- BGG rank
- BGG #563
- BGG rating
- 7.1
No Thanks!
- 3–7 players
- 20 min
- Complexity 1.1/5
- 2004
- BGG rank
- BGG #5,159
- BGG rating
- 6.6
Smile
2017
Rules assistance for Smile
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 3–5 players
- 30 min
- 8+
- Complexity 1.1/5
For 3 players
Rules assistant for Smile
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Smile is a board game released in 2017 for 3–5 players, 30 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Michael Schacht and its main mechanics are Push Your Luck, Auction / Bidding, and Increase Value of Unchosen Resources.
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About the game
Description from the publisher: Night is falling and your tamed critters have somehow escaped their enclosure! Head into the forest and tempt them back with juicy lightning bugs in Smile, a game of gathering cute creatures for three to five players. In every game of Smile, you and your fellow players attempt to lure your critters back by taking turns placing fireflies on their cards one at a time. But be careful! Wild critters are equally enamored with your fireflies, but will give you negative points. Wisely spend your fireflies to attract the best critters while saving enough to bid in future rounds. Just remember: In the end, you'll be surrounded by a collection of cute smiling creatures — for better or worse!
Categories
Designers
Publishers
- Z-Man Games
Questions and answers
Smile supports 3–5 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 Smile 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 Smile 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.
Smile has a complexity rating of 1.1 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.
Smile belongs to these categories: Card Game and Children's Game. Its main mechanics are Push Your Luck, Auction / Bidding, and Increase Value of Unchosen Resources. 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 Smile are: Michael Schacht. 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 Smile 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.