- BGG rank
- BGG #29,114
- BGG rating
- 5.4
Donkey Kong
- 2–4 players
- 20 min
- Complexity 1.1/5
- 1981
- BGG rank
- BGG #30,514
- BGG rating
- 5.0
The Game of Jaws
1975
Rules assistance for The Game of Jaws
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–4 players
- 45 min
- 5+
- Complexity 1.2/5
Rules assistant for The Game of Jaws
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
The Game of Jaws is a board game released in 1975 for 2–4 players, 45 minutes per game, and ages 5 and up. It was designed by Jeffrey Breslow.
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About the game
The spring-loaded dexterity game The Game of Jaws, by toy company Ideal, is a classic 1970's game/toy that any kid who lived through that era is sure to remember. The game's concept itself is simple: after filling the large plastic shark's mouth/gullet up with all of the flotsam and jetsam, players take turns trying to hook the junk out of the beast's mouth with a plastic gaff. The trick: don't let Jaws's jaws snap shut on you or you're out. After all the junk has been retrieved, he who possesses the most wins. A fun game in the nerve-wracking tradition of the similarly classic Operation game. Not for the weak of heart or nerves... The game color pieces do vary in some of the games listed below besides the original 1975 version which are blue and white 1975 Ideal Jaws Game junk pieces. Here are the game pieces that go into the sharks mouth- Blue Pieces (Shoe - Gun - Wagon Wheel - Jug - Camera - Car Tire - Hand - Walkie Talkie - Anchor - Lantern) White Pieces (Human Bone - Skull - Fish Bone) There should be 13 pieces in the game. The game also included 1 Hook 1997 Marx Sharkie's Diner Game junk pieces. Here are the game pieces that go in the sharks mouth - Green Pieces (Lantern - Walkie Talkie - Hand/Glove - Boot - Jug - Anchor - Car Tire - Wagon Wheel - Camera - Gun) Yellow Pieces (Lantern - Walkie Talkie - Hand/Glove - Boot - Jug - Anchor - Car Tire - Wagon Wheel - Camera - Gun) White Pieces (Bone - Skull - Fish Bone) There should be 23 pieces in the game. This version came with two hooks 2009 Ideal Sharky's Diner junk pieces. Here are the game pieces that go in the sharks mouth - Blue Pieces (Lantern - Walkie Talkie - Hand/Glove - Boot - Jug - Anchor - Car Tire - Wagon Wheel - Camera) Yellow Pieces (Lantern - Walkie Talkie - Hand/Glove - Boot - Jug - Anchor - Car Tire - Wagon Wheel - Camera) White Pieces (Bone - Skull - Fish Bone) There should be 21 pieces in the game. This version came with two hooks 2025 NECA Jaws Game junk pieces. There are 16 pieces (only 15 are listed in the instructions): License Plate - Anchor - Damaged Ship Wheel - Camera - Walkie-Talkie - Boot - Glove - Tire - Jug - Handgun - Air Tank - Skull - Forearm Bones - Fish Bones - 5-pack of beer - Lantern
Designers
Publishers
- Crown & Andrews Ltd.
- Chad Valley Co Ltd.
- Ideal
- Pressman Toy Corp.
- Arxon
- NECA
- Marx Toys
Questions and answers
The Game of Jaws 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 The Game of Jaws is 45 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 The Game of Jaws 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.
The Game of Jaws has a complexity rating of 1.2 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.
The Game of Jaws belongs to these categories: Animals, Children's Game, and Movies / TV / Radio theme. Categories describe the theme, setting and style of a game rather than its rules. Filter the catalogue by the same category to find similar games when you enjoyed The Game of Jaws and want something comparable for your next game night.
The credited designers of The Game of Jaws are: Jeffrey Breslow. 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 The Game of Jaws 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.