- BGG rank
- BGG #852
- BGG rating
- 7.0
Wizard
- 3–6 players
- 45 min
- Complexity 1.7/5
- 1984
- BGG rank
- BGG #8,591
- BGG rating
- 6.9
Pups
2016
Rules assistance for Pups
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–5 players
- 15–30 min
- 8+
- Complexity 1.6/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Pups
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Pups is a board game released in 2016 for 2–5 players, 15–30 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Charlie Bink and its main mechanics are Hand Management, Auction / Bidding, and Betting and Bluffing.
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About the game
In the game Pups you take the role of an aspiring dog trainer with dreams of winning big at the dog show. Each round you will gather a new pack of 7 lovable pups. You must groom them for success by bidding on how well you think they can perform at the show. After everyone has placed their bids the action begins as the pups start facing off! If your pups can win the number of showdowns you bid before the round ends you will earn the reward treats. But watch out… if you miss your bid you must gain the penalty poos. The player who can collect the most treats is the winner! Pups is a lighthearted twist on classic trick-taking card games. 45 vibrant and adorable illustrations make up the deck in Pups and these cards are split between 5 unique suits: Lap dogs, Working dogs, Guard dogs, Family dogs and Mutts as a unique fifth suit. Combine a Mutt card with any other suit in the game to increase its value! Players place their bids each round by picking a bid card from the center of the table. The 1, 2 and 3 bid cards are all double sided, with one side displaying a safer “At Least” bid, and the other side displaying the more difficult (but more lucrative) “Exactly” bid. Pups is a fun and thoughtful game that is easy to learn for both gamers and non-games alike. It was designed to introduce a new generation to the fun of trick taking games while proving unique and challenging to veterans of the genre.
Designers
Publishers
- Game Factory
- Bink Ink LLC
Questions and answers
Pups supports 2–5 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 Pups is 15–30 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 Pups 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.
Pups has a complexity rating of 1.6 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.
Pups belongs to these categories: Card Game and Animals. Its main mechanics are Hand Management, Auction / Bidding, and Betting and Bluffing. 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 Pups are: Charlie Bink. 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 Pups 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.