- BGG rank
- BGG #7,871
- BGG rating
- 7.2
Holiday Hijinks #1: The Kringle Caper
- 1–4 players
- 60 min
- Complexity 1.7/5
- 2020
- BGG rank
- BGG #9,797
- BGG rating
- 7.3
Holiday Hijinks #3: The Pumpkin Problem
2021
Rules assistance for Holiday Hijinks #3: The Pumpkin Problem
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 1–4 players
- 30–60 min
- 13+
- Complexity 2.0/5
For 1 player
Rules assistant for Holiday Hijinks #3: The Pumpkin Problem
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Holiday Hijinks #3: The Pumpkin Problem is a board game released in 2021 for 1–4 players, 30–60 minutes per game, and ages 13 and up. It was designed by Jonathan Chaffer and its main mechanics are Deduction and Finale Ending.
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About the game
Halloween—the night you've been waiting for all year! Your costume is on point, and you can already taste the mountains of candy you'll be hauling home. But in a terrifying twist, disaster strikes—every single sweet treat in the neighborhood has been swiped! With the streets filling up with kids in costumes and the night slipping away, it’s up to you to crack the case. Someone’s stolen Halloween, and you’ve got to act fast. Can you find the culprit and save the night before the moon reaches its peak? Time is running out! The Pumpkin Problem, title #3 in the Holiday Hijinks line, is an escape room style game in just 18 cards! As a group, you will solve a series of puzzles to unravel a mystery. Puzzles may test your perception, wordplay, and lateral thinking. English language fluency is required. When you have solved a puzzle on the cards, you will enter the answer into the companion website (compatible with all smart phones and computers) and it will check whether you are correct. If you are, the website will tell you which card or cards to take next. The website also contains a graduated hint system, so if you get stuck you can get just a small hint about the current puzzle to get moving again without giving too much away. This system is non-destructible: some groups may choose to write on cards, but this is not required. A group cannot re-play the game, but can pass it on to another group for their use. This entry in the series takes about an hour to solve, and is rated 2 out of 3 in difficulty.
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Grand Gamers Guild
Questions and answers
Holiday Hijinks #3: The Pumpkin Problem supports 1–4 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 Holiday Hijinks #3: The Pumpkin Problem is 30–60 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 Holiday Hijinks #3: The Pumpkin Problem for ages 13 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.
Holiday Hijinks #3: The Pumpkin Problem has a complexity rating of 2.0 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-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.
Holiday Hijinks #3: The Pumpkin Problem belongs to these categories: Card Game, Deduction, and Puzzle. Its main mechanics are Deduction and Finale Ending. 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 Holiday Hijinks #3: The Pumpkin Problem are: Jonathan Chaffer. 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 Holiday Hijinks #3: The Pumpkin Problem 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.