- BGG rank
- BGG #1,835
- BGG rating
- 6.6
Happy Salmon
2016
Rules assistance for Happy Salmon
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 3–8 players
- 2 min
- 6+
- Complexity 1.1/5
For 3 players
Rules assistant for Happy Salmon
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Happy Salmon is a board game released in 2016 for 3–8 players, 2 minutes per game, and ages 6 and up. It was designed by Matthew Inman, Elan Lee, Ken Gruhl, and Quentin Weir and its main mechanics are Real-Time.
About the game
Happy Salmon is a simple, ultra-fast, very silly card game. There are no turns. Players call out the action shown on their cards as fast as they can. When two players have a match, they celebrate by performing the action. Actions include the classic "High 5", the unifying "Pound It", the frantic "Switcheroo", and the delightful and bizarre "Happy Salmon". Each time a player celebrates a match, they quickly discard a card. The first person to get rid of all their cards wins.
Mechanics
Publishers
- Galápagos Jogos
- asmodee
- Exploding Kittens
- Rozum
- Korea Boardgames
- Magellan
- Reflexshop
- KOSMOS
- 999 Games
- DV Games
- Albi
- IELLO
- Top Toys
- Mercurio
- GP Games
- North Star Games, LLC
- MEBO Games
Questions and answers
Happy Salmon supports 3–8 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 Happy Salmon is 2 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 Happy Salmon 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.
Happy Salmon has a complexity rating of 1.1 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.
Happy Salmon belongs to these categories: Animals, Children's Game, and Party Game. Its main mechanics are Real-Time. 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 Happy Salmon are: Matthew Inman, Elan Lee, Ken Gruhl, and Quentin Weir. 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 Happy Salmon 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.