
- BGG rank
- BGG #27,371
- BGG rating
- 5.5
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Game
- 2–4 players
- 60 min
- Complexity 1.2/5
- 2003

1981
Rules assistance for Garfield
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.
Garfield is a board game released in 1981 for 2–4 players, 20 minutes per game, and ages 6 and up. Its main mechanics are Roll / Spin and Move.
In this 1981 game by Parker Brothers based on the popular comic strip (and later cartoon) of the same name, 2-4 players race each other to be the first around the board 3 times. Each time the "tail end" is passed; a player receives a yellow ring to put around his/her playing piece. Throughout the game, player will have to follow the instructions on their respective turns from Garfield's "thought bubble", which changes as the game progresses. Players roll the 2 dice and move accordingly, although they also have the option of using a player card at the beginning of their turn, which includes the ability to do such things as trading places/yellow rings with another player or bribing Garfield with lasagna to move ahead a certain number of spaces.
Garfield 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 Garfield 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 Garfield for ages 6 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.
Garfield 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.
Garfield belongs to these categories: Animals, Comic Book / Strip, and Children's Game. Its main mechanics are Roll / Spin and Move. 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 Garfield 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.