How to Play Phase 10 Twist
Phase 10 Twist keeps the card play of the original but adds a board. Instead of climbing phases 1 through 10 in a fixed line, your pawn moves along a track of numbered phase spaces — and “Twist” spaces jump you to a different phase entirely.
The result: every game tackles the ten phases in a different order, and you might leap ahead or get bumped to a harder phase than your rivals.
Last reviewed 2026-07-27
What's in the box
- A phase track game board
- Player pawns
- The Phase 10 card deck (numbers, wilds, and skips)
- Instructions listing the phase for each numbered space
Setup
- Place each player’s pawn on the board’s starting space.
- Shuffle and deal 10 cards to each player.
- Form the draw pile and flip a card to start the discard, as in the card game.
- Each player’s current phase is whichever space their pawn sits on.
How to play — the rules
Same card play
Turns work exactly like the card game: draw one card, optionally lay down your phase (only when you can complete it fully) and hit, then discard. Sets, runs, wilds, and skips all behave the same.
The only difference is which phase you’re trying to complete — that’s decided by the board, not a fixed 1-to-10 list.
Moving along the track
When you complete the phase on your pawn’s space and go out, you advance your pawn along the track to a new space with a new phase requirement.
Because you move around the board rather than counting off phases in order, you and your opponents can be working on completely different phases at the same time.
Twist spaces
Landing on a Twist space sends your pawn to a different numbered space, changing which phase you tackle next. This is what shuffles the phase order and gives the game its name.
A lucky Twist can vault you toward the finish; an unlucky one can drop you onto a tough phase while a rival breezes ahead.
A turn, step by step
- Draw one card from the draw pile or discard.
- Lay down the phase shown on your pawn’s space if you can complete it in full.
- Hit extra cards onto laid-down phases, then discard to end your turn.
- When you complete your space’s phase and go out, advance your pawn — resolving any Twist space you land on.
How to win
Rather than a strict Phase 10 finish, you win by moving your pawn to the board’s final space and completing its phase.
Because Twist spaces reorder the journey, the winner is whoever navigates the shuffled path — and the luck of the Twists — to the end first.
Strategy tips
- Plan for the phase you’re actually on, not a fixed order — check your pawn’s space before you commit wilds.
- Aim for Twist spaces when you’re behind; a good jump can leapfrog you past a hard phase.
- As in the card game, go out fast once your phase is down to deny opponents the hand.
- Keep an eye on rivals’ pawns; someone near the final space is the one to Skip.
Frequently asked questions
How is Phase 10 Twist different from the card game?
The card play is identical, but the phases are laid out on a board. Twist spaces jump your pawn to different phases, so you complete the ten phases in a shuffled order instead of 1 through 10.
Do you still use wild and skip cards?
Yes. The Phase 10 deck and all its rules for wilds, skips, sets, and runs work the same in Twist.
How do you win Phase 10 Twist?
You win by moving your pawn to the final space on the board and completing that space’s phase, rather than simply finishing a fixed Phase 10.
Can two players be on different phases at once?
Yes. Because each player’s phase is set by their pawn’s position, players are often working on entirely different phases at the same time.
House-rule ideas
- Ignore Twist spaces for a straightforward board race with newcomers.
- Add a Skip penalty: a skipped player’s pawn cannot advance that hand.
- Play best-of-three boards for a tournament-style session.
Buy Phase 10 Twist
Phase 10 Twist Board Game
The board-game spin on Phase 10, where Twist spaces shuffle the phases.
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