LOCOfficial Guide: Basic rules and your first match
About
OverviewLOCOfficial! is a card game where you match cards by color or symbol and race to empty your hand before everyone else. It supports PC, mobile, console, and VR, so you can play with friends no matter what device they are on.
What is on this page
Contents
Basic rules and your first match
Step
Every round deals each player a hand of cards. On your turn, play a card that matches the card on top of the pile by color or by symbol. The first player to get rid of every card in their hand wins.
- Read your hand check both the color and the symbol on each card before your turn arrives.
- Play a card choose one that shares a color or symbol with the top card on the pile.
- Say "Official!" when you are down to one card, call it out or another player can call you out for forgetting.
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House rules worth knowing before you start
Table
The host sets house rules before a match starts, and they can stack several at once. Some rules let you chain multiple cards in one turn to burn through your hand quickly. Others force opponents to draw large numbers of cards when the right card is played against them. The 7-0 rule adds hand-swapping triggered by specific numbered cards. Draw Til Match keeps you drawing until you pull something playable instead of drawing just once. Know what is on before the first card is dealt.
| Chain cards | play several matching cards at once to shrink your hand in a single turn. |
| Draw Til Match | draw repeatedly until you find a playable card, which can mean picking up ten or more in one go. |
| 7-0 rule | playing a 7 lets you swap hands with someone; a 0 rotates all hands around the table. |
| Hand swap | a rule that shuffles everyone's hand at once, which can swing the game completely. |
Special cards and how to use them
Tips
Beyond numbered cards, the game includes several cards with effects. A Loco 8 played as your second-to-last card with a color you cannot actually play is a risky bluff. The Switch card sends play into a different state entirely. Draw cards played against you can be reflected back under the right conditions.
- A Loco 8 played as your second-to-last card can be used to name a color you cannot follow — this is the bluff the game recognizes with a badge.
- Play the Switch card to change the state of play.
- When draw cards are stacked into a chain and the total reaches plus-six or higher, stepping in to interfere becomes high-stakes — there is even a badge for doing it at that point.
- Reflect draw cards back at the player who threw them when the rules allow it, instead of absorbing the penalty yourself.
Interference — when to cut in
Warn
Some house rules allow you to interfere on another player's turn by playing into an ongoing chain.
Badges as a progress checklist
SummaryMost badges come from specific in-game events. Some require house rules to be active, so you cannot earn them in a plain default match. A few are tied to rare situations — like the deck running out of cards entirely — that you may not see for many sessions.
- Basic play Win a game; Win a Teams game; Join a match.
- Rule-specific Lucky 7's and The Big T Classic both require the 7-0 house rule to be on.
- Draw Til Match Unlucky Draw requires that rule active and drawing ten or more cards in one turn.
- Rare moments Gone Missing triggers when the deck runs out; Record in the Making needs a chain of plus-150 or more.
- Bluff badges The Ultimate Bluff requires a Loco 8 played as second-to-last with a color you cannot follow; Lucky Hand means winning without drawing a single card.
- Other modes LOCOfficial! Idiotic Investing Win and LOCOfficial! PLS DONATE Win come from their own separate game modes.
Community strategy ideas
CommunityThese ideas and tips come from people playing the game. Share your discoveries too!
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LOCOfficial!
Glossary
Glossary- Loco 8
- A card that lets you name any color when you play it as your second-to-last card — playing it with a color you cannot follow is a recognized bluff.
- House rule
- An optional rule the host switches on before a match starts, such as Draw Til Match, hand swapping, or card chaining.
- Chain
- A sequence where multiple cards or draw penalties stack up across turns, growing the total a player must eventually absorb.
- 7-0 rule
- A house rule where playing a 7 lets you swap hands with any player and playing a 0 rotates all hands around the table.
- Interference
- Playing a card into another player's turn to alter or absorb an ongoing chain, allowed under certain house rules.
- Draw Til Match
- A house rule that makes you keep drawing cards until you pull one you can legally play, rather than drawing just one.
- Switch card
- A special card that changes the state of play when used.
- Teams mode
- A match format where players split into teams and play against a different team.
Common questions
FAQWhat happens when you have one card left?
You need to call out "Official!" to signal your last card. If you forget and another player catches you, they can call you out. There is a badge specifically for calling out a player who forgets.
Can you play LOCOfficial! with friends on different devices?
Yes. The game runs on PC, mobile, console, and VR, and players on different platforms can all join the same room.
Do house rules need to be set before the match?
House rules are configured before a match starts. Some badges — like Lucky 7's and The Big T Classic — can only be earned when specific rules are turned on.
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