. This guide explains how the Braille coding works, how to set up and play a match, how scoring is calculated, and how to keep games fair and inclusive for mixed-ability groups.
Key Points
- Official accessible edition: the first UNO deck with Braille, made by Mattel with the National Federation of the Blind (2019).
- One shared deck: every card has full-colour print plus Braille, so blind, low-vision and sighted players play together.
- Simple notation: colour letter + value, e.g. b7 for a blue 7.
- Same rules and scoring: match by colour, number or symbol; first to 500 points wins.
- Announce every card: saying each play out loud keeps the game fair for players tracking it by ear.
What Is UNO Braille?
UNO Braille launched on 1 October 2019 as the first official UNO deck printed with Braille. It was developed with the National Federation of the Blind, the largest organisation of blind people in the United States, so the game would be accessible to millions of blind and low-vision players. Every card carries both the standard full-colour print and raised Braille dots, which means nobody needs a separate deck and sighted players can join in without changing any rules. If you are new to the game overall, it helps to start with the beginner’s guide to the official UNO rules before adding the tactile layer.
The idea sits alongside other accessibility-focused releases such as UNO ColorADD, which uses symbols to help colour-blind players identify cards. UNO itself is one of the most widely recognised card games in the world and a fixture of family game nights everywhere, with a cultural reach documented on Wikipedia.
How the Braille Coding Works
Rather than using separate lines for colour and value, each card carries a single short Braille notation printed in two corners. The colour is shown by its first letter and the value follows immediately, so a blue 7 is written as b7. The four colour letters are b (blue), g (green), r (red) and y (yellow), and number cards simply add the digit 0–9. Because the notation is short and consistent, most players can identify a card with a single touch once they are used to the layout.
Braille Notation for Action and Wild Cards
Action cards combine the colour letter with a short code, while Wild cards use their own notation because they have no fixed colour. The table below shows the standard markings used across the deck.
| Card | Braille notation | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Number card (e.g. blue 7) | b7 | Match by colour or number. |
| Draw Two | b+2, g+2, r+2, y+2 | Next player draws 2 and misses a turn. |
| Reverse | brv, grv, rrv, yrv | Direction of play reverses. |
| Skip | bsk, gsk, rsk, ysk | Next player is skipped. |
| Wild | wi | Player chooses the next colour. |
| Wild Draw Four | wi+4 | Change colour; next player draws 4. |
Quick Facts
| Publisher | Mattel |
| Released | 1 October 2019 |
| Players | 2–10 |
| Recommended age | 7+ |
| Deck | 112 cards (108 play cards + 4 Quick Play Reference cards) |
| Braille | Colour + value printed in two corners of every card |
| Official rules | Mattel UNO Braille rules |
| Voice instructions | Amazon Alexa & Google Home; .BRF files from Mattel |
Setting Up the Game
The deck contains 112 cards in total: the standard 108-card play deck plus four Quick Play Reference cards that are set aside before dealing. To choose a dealer, each player draws a card and the highest number deals. The dealer shuffles and deals seven cards to each player, one at a time. The remaining cards form the draw pile, and the top card is turned over to start the discard pile.
Because touch replaces sight for some players, one simple habit keeps the whole game flowing: announce every card as it is played, for example “red five”. Any player may also touch the top card of the discard pile at any time to confirm what is in play, so nobody loses track of the current colour or number during the transition between turns.
Playing a Turn: Matching and Action Cards
On your turn you match the top card of the discard pile by colour, number or symbol. If you cannot match, you draw one card from the draw pile; if that card is playable you may play it straight away, otherwise your turn ends. Action cards behave exactly as in standard UNO: Skip passes over the next player, Reverse changes the direction of play, and Draw Two forces the next player to pick up two cards and miss their turn. Saying each action out loud keeps players who are tracking the game by ear aware of whose turn comes next.
Wild and Wild Draw Four
A Wild card lets you change the colour in play to any colour you choose — announce the new colour clearly so everyone knows the state of the game. A Wild Draw Four also changes the colour and makes the next player draw four cards, but it may only be played when you have no card matching the current colour. If you suspect it was played illegally you can challenge it, as set out in the full Wild Draw Four rules: a guilty player draws the four cards themselves, while a wrong challenge costs the challenger six. In UNO Braille a challenge is settled by having the hand read out or checked by a neutral player.
Saying “UNO” and Card Checks
When you play your second-to-last card, leaving a single card in hand, you must say “UNO”. If an opponent catches you before the next player takes their turn, you draw two penalty cards — the same rule covered in what happens if you forget to say UNO. Players tracking the game by sound can follow opponents by listening for cards being played and by calling a “Card Check”, where every player states how many cards they are holding. Giving an honest count is part of the etiquette that keeps the declaration a fair challenge for everyone.
Scoring and Winning
A round ends when one player empties their hand, and that player scores the value of every card still held by opponents. Number cards score their face value, action cards (Skip, Reverse and Draw Two) score 20 points each, and Wild and Wild Draw Four cards score 50 points each. The first player to reach 500 points wins the match. For worked examples across editions, see how scoring works in UNO.
| Card type | Points |
|---|---|
| Number cards (0–9) | Face value |
| Skip, Reverse, Draw Two | 20 each |
| Wild, Wild Draw Four | 50 each |
| Target to win the match | 500 points |
House Rules and Variations
Many households add optional “house rules” for extra fun. Popular ones include stacking Draw Two cards, “Jump-In” (playing an identical card out of turn) and the 7-0 rule for swapping hands. These are not part of Mattel’s official instructions — for example, whether stacking is allowed is a common point of confusion. Agree on any variations before you start, and keep them simple enough that players following the game by touch and sound can track the changes.
Tips for Inclusive, Accessible Play
A few practical habits make mixed-ability games smoother and fairer for everyone at the table:
- Announce every card and colour change out loud, every turn.
- Keep the draw and discard piles in fixed, agreed positions on the table.
- Allow players a moment to scan new cards by touch before play continues.
- Use a card holder to keep cards upright and correctly oriented, which also helps children.
- Do not touch another player’s cards unless invited to, such as during a challenge.
- Store the deck flat; crushed or bent Braille dots become harder to read.
Where to Find UNO Braille and Instructions
UNO Braille first launched exclusively at Target in the United States for US$9.99, and it has since been sold through Mattel and various toy and accessibility retailers. Availability and pricing vary by country and over time, so check current stock and cost with your local retailer. Mattel provides downloadable instructions in Braille Ready Format (.BRF) files, and voice-guided instructions are available through Amazon Alexa and Google Home. The full printed rules are also published on Mattel’s website.
Sources
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is UNO Braille the same game as regular UNO?
Yes. The rules, deck and gameplay are identical to standard UNO; the only difference is that Braille dots are added to every card so players can identify colour and value by touch.
How do the Braille markings show colour and number?
Each card uses one short notation printed in two corners, made of the colour letter followed by the value. For example, b7 is a blue 7, and the colour letters are b (blue), g (green), r (red) and y (yellow).
Can sighted people play UNO Braille?
Absolutely. Every card is also printed in full colour with standard numbers and symbols, so sighted and blind players can play together with the same deck and no rule changes.
How many cards are in UNO Braille and how do you win?
The set has 112 cards, which is the standard 108-card play deck plus four Quick Play Reference cards set aside before dealing. You win the match by being the first player to reach 500 points.
Where can I find the UNO Braille instructions?
Mattel publishes the rules on its website and offers downloadable Braille Ready Format (.BRF) instruction files, plus voice-guided instructions through Amazon Alexa and Google Home.
