
- BGG rank
- BGG #11,658
- BGG rating
- 7.1
Snowbirds
- 1 player
- 10–15 min
- Complexity 1.8/5
- 2017

2017
Rules assistance for Bear Went Over the Mountain
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
For 1 player

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Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Bear Went Over the Mountain is a board game released in 2017 for 1–4 players, 10–20 minutes per game, and ages 4 and up. It was designed by Brian Garthwaite and its main mechanics are Set Collection, Tile Placement, and Solo / Solitaire Game.
It's a lovely fall day, and Bear wants to go for a hike to see what she can see. Two to four players each build their own hikes full of animals, trees, hills, and valleys by laying out a landscape of cards. Bear knows what she likes, and the player with the most interesting hike wins! Bear Went Over the Mountain is a card-laying and set-collection game for preschoolers, ages 4 and up. Players choose goals, such as spotting the most bluebirds, squirrels, or skunks, then select and play cards into a landscape. Scoring relies on counting, as well as simple addition and subtraction. Although some reading skill is helpful, pictures and color icons are on every card for those still learning their ABCs. Designed as part of the 2017 Children's Game Print and Play Design Contest. 'Big kids' may opt to play with variant rules for a more difficult card-drafting multiplayer game, or attempt a solitaire version, too.
Bear Went Over the Mountain supports 1–4 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 Bear Went Over the Mountain is 10–20 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 Bear Went Over the Mountain 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.
Bear Went Over the Mountain has a complexity rating of 1.0 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.
Bear Went Over the Mountain belongs to these categories: Animals, Children's Game, and Print & Play. Its main mechanics are Set Collection, Tile Placement, and Solo / Solitaire Game. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of Bear Went Over the Mountain are: Brian Garthwaite. 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 Bear Went Over the Mountain 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.