Those Pesky Garden Gnomes

Rio Grande Games · Board game · 2012
3–5 · best 4, 5 30 min Weight 1.2/5
rating Ludopedia
5.0 rating BGG
Buy
rating Ludopedia
5.0 rating BGG
Our Verdict
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Great for trick-taking fans who love surprises! Perfect for 3-5 players seeking unpredictable fun.

Highlights
  • Easy to learn, hard to master
  • Guaranteed humor and chaos
  • Excellent for casual groups
Keep in mind
  • Luck plays a role
  • Not for solo play
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About the game

What you do in a play session

Those Pesky Garden Gnomes is a card game with a delightfully chaotic twist – and maybe more! It uses four suits with varying numbers of cards, each carrying positive or negative point values. The rules are similar to traditional trick-taking games: players must follow suit, and the highest card wins the trick. But here’s the fun part: each player has a secret, random objective every round, so no one knows what others are aiming for. Scoring is based on how close you get to your goal, with points accumulating over rounds. The game also adjusts options for players based on their standing – those trailing get more chances to catch up. After a set number of rounds, the player with the lowest score wins. The mix of luck, strategy, and ever-changing goals makes it unpredictable and entertaining, especially for card game fans who enjoy a dash of madness.

Rules videos

Learn by watching before you open the box

1 videos

Best player count

BGG community vote

3–5 players
3 REC
4 BEST
5 BEST

Where to Buy

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Game details

Mechanics, categories, families and credits

Mechanics

Categories

Families

Creatures: Dwarves & Gnomes
Publisher Rio Grande Games
Designer John Sams, JonMichael Rasmus, Sean Weitner

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers before you buy

5 questions
How many players can play?
3 to 5 players.
How long does a game take?
30 to 45 minutes, depending on rounds played.
Is it hard to learn?
Not at all! Rules are simple, but strategy and objectives change each time.
Do I need many components?
Just a deck and a scoring board – nothing fancy!
Who is it best for?
Perfect for fans of card games with humor and chaos.

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