
- BGG rank
- BGG #2,674
- BGG rating
- 6.5
Sleeping Queens
- 2–5 players
- 20 min
- Complexity 1.1/5
- 2005

Rules assistance for Sardines
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.
Sardines is a board game released in 2008 for 2–4 players, 15 minutes per game, and ages 5 and up. Its main mechanics are Memory.
A card game for children (5+ years) and adults. Excellent for strengthening and building upon the skills introduced in basic memory games but with a twist. Requires players to not only memorize the individual sardines and their characteristics, but to concentrate deeply on their sequence and develop mnemonic devices to help recall the characters and order. From the publisher: "Observation and memory game. You have a couple of seconds to observe the little sardines, memorise them and find them again in the box.!"
Sardines 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 Sardines is 15 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 Sardines for ages 5 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.
Sardines 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.
Sardines belongs to these categories: Card Game, Children's Game, and Memory. Its main mechanics are Memory. 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 catalogue lists Sardines 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.