Uno is a wonderful card game that has a certain element of strategy but can ultimately come down to luck of the draw. Instead of having regular playing cards, you have a pack of cards of four different colours - red, blue, green, yellow - that are numbered 1-9. The idea of the game is to have an empty hand, having been initially dealt a certain number to start with. The only thing you have to do is either play the same colour or number.

It really is as simple as that, but can produce an immense amount of fun and tension. If you're unable to go, then you have to pick up a card from the remainder of unused cards, which are face down in a pile. It's quite easy to get down to one card while your opponents still have a few, only to then spend two or three goes having to pick up while they discard successfully.

What's interesting though is that there are special cards within the pack, such as cards that make the next person pick up. There's one that neutralises the cards and you can choose the colour to follow, as well as a gem of a card that you can put on anything and it will make the next person pick up four cards!

It's as if the creators of the game have deliberately made it as equal as possible for people of all ages, no matter whether you have 1 card in your hand or a whole bunch you're trying to get rid of. The other clever rule is that you have to remember to say 'Uno' when you have one card left before the next person has their go, otherwise you have to pick a card up as a punishment.

It really is a whole heap of fun, and there's no way of knowing what the other people still have in their hand. Numbers and colours can get changed just when you don't need them to, and it can get really frustrating, but it keeps your mind active and helps you think quite tactically as well. We love playing with our 7 year old son who finds this a whole heap of fun, and he's starting to think tactically in games such as this.

This really is a game that the whole family can play. There are different versions available as well, although this traditional is probably the simplest and I find it the most fun. It generally costs around the £5 mark, usually less, so would make a great small gift or something you can just pop and buy for your own enjoyment. I'd recommend buying a pack and having some fun!