
- BGG rank
- BGG #3,169
- BGG rating
- 6.9
Crash Octopus
- 1–5 players
- 20–30 min
- Complexity 1.4/5
- 2021

2018
Rules assistance for Here Comes the Dog
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Here Comes the Dog is a board game released in 2018 for 2–4 players, 30–45 minutes per game, and ages 9 and up. It was designed by Naotaka Shimamoto and its main mechanics are Dice Rolling.
The fate of man and dog rests on the fire. In a distant past, when man and dog first encountered one another, humans took rest around a bonfire to cook freshly hunted beasts, while hungry dogs surrounded them, looking for a chance to scavenge on the meat... In Here Comes the Dog, players pick up charcoal, fire, and meat from the bonfire according to the dice. Once all the meat is taken, you can feed the dogs and tame them into your animals. But if the charcoal runs out, the fire is extinguished, and the dogs come after you for your life. Will you be able to domesticate them, or dare you let the fire go out?
Here Comes the Dog 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 Here Comes the Dog is 30–45 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 Here Comes the Dog for ages 9 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.
Here Comes the Dog 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.
Here Comes the Dog belongs to these categories: Animals, Dice, and Action / Dexterity. Its main mechanics are Dice Rolling. 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 Here Comes the Dog are: Naotaka Shimamoto. 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 Here Comes the Dog 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.