For a twist on the classic Crazy Eight card game, you can try playing Crazy Eight Countdown. This game is easy for the whole family with just a little bit more challenge and a little longer time frame than the original.
What you need
You will need a standard deck of cards (jockers removed) and a score sheet to keep track of each player’s level.
Object
The object of Crazy Eight Countdown is to be the first person to get ride of all of your cards.
Set up: Start by writing all of the players’ names on a sheet with an 8 beside them. Next, deal eight cards to all players.
Playing Crazy Eight Countdown
The basic play is the same. Play moves around the players in a clockwise fashion. Cards are played according to suit matching or number matching just as in the standard game. Eights are wild for everyone—but only at the start. Twos are still pick up 2 and the Queen of Spades is still pick up 5.
Now for the twist part. When a player successfully gets ride of all of her cards, she then picks up 7 cards for her hand. The eight is scratched off next to her name and a 7 is now written down. 7s are now wild for this player. Eights are now just regular cards. The play stays the same for all the other players, including the hands they have. Play continues as normal.
When the player at 7 gets ride of her cards again, she moves on to 6s, picking up 6 cards from the draw pile as her new hand. 6s are now wild for her and play continues.
When other players finish their hand, they, too, draw the next number from the draw pile and move on to the next number.
Winning Crazy Eights Countdown:
The first player to get to the ace number and then get ride of all their cards is the winner.
Crazy Eight Countdown brings a new flavour to the standard game. It is great when you have tired of the traditional game. It takes a little bit more attention, as keeping track of what is wild for you can be more challenging than it sounds. The game takes longer to play than the traditional game, with most games averaging about 15 minutes.
The Final Countdown
Crazy Eight Countdown is a fun twist on the classic version. It will keep kids coming back for more and keep the smiles and good memories flowing for years.
If you need a refresh on the rules for the classic and to find out some interesting facts about the game, see Crazy Eights here.
We have even more card game fun for the family in our family card games here.
If your cards have been loved a little too much and they too need a refresh, you can get some new ones here. Canadians can see what’s new in playing cards here. Bicycle makes good quality cards.
Have you tired Crazy Eight Countdown? I would love to find out how you liked it! Let me know in the comments below!
