
- BGG rank
- BGG #6,445
- BGG rating
- 7.1
Tether
- 2–4 players
- 15 min
- Complexity 1.6/5
- 2024

2025
Rules assistance for Don't Botch the Broccoli
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.

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Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Don't Botch the Broccoli is a board game released in 2025 for 3–5 players, 5–10 minutes per game, and ages 14 and up. It was designed by Mark McGee and its main mechanics are Hand Management, Push Your Luck, and Simultaneous Action Selection.
Steaming broccoli isn't as easy as it looks! Time it just right and cook up a perfect place of green goodness. Just be careful that you don't botch the broccoli and have to start all over! In Don't Botch the Broccoli, players have an identical hand of broccoli cards numbered -1 to 4 and simultaneously play one card each turn. Any players who played the same number on their broccoli card move their card to their steamer. Then whichever player played the lowest remaining card gets to cook their broccoli (move the card to their score pile), along with any cards in their steamer from previous turns. Any other players' cards are botched, and must return to their hand along with any cards in their steamer. To win, you've got to find the right time to play each card so that you can cook up a big pile of broccoli. —description from the publisher
Don't Botch the Broccoli supports 3–5 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 Don't Botch the Broccoli is 5–10 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 Don't Botch the Broccoli for ages 14 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.
Don't Botch the Broccoli 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.
Don't Botch the Broccoli belongs to these categories: Card Game. Its main mechanics are Hand Management, Push Your Luck, and Simultaneous Action Selection. 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 Don't Botch the Broccoli are: Mark McGee. 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 Don't Botch the Broccoli 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.