
- BGG rank
- BGG #26,509
- BGG rating
- 5.5
Mimikri
- 2–4 players
- 20 min
- Complexity 1.2/5
- 2012

2004
Rules assistance for Ear Tug
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.
Ear Tug is a board game released in 2004 for 2–4 players, 10 minutes per game, and ages 3 and up. It was designed by Brigitte Pokornik and its main mechanics are Set Collection and Pattern Recognition.
In Ear Tug the players pull colored wooden ear shapes from a bag and match them to cardboard tiles with animals on them. Rules for 3 games with this basic mechanism are given. In "My Ears, your ears" the players race to find the ears for their three animals. In "The hare has long ears" players collect animal tiles by finding both their ears. In Tic, Tac - Animal they try to form a row of animals with both ears. The age range given is 3-12, though 3-6 might be more realistic. From the box: "Take a tug at my ears" the cat meows to the little dog. The cat especially likes this. Softly the dog pulls on an ear. "Hey but that's my ear!" the bear growls. The ear of the cat is a completely different shape. "It's not that easy" the dog whimpers. Can you help the little dog search for the right ears? Players pick an ear out of the bag and try to match it to the animal it belongs to! A game collection to train the sense of touch and classifying abilities for 2-4 players ages 3-12. Contents: 9 Animal Cards 21 Wooden Ears 1 Cloth Bag Game Instructions in German, English, French and Dutch
Ear Tug 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 Ear Tug 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 Ear Tug for ages 3 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.
Ear Tug 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.
Ear Tug belongs to these categories: Animals and Children's Game. Its main mechanics are Set Collection and Pattern Recognition. 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 Ear Tug are: Brigitte Pokornik. 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 Ear Tug 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.