
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,822
- BGG rating
- 7.0
Gingerbread House
- 2–4 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 1.8/5
- 2018

2004
Rules assistance for Ogre Bash
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.

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Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Ogre Bash is a board game released in 2004 for 2–6 players, 30 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Matt Mayfield and its main mechanics are Set Collection.
Ogre Bash is a light, humorous set collection card game. Players attempt to collect one of six types of sets while having to pass, dumpster-dive, discard, exchange and steal cards. The cards are illustrated with black and white ogre cartoons, and the instructions on the cards are in "ogre-speak." Publisher Blurb: Ogre Bash is based on that time-honored Ogre tradition of standing around in a circle bashing each other on the head with clubs. The Ogre Bash card game is just like that, except for the bashing each other on the head part. When you play Ogre Bash, you're trying to get five cards either of the same kind or in one of the special winning sequences. The catch is, you need to have it at the start of your turn. Almost every time a card is played, you need to trade a card with another player, so although you may have a winning hand now, it may not be there when your turn comes around. Just kind of makes you want to bash an Ogre on the head, doesn't it?
Ogre Bash supports 2–6 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 Ogre Bash is 30 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 Ogre Bash for ages 8 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.
Ogre Bash 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.
Ogre Bash belongs to these categories: Fantasy and Humor. Its main mechanics are Set Collection. 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 Ogre Bash are: Matt Mayfield. 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 Ogre Bash 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.