Hula-Hoo! Card Game

About this product

Keep the hoop moving. Keep everyone guessing.

A quick, playful card game where every “higher”, “lower” or “double” can keep you in the round, or send your hoop crashing down.

Play your cards, challenge the next player and be the first to empty your hand or outlast everyone else.

Product Description

The hoops are spinning, the pressure is building, and one wrong card could knock you out of the round.

Hula-Hoo! is a lively card game for 2–6 players where the aim is to get rid of your cards or be the last player still standing. Each player begins with ten cards, five held in hand and five displayed face up, before the race to keep the hoop moving begins.

On your turn, play a card and tell the next player whether they must go higher or lower. Instead of following that instruction, they can play the same value and call “double”, changing the rhythm of the round. Once a double begins, players must continue matching the value until someone breaks the sequence with a neighbouring number or a joker.

The 7 cards act as jokers and can be played at any time, making them particularly useful when the pressure is on. If you cannot satisfy the current higher, lower or double restriction, your hoop drops and you are eliminated from that round.

Empty your hand first or survive after everyone else has been eliminated to win the round. The winner scores one point for every card in the discard pile, and the first player to reach 77 points becomes the Hula-Hoo champion. There is also a shorter alternative victory condition where the first player to win three rounds in a row takes the game.

Simple rules keep things moving, but deciding when to push another player higher, lower or into a run of doubles creates plenty of opportunities to turn the round in your favour.

View the Hula-Hoo! Rulebook (PDF)

Why You’ll Love It

• Quick and easy to bring to the table: Designed for 2–6 players with games lasting around 10–20 minutes.
• Simple choices with plenty of tension: Every card lets you shape what the next player must do.
• Higher, lower or double: Three simple instructions keep the game changing from turn to turn.
• Jokers can rescue a difficult situation: The 7 can be played at any time and can break a run of doubles.
• Stay in the round: Players who cannot make a legal play are eliminated, keeping the pressure building.
• Two ways to take a round: Empty your cards first or be the last player remaining.
• Great for repeat plays: Short rounds make it easy to shuffle up and go again.
• Extra challenge available: Experienced groups can use the chaotic variant to change turn order and target specific players.

Quick Details

• Publisher: IELLO
• Designer: Jacques Zeimet
• Illustrator: Melanie Garanin
• Product type: Card game
• Players: 2–6
• Recommended age: 8 years and older
• Playing time: Approximately 10–20 minutes
• Play style: Competitive
• Objective: Empty your cards or outlast the other players
• Winning score: 77 points
• Standalone game: Yes

Good to Know

• Starting cards: Each player receives 10 cards — five in hand and five face up in front of them.
• Opening exchange: Before play begins, players may exchange up to three of their face-up cards with cards from the deck.
• Doubles: Playing the same value starts a double sequence and requires the player to draw another card.
• Breaking a double: Play a card exactly one higher, one lower or use a joker.
• Joker: All 7 cards are jokers and may be played at any time.
• Elimination: If you cannot play a legal card, you are eliminated from the current round.
• Alternative victory: Groups can instead play until someone wins three consecutive rounds.
• Expert option: The chaotic variant lets the active player choose who must play next instead of following clockwise order.

What’s in the Box

• Includes: 84 cards and 1 rulebook — 36 cards valued 1–6, 36 cards valued 8–13 and 12 joker cards valued 7.