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rating
Ludopedia
5.5
rating
BGG
Our Verdict
If you enjoy card games that make you laugh and think simultaneously, Heckin Hounds is the pick! It's a trick-taking game with a hilarious twist where the goal is to be 'just enough'.
Highlights
- Trick-taking with dark humor
- Outward-facing cards
- Fun deduction and bluffing
- Unusual goal: be average
Keep in mind
- Can be chaotic
- Luck in clues
- Not for bluffing haters
FOR GENRE FANS
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Get ready for a canine adventure in the underworld with Heckin Hounds! This card game for 2-7 players puts you in the paws of a dog walker tasked with Hades' infernal collection. The catch? If you do too good a job, you might get promoted to management (nobody wants that!). If you fail miserably, well... let's just say you become dog food. The brilliant twist is that your cards face outwards, so you have no clue which hounds (cards) you're holding. The shift leader, who changes each round, sees everyone's hand and has the tough job of giving three true (but not always helpful!) clues about each player's hounds. Oh, and there's Cerberus, the trump card pup who wins any trick he shows up to! You'll have to bid on how many tricks you'll win, based on the limited info you have. It's a trick-taking game with a dash of bluffing and deduction, where the goal is to be... adequate. Don't be a hero, don't be a total failure. Just enough to avoid being fired (or turned into dog chow). Perfect for those who enjoy card games with a hint of dark humor and a mind-bending mechanic.
GALLERY
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Mechanics
Categories
Families
Publisher
Sapphire City Games
Designer
Mattie Schraeder
Artist
Lauren Brown
What is the main objective of Heckin Hounds?
The objective is to be 'average'. You need to score the least points without going negative, avoiding promotion or becoming dog food. It's a delicate balance!
How many players can participate?
The game is quite flexible, playable with 2 to 7 players. It adapts well to different group sizes.
How long does a game typically last?
Games usually take between 30 and 90 minutes, depending on the player count and how quickly everyone grasps the mechanics.
Is the game difficult to learn?
No, the rules are quite straightforward! The complexity comes more from the interaction and deduction than from a ton of complicated rules. The BGG weight is 1.5/5, indicating it's very accessible.
Do I need to know how to play other trick-taking games?
It helps to have some familiarity, but it's not required. Heckin Hounds has its unique elements, like the outward-facing cards and the scoring objective, that make it stand out.
Is it more of a luck or strategy game?
It's a mix! Luck plays a part in the cards you receive and the clues given, but strategy lies in how you bid, how you use your limited information, and how you try to deduce what others hold.
What is the game's theme?
The theme is quite peculiar: walking dogs in the underworld! It features dark humor, Hades, and of course, lots of infernal hounds.