A melding of Crazy Eights and the old French Poker game Truc.
Deck has 36 cards, 27 of them have 1, 2 or 3 symbols that are either red, yellow or blue and of the shape square, circle or triangle. Nine cards are "wild" and have one of those nine characteristics. Six cards each are dealt to the players and they hold a draft (which means that if you're paying attention you should know what your opponent has.)
Players now go back and forth playing to the pile, and you have to match at least one element from the last card played. (Maybe two elements?) When one player can no longer follow the lead the round is over and the winner scores a point for each card in that play pile. If each player plays all six cards a new round is played for double stakes. Whoever has more points after three rounds (or the first round after three that doesn't end in a tie) is the winner.
Can something this simple and this weird work?
Sort of. There's a card for each combination of number, shape and color, plus wild cards. The fact that you didn't run away is heartening. :)