MatchedCards vs Dobble: What's the Difference?
Both use the same satisfying "find the one matching symbol" mechanic. The difference is what you start with — a finished game, or the tools to make your own. Here's an honest breakdown.
The short answer
Dobble (also sold as Spot It! in North America) is a finished party card game from Asmodee Group: a tin of cards with fixed cartoon symbols and a few built-in mini-games, ready to play out of the box.
MatchedCards is a maker tool. You upload your own photos, drawings, or logos, and it generates a deck where any two cards still share exactly one symbol — then exports a print-ready PDF or SVG. Same mechanic, your content.
Not affiliated with Asmodee Group. DOBBLE and SPOT IT! are trademarks of Asmodee Group.
Side-by-side
| MatchedCards | Dobble / Spot It | |
|---|---|---|
| Symbols / artwork | Your own photos, drawings, logos, or emoji | A fixed set of cartoon symbols |
| Customization | Fully custom — every card is yours | Pre-made, not customizable |
| What you get | Print-ready PDF & SVG (print at home or a pro shop) | A finished physical deck in a tin |
| Set sizes | 13, 31, 55, or 57 cards | A single standard 55-card deck |
| Matching math | Finite projective plane — any two cards share exactly one symbol | Finite projective plane — any two cards share exactly one symbol |
| Game modes | Bring your own rules — it plays like the classic game | Several built-in mini-games out of the box |
| Best for | Personalized gifts, brands, classrooms, events | Ready-to-play party game, no setup |
What's actually the same
The core is identical, because it's math, not branding: every two cards in the deck share exactly one symbol. That comes from a structure called a finite projective plane, and it's why both work with 13, 31, 55, or 57 cards. The game feel — flip, scan, shout the match — is the same.
What's different
- Your symbols. Faces of your family, your team's logos, a kid's drawings, product photos — instead of fixed cartoons.
- Your set size. Pick a quick 13-card mini deck or a full 57-card set.
- You print it. A retail deck arrives professionally printed in a tin; with MatchedCards you export a PDF and print at home or at a shop.
- Built-in modes. The retail game ships with several mini-games; with a custom deck you bring your own rules.
Which should you choose?
Buy Dobble / Spot It if you want a polished, ready-to-play game tonight with its own artwork and mini-games.
Make your own with MatchedCards if you want a personalized deck — a wedding favor, a brand giveaway, a language-learning set, or a gift that nobody else has.
Make your own version
Free to start — no account needed until you export.
Start your custom deckFrequently asked questions
Is MatchedCards the same as Dobble?
No. MatchedCards is a tool that lets you design and print your own matching card game; Dobble (sold as Spot It! in North America) is a finished party game published by Asmodee Group, with its own fixed artwork and branding. The only thing they share is the "every two cards match on exactly one symbol" mechanic — which is a piece of math, not something anyone owns.
Is MatchedCards a legal Dobble alternative?
Yes. The matching mechanic and the underlying math (finite projective planes) aren't protected — only the Dobble and Spot It! names, logos, and artwork belong to Asmodee Group. As long as you use your own images and don't market your deck as 'Dobble' or 'Spot It!', you're free to make and even sell your own version.
Can MatchedCards replace my Dobble deck?
You can build a deck with the same one-symbol-match property and your own symbols, which plays just like it. If you specifically want the published artwork and the built-in mini-games, buy the retail game — MatchedCards is for people who want a personalized deck instead of (or alongside) a store-bought one.
How is the perfect matching guaranteed?
Both rely on the same structure: a finite projective plane. For 13, 31, 55, or 57 cards, the math guarantees that any two cards in the deck share exactly one symbol — no manual checking needed.
What does MatchedCards cost compared to buying Dobble?
The 13-card set is free; larger sets are a small one-time fee, and you print the cards yourself. A retail Dobble tin is a finished, professionally printed product. They're different things — one is a maker tool, the other is a boxed game — so pick based on whether you want custom or ready-made.
Want the step-by-step build instead? Read our DIY guide.