
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,074
- BGG rating
- 6.9
Rhino Hero
2–5 players5–15 min2011

Rules assistance for Eselspiel
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with saved question history.

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Eselspiel is a board game released in 1965 for 2–8 players, 20 minutes per game, and ages 5 and up.
Shuffle the cards and deal them equally to each player. Place your packs of cards number down in front of you. The starting player turns the top card of his pack and puts it down face-up in front of the pack. The turn continues clockwise. Next time the starting player is on turn he places his turned card on top of the one already exposed. If you turn a card showing one higher or one lower than any top card turned by another player, place it on the top of that card. Go on until it does not fit. When a card number 1 is turned, place it in the middle of the table. As soon as card number two is turned place it on the one.Build up the packs in ascending order, otherwise according to the rules. If a card fits more than one pack first try the packs in the middle. If a player fails to notice the possibility of placing a card he is a Donkey and he has to accept one card from each player. The winner is the player who gets rid of his cards first.
Eselspiel supports 2–8 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 Eselspiel is 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 Eselspiel for ages 5 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.
Eselspiel has a complexity rating of 1.3 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.
Eselspiel belongs to these categories: Card Game, Animals, and Children's Game. 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 Eselspiel and want something comparable for your next game night.
The catalogue lists Eselspiel 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.