Last Updated on August 4, 2025 by The Official Game Rules Team

Elimino! is a fast-paced card game based on the classic game Garbage for 2 to 5 players. The goal is to be the first player to eliminate all the cards in your sequence by revealing and matching numbers in ascending order. The game combines elements of luck, strategy, and player interaction.

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How to Play Elimino!

Game Components

Number cards (1 through 8) in multiple colors
Special cards including Wild cards, Sabotage cards, Draw/Dig cards, X cards, and Tracker cards

Setup

Each player is dealt a personal set of 8 cards placed face down in a row in front of them. These cards form their sequence that must be completed from left (position 1) to right (position 8).
The rest of the deck forms a draw pile in the center.

Objective

The objective is to flip cards in your sequence in numerical order, starting from 1 and going up to 8. When you flip the card in position 1, it must be a 1 to be “complete” and flipped face up permanently. Then you proceed to the next position (2), looking for a 2, and so on, until all your cards are flipped face up and eliminated.

Game Play

Turns

On your turn, you draw a card from the draw pile.
You use this drawn card to try to replace the card in the sequence position that matches the number on the drawn card (for example, if you draw a 3, you replace the card in position 3).
To replace a card: flip the card in the matching position face up and discard the card you replaced by placing it face up in the discard pile.
If the card you drew cannot be placed (because the position is already flipped face up or the number does not match), you discard it and flip the card in the next position you need to find.

Special Cards

Wild Cards: These can be used as any number to complete your sequence.
Sabotage Cards: Used to disrupt opponents by forcing them to draw more cards or skip turns.
Draw/Dig Cards: Allow you to draw extra cards or dig deeper into the draw pile.
X Cards: These cards have specific effects based on the rules that impact gameplay, such as blocking positions or forcing players to discard.
Tracker Cards: Help track progress or apply effects on the players or sequences.

Sequence Completion

Each player must complete their sequence in order: position 1, then position 2, up to position 8.
When the card in a sequence position is flipped face up and matches the correct number, that position is considered complete and the player moves on to the next position.
Once all 8 positions in your sequence are flipped face up correctly, you have eliminated all your cards.

Winning

The first player to complete their entire sequence (positions 1 through 8) by correctly revealing all cards wins the round.
The game can be played over multiple rounds, with the overall winner being the player who wins the most rounds.

Strategy Tips

Manage your draws carefully to avoid wasting turns.
Pay close attention to which cards you need next and try to quickly flip those positions.
Use Wild cards strategically to complete difficult positions.
Sabotage your opponents by using special cards to slow down their progress.