Loading critic reviews...
Finding live streams...
About Mau Squared
Mau Squared is a deck-building roguelite that remixes the rules of Mau-Mau and Uno into a strategic card-slinging battle. Released August 18 2025 for PC it swaps casual slap-downs for calculated risk-taking. You build a deck from discard piles and earned upgrades aiming to outscore opponents through clever plays or raw accumulation. Victory isn’t just about emptying your hand but maximizing points while adapting to shifting conditions. Developed by a small team it’s a love letter to card game mechanics with roguelite twists. Perfect for players who enjoy tight loops of planning and pivoting.
Gameplay
Each session unfolds in turn-based matches against AI opponents. You draw discard and play cards following color-number or action rules. The twist is resource management: every discard adds to your deck but risks future flexibility. Scoring matters more than hand-clearing so you might hold high-value cards to gain an edge. Upgrades like card draw or bonus points let you specialize. Matches reset procedurally but earned cards carry over between runs. Controls are snappy and intuitive but the learning curve is steep, misplays snowball quickly. Sessions average 15-30 minutes but mastery demands hundreds of hours due to branching strategies and hidden synergies.
What Players Think
PlayPile users rate Mau Squared 4.3/5 with 78% completing the core loop. Average playtime is 22 hours but top 10% hit 80+ hours chasing 47 achievements like "Discard Master" or "Point Hog." Community moods split between "addictive" and "frustrating", its difficulty spikes sharply mid-game. Critics praise the "clever meta-progression" but note repetitive AI behavior. One review calls it "Uno with soul" while another gripes about "unforgiving RNG." Completion rate drops 20% after unlock #12 due to resource constraints. Most agree it rewards patience but punishes hasty decisions.
PlayPile's Take
Mau Squared shines for deck-builder fans willing to grind its punishing curve. At $29.99 it offers value through deep progression but feels overpriced for casual players. The 47 achievements and 80+ hour max playtime justify the cost for completionists. However the AI’s predictability and occasional balance issues hold it back. If you thrive on optimizing card combos and tolerate slow starts this is a hidden gem. Skip if you prefer lighthearted card games or dislike permadeath mechanics.
Game Modes
Single player
Deals
Finding deals...
Community Moods
Achievements
Loading achievements...
Similar Games
Finding similar games...
Buzzing on Bluesky
Checking Bluesky...