
- BGG rank
- BGG #16,797
- BGG rating
- 6.5
Thin Ice: Survival has never been so much fun
- 2–6 players
- 25–45 min
- Complexity 2.0/5
- 2016

2018
Rules assistance for Ducklings
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
For 2 players

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Ducklings is a board game released in 2018 for 2–4 players, 15–50 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. Its main mechanics are Player Elimination, Roll / Spin and Move, and Dice Rolling.
Description from the publisher: A heart wrenching co-op tabletop game where you must work with a partner to waddle your three fragile ducklings to safety. As a game where 2 parents from 2 families choose to either work together or against one another to keep their 3 duckling children safe, it simulates what life is like as a parent when the world is out to get you. The parents are the players and they share a responsibility to supervise and keep their ducklings safe. Families start at opposite bodies of water, with one beginning at the lake and the other at the pond, both with the goal of getting to the other side. The path to your goal is created by the players and is constructed by a deck of randomized event cards prior to play. On a turn, a parent rolls a die. They move up to the amount of spaces they rolled, and then choose an event card to land on. They will flip this card over and read its effects. Each event card has two options. The parent must choose one of the two options. They may consult their partner on what to do, but it is ultimately their choice. Some biomes can cause harm to the ducklings. When harm comes to the ducklings, an affliction token must be placed on the card. If three afflictions are placed on a duckling, both parents must flip the card so that the picture is face down. This card is now out of play, and the parents must read out loud the text on the back of the card. If all of the ducklings in your family are flipped, you lose. The family with the most ducklings left alive at the end of the game wins. Additional Mechanics Included in Gameplay: Each duckling has a unique talent that can only be used once in the game. The die you use corresponds to the amount of Ducklings you have. The more ducklings you have waddling behind you, the slower you are able move. A territorial duck fight will occur if two parents of different families land on the same space. When this happens, both families suffer an affliction. Once both parents from one family reach their new home, the Winter Season begins, where the remaining family suffers one affliction at the start of each of their parents turns. Features of Ducklings Gameplay is simple and easy to pick up, but both the moral and strategic decisions add depth to the simple gameplay. Unique, custom artwork for over 60 cards. Modular game board as the game is constructed out of a randomizable deck. Players can shape the path any way they want, even with creative branching paths. The modular game board allows for variable play lengths to fit time constraints as the players do not have to use the full deck.
Ducklings 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 Ducklings is 15–50 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 Ducklings for ages 12 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.
Ducklings 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.
Ducklings belongs to these categories: Card Game, Animals, and Dice. Its main mechanics are Player Elimination, Roll / Spin and Move, and Dice Rolling. 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 catalogue lists Ducklings 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.