
- BGG rank
- BGG #65
- BGG rating
- 8.7
Oathsworn: Into the Deepwood
- 1–4 players
- 30–90 min
- Complexity 3.7/5
- 2022

2006
Rules assistance for Thing-a-ma-Bots
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
For 2 players

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Thing-a-ma-Bots is a board game released in 2006 for 2–6 players, 12 minutes per game, and ages 6 and up. It was designed by Bernie DeKoven and its main mechanics are Pattern Recognition.
From the publishers website: Gear up for a memory bender in this fast-playing card game of shouting silliness. Turn over a card and give the robot a name: Melvin, Spaghetti Head, GP-450, or whatever you imagine. When it shows up again, be the first to shout its name and you collect the stack of cards. Spot a robot match? Shout out "Thing-a-ma-BOT" and steal an opponent's stack! Collect the most robots to win the game. Thing-a-ma-Bots is an easy-to-learn game starring the silliest robots around. Players of all ages will enjoy making up ridiculous names for the colorful characters. The game helps build creativity and memory skills while inspiring giggles and goofiness.
Thing-a-ma-Bots 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 Thing-a-ma-Bots is 12 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 Thing-a-ma-Bots for ages 6 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.
Thing-a-ma-Bots 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.
Thing-a-ma-Bots belongs to these categories: Card Game. Its main mechanics are Pattern Recognition. 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 Thing-a-ma-Bots are: Bernie DeKoven. 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 Thing-a-ma-Bots 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.