Skitgubbe, Mattis, and Myllymatti: The Same Card-Game Family With Different Local Names

If you have searched for Skitgubbe online, Mattis card game, or Myllymatti rules, you are probably looking for the same kind of Nordic card game: a two-phase game where you first collect cards, and then try to get rid of them before everyone else.

The names change by country and region. The exact house rules can change too. But the core idea is familiar across the whole family: build a hand, survive the second phase, and do not be the last player stuck with cards.

A Nordic game with many names

In Sweden, the game is commonly known as Skitgubbe. In Norway, a closely related version is known as Mattis. In Finland, related games are often connected with names like Myllymatti or Koira.

That does not mean everyone plays exactly the same rules. Card games travel through families, cabins, schools, and local tables, so rules naturally drift over time. One group might play with stricter trump rules. Another might handle sequences differently. Some groups focus on the loser’s title, while others treat the game more like a fast tactical card game.

That variation is part of the charm.

What the games have in common

Most versions share the same broad structure.

First comes the collection phase. Players win cards into a pile that later becomes their hand. This can feel unusual if you are used to card games where collecting cards is always good. In Mattis and Skitgubbe-style games, the cards you collect become both your strength and your problem.

Then comes the shedding phase. Now the goal changes completely. You want to empty your hand by beating the cards played before you, according to the rules for suit, rank, trump, and possible sequences.

The loser is usually not the player with the lowest score. The loser is the last player still holding cards.

That is the heart of the game.

What is Mattis?

Mattis is a Norwegian variant in this card-game family.

In the Mattis app, the game is built around a clear two-phase model:

• In phase 1, players build their piles.
• Matching ranks can trigger War.
• When the deck is empty, the game moves into phase 2.
• Trump becomes active.
• Players try to beat cards or rows and empty their hands.
• The last player with cards becomes Mattis and loses.

The app is designed to make the rules easy to follow, especially if you are learning the game for the first time or coming from Skitgubbe or Myllymatti.

Why the rules can feel different

If you learned Skitgubbe from family or friends, you might notice differences when you try Mattis.

That does not necessarily mean one version is wrong. Most of the time, it simply means you learned a different local variant.

Common differences include:

• How many players the game is best for
• Whether everyone joins every trick in the first phase
• How matching ranks are handled
• When trump becomes active
• Whether sequences or rows can be played
• Which card or row must be picked up when you cannot beat the table
• What the loser is called

This is why explanations of Skitgubbe, Mattis, and Myllymatti sometimes disagree. They describe closely related games, but not always the exact same table rules.

The key strategy: do not think the same way for the whole game

The most common mistake new players make is treating the whole game as if it only had one phase.

In phase 1, you are not trying to get rid of cards. You are building the hand you will later need to survive with. Sometimes it is worth winning a pile. Sometimes it is better to avoid weak cards. Sometimes War can give you exactly the cards you need for phase 2.

In phase 2, everything flips. Now every card matters more. Trump can save you, rows can create tempo, and one bad pickup can quickly turn a strong position into a loss.

That flip is what makes Mattis and Skitgubbe-style games so memorable.

Learn the rules and play

If you want the exact rules used in the app, start with the full Mattis rules guide. It explains the collection phase, War, trump, rows, pickup rules, and how a player goes out.

If you already know Skitgubbe or Myllymatti, the game will probably feel familiar, but not necessarily identical to your local version. Think of it as a clear mobile-friendly Mattis version in the same Nordic card-game family.

The goal is simple.

Do not be last.

You can also explore Skitgubbe online, Mattis regler, and Myllymatti peli.