Smile

Z-Man Games · Board game · 2017
3–5 · best 5 30 min Weight 1.1/5
7.5 rating Ludopedia
6.6 rating BGG
Buy
7.5 rating Ludopedia
6.6 rating BGG
Our Verdict
RECOMMENDED

If you enjoy a light and fun auction game with a dash of 'push your luck', Smile is a great choice for family and friends. It's cute, quick, and full of interesting decisions!

Highlights
  • Fun and accessible auction
  • Cute and engaging theme
  • Quick and easy to learn
  • Clever strategic decisions
  • Fun player interaction
Keep in mind
  • Luck can play a role
  • Best with 4-5 players
  • Not for heavy strategy seekers
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About the game

What you do in a play session

In Smile, night has fallen and your adorable critters have escaped, scattering through the forest! Your mission is to lure them back using glowing fireflies, but beware: wild creatures are also fans of these luminous insects and can give you negative points. This card game, ideal for 3 to 5 players, puts you and your friends in a race to collect the cutest little creatures. Each round, players take turns placing fireflies on the available creature cards. The trick is to spend your fireflies wisely, aiming for the creatures that are worth more points and avoiding those that might harm you. The fun part is that you need to balance the desire to grab the current creature with the need to save fireflies for future auctions. It's a constant game of 'should I risk one more or hold back?'. Ultimately, the goal is to end up with the best collection of smiling creatures, whether domesticated or wild, ensuring the highest score. Get ready for strategic decisions and a bit of luck to gather your critter crew!

Rules videos

Learn by watching before you open the box

1 videos

Best player count

BGG community vote

3–5 players
3 REC
4 REC
5 BEST

Where to Buy

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Game details

Mechanics, categories, families and credits

Publisher Z-Man Games
Designer Michael Schacht
Artist Atha Kanaani

Community

Data from BoardGameGeek

1,622owners
228wishlist
30want to play

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers before you buy

6 questions
How many players can play Smile?
Smile is designed for 3 to 5 players, making it perfect for small groups of friends or family.
What is the average playtime for Smile?
A game of Smile is quite quick! It usually takes between 30 to 30 minutes to complete, ideal for those looking for fast fun.
What is the complexity of Smile?
Smile is considered a low-complexity game (BGG weight of 1.0833/5). The rules are simple to learn, making it accessible for beginners and children.
What are the fireflies in the game?
Fireflies are your resources for bidding on creatures. You use them to attract the critters, but you need to manage them well so you don't run out in future rounds.
What is the main goal in Smile?
The goal is to collect the most points by attracting cute creatures with your fireflies and avoiding wild ones that can give you negative points. Whoever has the best collection of smiling critters at the end wins!
Is Smile good for playing with kids?
Absolutely! The cute creature theme, simple rules, and short playtime make Smile an excellent option for playing with children and introducing them to the world of board games.

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