Who Invented Skip-Bo? The Story Behind the Classic Card Game

Skip-Bo was invented in 1950 by Marvin Glass and William ("Bill") Spear, the renowned Chicago toy-design duo behind classics like Mouse Trap and Operation.

Origins & Publication

• Originally named "Skip-A-Way".
• Licensed to Parker Brothers (later Hasbro), which published it in 1967.
• Re-themed and rebranded as Skip-Bo in 1980; acquired by Mattel in 1992.

Gameplay Legacy

A sequencing card game for 2–6 players, Skip-Bo blends strategy and luck. Its enduring popularity (50M+ copies sold) stems from simple rules — build ascending piles 1–12 using wild "Skip-Bo" cards — making it accessible across generations.

Glass and Spear's partnership (Glass & Associates) shaped mid-century American tabletop gaming; Skip-Bo remains their most commercially successful pure-card design.