I actually know nothing about Kpop Demon Hunters, other than to say they have a couple of catchy songs that my young children seem to really enjoy. I have no idea of the story of these characters that seem to be dominating popular kids culture at present. They are popular and they are everything. I do however, love a game of uno, I need no excuse to get involved here.
The Rules
This game is Uno through and through. It is exactly as you expect a game of Uno to go, just decorated entirely in KPop Demon Hunters theme.
You have your 0-9 cards in 4 colours, you have your skip go, reverse, change colour, 2+ and 4+ cards as well.
But then there is the Honmoon card that is the rule variation. I guess this is something key to KPop Demon Hunters. When a player plays the Honmoon card, all other players need to play a demon hunter card (a 1, 2, 3, 2+ or 4+ card) and if you cannot play one you draw cards until you can play one of these cards. It is potentially devastating to a player.
Classically the goal is to get rid of all your cards, ensuring you call out Uno on the final card otherwise you draw a card if you are pulled up on it.
The fun part of Uno is the party game style for 2-10 players which makes it so entertaining.
Thoughts
This was an instant hit in my home as the kids love KPop already. I have no issue with classic games adopting popular themes because they become more desirable to be played by fans of the theme. My kids fizzed with excitement over a KPop theme for Uno and were busting to get the deck out and play the game to which it has already brought them a lot of joy.
Uno can be a very frustrating game if the cards do not land your way or other players deliberately choose to stitch you up and there is nothing you can do about it when it is happening to you. Thankfully the theme of the game is trumping this frustration as the children did not mind the defeats when they came about because their sibling won. They took the winning and losing really well and that was so encouraging as I am keen as a parent for them to understand they will not win everything they play (and do in life). But I am also keen for them to celebrate their wins as well.
This is also a game I can use to help teach them how to hold a hand of cards. I remember struggling to hold a hand of cards at a much older age than my 2 children. Given this is a game picked up purposely with them in mind it would be foolish for me to not get them to start practicing this because it will stand them in good stead for a great many other games across their life. It will stand them in good stead for many games I already own. It was very amusing for me to be told off for helping them sort their hands as they were keen for me not to see the cards they were holding. The competitive streak is very much there for them.
Final Thoughts
What was lovely for me was there was a lot of laughter during play through the inevitable stitch up cards being played, and watching me pick up a lot of cards. This is what any game is all about, for me, having fun, and this set of Uno definitely delivers here.
