How to Play the Score 4 Card Game

I’m excited to share a brand new card with you today called Score 4.

The makers of Spy Alley reached out to me to see if I would like to review it and after taking a look at their website I knew that it would be a great game for FGS. It’s easy to learn and fast to play with a stealing and giving element to it. It’s similar to games like Haystacks, King’s Market and Dry Jacks.

They were kind enough to send me a copy so that I could review and share it with you. It’s for 2 to 6 players starting at the age of 8 and should take 15 to 30 minutes to play.

In this post we’ll cover how to play, the rules, how to win and if we think you should add it to your Family Game Shelf. Let’s get to it.

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How Do I set Up Score 4 Card Game?

The set up for this game is simple. Each player gets dealt three cards and the draw pile is placed in the middle on the side.

How Do I Play The Score 4 Card Game?

The object of Score 4 is to be the first player to get one pile of each colour or shape. Each pile needs to have four cards of that colour. There are red hearts, green clubs, yellow diamonds, and blue spades.

On your turn, you pick up a card from the draw pile. You now choose a card to place down in the middle to form or add to a colour pile. If you add the fourth card to the pile, you get to claim the pile. When this happens, you move the pile to the table in front of you.

There are two special types of cards in the deck. First, there are remove a card. This card will let you take a card from one of the center piles and discard it. It can be used to block a player from getting a pile.

Next, is the remove a pile card. When you play this card, you can remove another player’s won pile and discard it. This player would then have to collect that colour again.

But what happens if you place the fourth card on a pile of a colour that you already have? If this happens, you choose a player who doesn’t have that colour already, giving thema freebee. If everyone already has that colour, it is placed in the discard pile.

How Do I Win Score 4?

To win Score 4 you need to be the first to win a pile of each colour.

What We Like

First, we love a game that is easy to learn and fast to play. Score 4 fits this perfectly. The quality of the game is good and the artwork is nice. It’s hard to make basic shapes interesting but I think they did a great job.

What We Didn’t Like

The first time we played, there were only three of us. We found that it was a bit repetitive and it fell a little…flat. In that first game, we didn’t get any remove piles, and the game was over quite quickly. We played again (with more shuffling) and it was better. We played again with all four of us, and it was way more interesting. I think that the more players you have the better.

Overall, we did find Score 4 to be a little repetitive and maybe too simple. Keep in mind, we play a LOT of games. One of us also found that the “remove a card” card to be un-useful. Again, I think this would come into play more with a bigger crowd.

Should You Add Score 4 to your Family Game Shelf?

I would recommend you add Score 4 to your Family Game Shelf as it’s a great fast game that players of all ages could play. The box recommends age 8 but I think younger players could play too (as long as they can handle the remove cards). It would be great for a filler game or when you have players of different skills. I love the idea of a grandparent playing with the kids. I think kids could play this game on their own without needing an adult around so that makes it a good one to have on hand.

Overall, Score 4 is a great little game that is fast and easy to learn. You can get your copy here.

If you’re looking for some more quick and easy card games check these out:
Garbage card game
Golf Card game
Rat A Tat Tat

For more fun, visit our shop where you’ll find favorites like Whacky Putt the mini golf dice game, Sticks card game (when you want a little more challenging game) and Chicken Pox dice game – a push your luck game of luck and skill.

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