- BGG rank
- BGG #31,470
- BGG rating
- 4.1
Mouse Trap
- 2–4 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 1.1/5
- 1963
- BGG rank
- BGG #31,366
- BGG rating
- 4.2
Ants in the Pants
1969
Rules assistance for Ants in the Pants
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–4 players
- 10 min
- 4+
- Complexity 1.1/5
Rules assistant for Ants in the Pants
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Ants in the Pants is a board game released in 1969 for 2–4 players, 10 minutes per game, and ages 4 and up. It was designed by Marvin Glass.
Similar games
- BGG rank
- BGG #28,203
- BGG rating
- 5.1
Snoopy and the Red Baron
- 2 players
- 10 min
- Complexity 1.0/5
- 1970
- BGG rank
- BGG #30,358
- BGG rating
- 5.2
Tip-It
- 2–4 players
- 20 min
- Complexity 1.1/5
- 1965
- BGG rank
- BGG #30,989
- BGG rating
- 4.8
Gnip Gnop
- 2 players
- 10 min
- Complexity 1.1/5
- 1971
- BGG rank
- BGG #31,014
- BGG rating
- 4.7
Hands Down
- 3–4 players
- 10 min
- Complexity 1.1/5
- 1964
- BGG rank
- BGG #31,021
- BGG rating
- 5.5
Ghost Castle
- 2–4 players
- 45 min
- Complexity 1.1/5
- 1970
- BGG rank
- BGG #31,339
- BGG rating
- 4.8
Pie Face!
- 2–4 players
- 15 min
- Complexity 1.0/5
- 1964
- BGG rank
- BGG #31,370
- BGG rating
- 4.6
Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots
- 2 players
- 10 min
- Complexity 1.1/5
- 1967
- BGG rank
- BGG #31,473
- BGG rating
- 4.2
Operation
- 1–6 players
- 10 min
- Complexity 1.1/5
- 1965
- BGG rank
- BGG #24,768
- BGG rating
- 5.7
Mind Maze
- 2 players
- 10 min
- Complexity 1.3/5
- 1970
- BGG rank
- BGG #29,096
- BGG rating
- 5.0
Happiness
- 2–6 players
- 60 min
- Complexity 1.0/5
- 1972
- BGG rank
- BGG #30,774
- BGG rating
- 4.7
Mystery Date
- 2–4 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 1.2/5
- 1965
About the game
This is a very simple game consisting of a dog wearing very large pants which stands in the middle of the playing area and plastic ants. The ants are stiff with a short tail and folded down the middle so the legs touch the ground while the body is up. By pressing on the tail and letting your finger slide of the ant will jump, sometimes quite high. Players simultaneously try to jump their ants into the dog’s pants. The first one to get all their ants in wins. This is a great children’s game and promotes excellent hand eye coordination. Many parents may find it difficult to beat their own children at this game.
Categories
Designers
Publishers
- Hasbro
- Brohm-Parker-Spiele
- Milton Bradley
- MB Spellen
- Schaper
Questions and answers
Ants in the Pants supports 2–4 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for Ants in the Pants is 10 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists Ants in the Pants for ages 4 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Ants in the Pants has a complexity rating of 1.1 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Ants in the Pants belongs to these categories: Animals, Children's Game, and Action / Dexterity. Categories describe the theme, setting and style of a game rather than its rules. Filter the catalogue by the same category to find similar games when you enjoyed Ants in the Pants and want something comparable for your next game night.
The credited designers of Ants in the Pants are: Marvin Glass. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists Ants in the Pants as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.