Our Verdict
FOR GENRE FANS
If you enjoy trick-taking games with a horror twist and some unexpected turns, Man-Eating House might be your next obsession! It's fast-paced and has different modes to mix up the fun.
Highlights
- Familiar trick-taking rules
- Engaging horror theme
- 3 and 4 player modes
- Quick and tense games
Keep in mind
- Might feel too simple
- Limited variability
- Luck of the draw
Rules manual not indexed yet
Upload the PDF rulebook to ask questions about this game with AI.
About the game
What you do in a play session
Get ready for a chilling experience with Man-Eating House, a trick-taking card game that throws you right into a haunted house! With 44 cards divided into three suits (Green, Yellow, and Red) and some special cards that add a touch of horror, the goal is to accumulate points by collecting so-called 'honor cards.' These cards include spooky figures like children (ranks 1-3), ghosts (ranks 12-14), a Dog, and the mysterious Old Man (rank 15). Each round, you play a card following classic trick-taking rules: you must follow suit if you can, and there are no trumps. Whoever plays the highest-ranking card wins the trick, but beware! There are frightening twists: if two children of the same suit appear, both players gain an extra point instead of the trick going to the winner. In 4-player games, the game becomes a team battle where the team that captures the most honor cards emerges victorious. In the 3-player mode, one player assumes the secret identity of the Old Man and tries to achieve specific objectives (like capturing three children of different ranks or 11 honor cards) to win alone against the other two. If they fail, the other two win. It's a quick game, with trick-taking rules you already know, but with a horror theme that adds a special touch and a layer of deduction and strategy depending on the game mode.
Gallery
Box and component photos
Tap any photo to open fullscreen. Photos submitted by the community or publisher.
Best player count
BGG community vote
3
BEST
4
BEST
Soundtrack
Ambience suggested by Melodice
Loading playlist...
Where to Buy
Prices monitored daily
Finding best prices...
Prices unavailable at this time.
Price history — last 6 months (lowest new offer)
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Prices and availability subject to change.
Alert enabled!
Join the BoardGamesBot deals group
Get the best board game deals every day — without message spam.
Join the WhatsApp groupGame details
Mechanics, categories, families and credits
Mechanics
Categories
Publisher
New Mill Industries, Oishiitanishi (おいしいたにし)
Designer
Kunihiko Tsuchiya (土屋 邦彦)
Artist
Kunihiko Tsuchiya (土屋 邦彦)
Community
Data from BoardGameGeek
253owners
68wishlist
20want to play
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers before you buy
What is the average playtime for Man-Eating House?
Games are quite fast, usually lasting between 15 to 30 minutes, depending on players' familiarity with the rules and the game mode.
How many players can participate?
The game is designed for 3 to 4 players.
Is Man-Eating House a difficult game to learn?
The basic trick-taking rules are well-known. The complexity increases slightly with the specific rules for the 3 and 4-player modes, but it's still considered a light to medium-weight game.
What are the main components of the game?
The game comes with a deck of 44 cards, which includes suits, ranks, and special cards with thematic horror illustrations.
Who would you recommend Man-Eating House to?
It's ideal for those who enjoy trick-taking card games, appreciate a horror theme, and are looking for a quick experience with a touch of strategy and deduction, especially in the 3-player mode.
Is there any language dependency?
There is no language dependency, as the cards use symbols and numbers to indicate their functions and values.
Other Games You'll Like
Based on mechanics and theme