
- BGG rank
- BGG #502
- BGG rating
- 7.4
Gùgōng
- 1–5 players
- 60–90 min
- Complexity 3.1/5
- 2018

2018
Rules assistance for War of the Buttons
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.
War of the Buttons is a board game released in 2018 for 2–4 players, 45–70 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Andreas Steding and its main mechanics are Dice Rolling and Worker Placement.
In War of the Buttons, 2-4 players lead a "gang" of kids who try to build their own hut. To do this, they use both their own dice and "neutral" dice, while hoping for help from their "big brother" and for no one to tattle on them at school. War of the Buttons uses themes of the 1912 novel La Guerre des Boutons by Louis Pergaud.
War of the Buttons 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 War of the Buttons is 45–70 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 War of the Buttons for ages 10 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.
War of the Buttons has a complexity rating of 2.3 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-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.
War of the Buttons belongs to these categories: Movies / TV / Radio theme, Dice, and Novel-based. Its main mechanics are Dice Rolling and Worker Placement. 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 War of the Buttons are: Andreas Steding. 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 War of the Buttons 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.