Wouter & Ymke 
European hamsters are in trouble because there are too many badgers around, and badgers love to hunt them. To help save these little creatures, players come together to devise a plan. Each player tries to show that their strategy is the best for conserving the species.
👥 3-5 players, ages 10+
⌛ Playing time: 30 minutes
📝 Designer: Alexander Kneepkens
🎨 Artwork: Zhenya Lyapina
🏢 Publisher: Jolly Dutch (review copy provided)
Gameplay Overview
Tricky Badger is a trick-taking game that plays out over five rounds. In each round, players compete to collect cards that help them gather animals, food, and materials.
At the start of each round, ten collection cards are laid out on the table. The player whose turn it is picks one card to play for, setting the round’s stakes. Each collection card has an arrow indicating whether the highest or lowest card wins the trick. After picking the collection card, the player plays a leaf card to start the trick. Opponents must follow the color or play a pink trump card to win. But here’s the twist: some cards can trample others, canceling them out. So, even if you play the highest or lowest card, you might not win the trick if your card gets trampled.
The winner of the trick takes the collection card and adds it to their set. Some cards score more points when paired with specific others, while some combinations can destroy cards. For example, badgers will eat hamsters unless you pair them with a bone to keep the badgers busy. Weevils will eat wheat unless there’s a hamster to eat the weevil. Magpies can steal cards from other players, but cages can stop them. These are just a few of the many possible combinations that can help you gain or lose points.
After nine tricks, the round ends. The remaining collection card is discarded, and players are dealt nine new cards. Ten new collection cards are laid out for the next round. After five rounds, the player with the most points wins.
Review: Tricky Badger
Tricky Badger, designed by Alexander Kneepkens and published by Jolly Dutch, is a fun mix of trick-taking and set-collection with a cool, educational theme. It’s for 3-5 players, ages 10 and up, and it usually takes about 30 minutes to play. Perfect for a quick game night!
Unique Theme
The theme of Tricky Badger is really special. It focuses on the balance of nature and how predators like badgers affect the survival of European hamsters. The game does a great job of making this theme part of the gameplay, which makes it more interesting and meaningful.
Easy to Learn, Hard to Master
The rules of Tricky Badger are simple and well-explained. It’s easy to pick up, but as you play more, you start to see the deeper strategies. The game is all about trick-taking, but with some cool twists. Sometimes you win by playing the highest card, and sometimes by playing the lowest. This keeps things fresh and exciting.
Strategic Card Collection
Collecting cards is a big part of the game. Some cards are great on their own, but others need to be paired with specific cards to score points or avoid losing points. You really have to think about how to build your collection.
Player Interaction
There’s a lot of player interaction in Tricky Badger. You’re not just playing your own game; you’re also trying to mess with your opponents. You can force them to take cards that will hurt their score. For example, you might make someone take a badger when they don’t have a bone, which will make them lose all their hamsters. This adds a fun, tactical layer to the game.
Always Changing
To keep things interesting, there are always three leaf cards left on the pile, and depending on how many players there are, more colors of leaf cards are added to the pile. This makes it hard to keep track of which cards are in play, adding a bit of mystery and challenge.
Possible Downsides
While Tricky Badger is a lot of fun, it might not be for everyone. The high level of player interaction, where you try to sabotage your opponents, might be too intense for some players who prefer less confrontational games. Additionally, the strategic depth might be overwhelming for younger players or those new to trick-taking games. Lastly, the randomness of which cards are dealt and available can sometimes make the game feel unpredictable, which might frustrate players who prefer more control.
Final Thoughts
Tricky Badger is a fresh take on trick-taking games. It’s fun to try to trick and manipulate other players, but this kind of playful teasing might not be for everyone. The game balances building your own collection with trying to mess up your opponents’ plans, making every round exciting and unpredictable. If you like games that make you think and interact with other players, you should definitely check it out.
📝 Disclaimer: We received a copy of the game from the publisher, Jolly Dutch.
