SuitUP™ Go Wild (a.k.a Go Fish)

"Go Wild"

An exciting and strategic twist on the classic Go Fish, designed for the 8-suit SuitUp deck with wild cards!

Objective

Collect as many sets of four cards of the same rank (e.g., four 5s) as possible. The player with the most completed sets wins, but if someone collects 4 wild cards, they can declare a "Go Wild" and claim an instant win!

Setup

  1. Players: 2-8 players.
  2. Deck: A standard SuitUp deck with 112 cards (8 suits + wilds).
  3. Dealing:
    • 2-3 players: Deal 10 cards each.
    • 4-5 players: Deal 7 cards each.
    • 6-8 players: Deal 5 cards each.
  4. Place the remaining deck in the center as the draw pile. Flip over the top card to form the discard pile.

Gameplay

  1. Turn Order: Play proceeds clockwise.

  2. On Your Turn:

    • Ask any player for a specific rank (e.g., "Do you have any 7s?").
    • If they have the requested rank, they must hand over all cards of that rank.
    • If they don’t have the requested rank, they say, "Go Wild!" and you must draw a card from the draw pile.
    • If you draw the rank you requested, show it to everyone and take another turn. Otherwise, your turn ends.

  3. Laying Down Sets:

    • If you collect a set of 4 cards of the same rank, lay them face-up in front of you.
    • Wild cards cannot be included in these sets.

  4. Using Wild Cards:

    • If you draw or receive a wild card, keep it in your hand.
    • Wild cards can be requested directly (e.g., "Do you have any wild cards?"). If another player has one, they must give it to you.
    • If someone requests a wild card from you, they must specify a rank. If you don’t have a wild card, they "Go Wild!"

  5. Declaring "Go Wild":

    • If you collect 4 wild cards, you can declare "Go Wild" at any time during your turn to claim an instant win.
    • However, if you hold 4 wild cards but fail to declare "Go Wild" before the game ends, the cards are worth 20 points each, which may hurt your score.

Ending the Game

The game ends when:

  • All cards have been drawn from the draw pile, and a player has emptied their hand.
  • A player declares "Go Wild" with 4 wild cards.

Scoring

  1. Completed Sets: 1 point per set of 4 cards.
  2. Wild Cards: Each wild card left in your hand is worth -20 points.
  3. Unused Cards: Every card left in your hand is worth -1 point.

The player with the highest score wins unless someone declared "Go Wild." In that case, the player who declared "Go Wild" is the automatic winner!

Strategic Tips

  • Track Requests: Pay attention to what others are asking for—it might reveal their strategy.
  • Use Wild Cards Wisely: Decide whether to collect wild cards for a "Go Wild" or use them to bluff opponents.
  • Bluff: Ask for ranks you don’t need to mislead opponents about your goals.

Game Variations

  1. Timed Rounds: Set a timer for each turn (e.g., 30 seconds) to increase the pace.
  2. Extra Wilds: If you’re playing with fewer than 5 players, shuffle in 2 extra wild cards for added chaos.
  3. Penalty for Go Wild Failure: If you hold 4 wild cards and don’t declare "Go Wild" before the game ends, you lose 10 points instead of gaining them.

"Go Wild" combines the classic fun of Go Fish with dynamic twists, more strategic depth, and a chance for thrilling comebacks with the "Go Wild" mechanic. Perfect for family nights or competitive gatherings.