What Skyjo, Cabo, Golf and Schnitzel have in common
- You start with face-down cards and only know some of them.
- You draw or take the discard and swap it into your cards.
- Lowest score wins, so memory matters as much as luck.
- One player ends the round, then everyone gets a last turn.
What makes Schnitzel different
1. Only 4 cards, no grid
Like Cabo and 4-card Golf, you hold 4 cards instead of a big grid. Every swap matters, and you can win instantly by getting rid of all your cards.
2. Action cards that target other players
Peek at your own cards, Spy on one card of every opponent, Swap blind with someone, Attack them with an extra card, or Overwrite your whole hand with theirs.
3. The Nope card
Cancel another player’s action, or cancel their “Schnitzel!” call during the last round. Nopes can be Noped, so chains get loud.
4. Direct discard
At any time, if you hold the exact same card as the top of the discard pile, you can throw it on instantly. Get it wrong and you take a penalty card.
5. The X
One card worth 666 points. When it is revealed, the game ends immediately. Nobody wants to be holding it.
6. 2 to 8 players
Like Skyjo, it works from a couple up to a full table, which is rare for this kind of game.
How Schnitzel™ plays in 60 seconds
Everyone gets 4 face-down cards and peeks at 2 of them. On your turn you draw a card or take the top of the discard pile and swap it into your row, or throw it away. The goal is the lowest total, so you want to get rid of the 9s and 10-point action cards and keep the -5s and 0s.
Discarded action cards can be used straight away: Peek at your own card, Spy on everyone else, Swap blind with an opponent, Attack someone with an extra card, or Overwrite your whole hand with theirs. When you think you are lowest, yell “SCHNITZEL!” and everyone gets one last turn. Unless someone plays a Nope.
And there is the X: one card worth 666 points that ends the game the moment it shows up.
Other games in the same family
If you want to explore more, look at the classic Golf card game (play it tonight with a normal deck), Cambio (also called Cabo in some groups), and push-your-luck number games like Flip 7. If your group prefers more interaction and more chaos, Schnitzel is the one to try next.
Already love Skyjo or Cabo? Your group will love Schnitzel.
Get Schnitzel™FAQ
Is Schnitzel like Skyjo?
Yes, in the core idea: hidden cards, swap to lower your score, lowest total wins. Schnitzel uses only 4 cards per player and adds action cards, a Nope card and direct discard, so there is much more player interaction.
Is Schnitzel like Cabo?
It is close: 4 face-down cards, peek at 2 at the start, swap to get the lowest score, and a call to end the round. Schnitzel adds its own action cards, the Nope card, and the 666-point X.
How many players can play Schnitzel?
2 to 8 players, ages 7 and up. A game takes about 8 minutes.
Can you win Schnitzel without the lowest score?
Yes: if you get rid of all your cards through direct discards, you win immediately.
