- BGG rank
- BGG #12,616
- BGG rating
- 6.5
Tricky Kids
2025
Rules assistance for Tricky Kids
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–6 players
- 20–30 min
- 12+
- Complexity 1.7/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Tricky Kids
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Tricky Kids is a board game released in 2025 for 2–6 players, 20–30 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Danielle Reynolds and Steven Ungaro and its main mechanics are Trick-taking.
About the game
Welcome to the playground! In Tricky Kids, you and your classmates are trading toys and snacks in a chaotic kid-economy where value is totally made up. It’s a trick-taking game with a twist: you write the numbers on your cards. At the start of each round, you assign values that total 21 across your hand then use those cards to try to win tricks and collect points. Each round consists of 7 tricks, but the goal is to win tricks strategically, not just frequently. Each trick earns you a point token, and the leftmost available token is always the one you claim (so timing matters!). The tokens have different values based on which suit won the trick, making both when and how you win crucial to victory. The game unfolds over 3 rounds, and after 21 tricks total, the player with the most points wins! But watch out: if your card values add up to more than 21 at the end of a round, you lose all the points you just earned... and possibly some from earlier rounds too! With optional “Tricky Rule” cards to mix things up each round (like passing your hand, playing with dual-suit cards, or unexpected win conditions), Tricky Kids keeps players guessing and giggling with every play. —description from the publisher
Categories
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Pandasaurus Games
Questions and answers
Tricky Kids 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 Tricky Kids is 20–30 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 Tricky Kids for ages 12 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.
Tricky Kids has a complexity rating of 1.7 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.
Tricky Kids belongs to these categories: Card Game. Its main mechanics are Trick-taking. 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 Tricky Kids are: Danielle Reynolds and Steven Ungaro. 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 Tricky Kids 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.