- BGG rank
- BGG #30,631
- BGG rating
- 4.6
Lady's Choice
- 2–6 players
- 10–30 min
- Complexity 1.3/5
- 2022
- BGG rank
- BGG #28,349
- BGG rating
- 5.5
Heckin Hounds
2023
Rules assistance for Heckin Hounds
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–7 players
- 30–90 min
- 12+
- Complexity 1.5/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Heckin Hounds
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Heckin Hounds is a board game released in 2023 for 2–7 players, 30–90 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Mattie Schraeder and its main mechanics are Deduction, Betting and Bluffing, and Turn Order: Progressive.
Similar games
- BGG rank
- BGG #17,267
- BGG rating
- 6.4
Beccato
- 4–9 players
- 10–20 min
- Complexity 1.0/5
- 2020
- BGG rank
- BGG #22,865
- BGG rating
- 8.1
Bad Trevor
- 3–5 players
- 15–25 min
- Complexity 1.0/5
- 2024
- BGG rank
- BGG #5,627
- BGG rating
- 7.2
Moustache
- 3–6 players
- 20 min
- Complexity 1.4/5
- 2025
- BGG rank
- BGG #2,283
- BGG rating
- 6.7
Hidden Leaders
- 2–6 players
- 20–40 min
- Complexity 1.8/5
- 2022
- BGG rank
- BGG #13,434
- BGG rating
- 5.9
KADO
- 2–5 players
- 15 min
- Complexity 1.1/5
- 2024
- BGG rank
- BGG #16,990
- BGG rating
- 6.8
Get Adler! Deduction Card Game
- 4–8 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 1.5/5
- 2016
- BGG rank
- BGG #21,299
- BGG rating
- 7.0
Plant-Based Riot
- 2–5 players
- 10–30 min
- Complexity 1.0/5
- 2022
- BGG rank
- BGG #28,630
- BGG rating
- 5.5
Batman: The Animated Series – Almost Got 'Im Card Game
- 5–8 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 1.0/5
- 2017
- BGG rank
- BGG #4,326
- BGG rating
- 6.6
In Vino Morte
- 3–9 players
- 10 min
- Complexity 1.2/5
- 2016
- BGG rank
- BGG #12,793
- BGG rating
- 8.2
Cocktail
- 2–9 players
- 15–45 min
- Complexity 1.3/5
- 2021
- BGG rank
- BGG #25,637
- BGG rating
- 6.3
Turnip
- 3–5 players
- 15–30 min
- 2024
About the game
Heckin Hounds is a 2-7 player trick-taking game exploring the perils of professional dog walking in the Underworld. Players are given the task of walking Hades' collection of hounds. Do your job too well, and she'll promote you to management - a responsibility feared throughout the realm. Do your job too poorly, and you'll be demoted to professional dog food instead. The game is played with your hand facing outward, giving you no knowledge of the hounds you have. Every round has a different player serving as the shift leader, who can see both their hand and everyone else’s. The shift leader gives each player three clues as to the hounds they are holding - how helpful, useless, or beguiling the clue is up to you, but they must be true. The shift leader also assigns Cerberus to a player, a trump card pup that wins any trick he shows up to. Players have a few opportunities to try and manage their luck, and must promise how many shifts they will work (tricks they will take) based on the limited information they have of their own hand, and the hands of the other players they can see. Cards are played, tricks are won, and a new round begins. After everyone has taken a turn as the shift leader, the game is over. The player who scored the least without going negative did the least amount of work without being fired, and wins the game! Thus, Heckin Hounds is a game of being barely adequate. —description from the publisher
Categories
Designers
Publishers
- Sapphire City Games
Questions and answers
Heckin Hounds supports 2–7 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 Heckin Hounds is 30–90 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 Heckin Hounds 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.
Heckin Hounds has a complexity rating of 1.5 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.
Heckin Hounds belongs to these categories: Card Game, Humor, and Party Game. Its main mechanics are Deduction, Betting and Bluffing, and Turn Order: Progressive. 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 Heckin Hounds are: Mattie Schraeder. 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 Heckin Hounds 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.