Cheating Moth (2011) Board Game

Cheating Moth is a fun and fast-paced card game designed by Emely Brand and Lukas Brand, and published by Drei Magier Spiele in in 2011. The game revolves around players trying to get rid of their cards as quickly as possible, while also trying to sneakily cheat without getting caught. It’s a game that requires quick thinking, strategy, and a bit of deception.

Game Components of Cheating Moth

Cards: Numbered 1-5, with some special ability cards like Ant, Cockroach, Mosquito, and Spider.

Guard Bug: A token that designates one player as the guard per round.

Cheating Moth Cards: Special cards that must be disappeared through cheating.

Deck: A draw pile from which players draw cards when they cannot play a card from their hand.

How To Setup Cheating Moth

To set up the game, each player starts with a hand of eight cards. The oldest player receives the guard bug, which stays on the table throughout the game. One card is turned face-up to start the discard pile. The guard bug’s role is to catch other players cheating.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Objective: Be the first player to get rid of all your cards.

Card Play: Players must play a card that is exactly one higher or lower than the top card on the discard pile. Numbers wrap, so a 1 can be played on a 5 and vice versa.

Cheating: Players can make cards disappear by cheating, but must do so without getting caught by the guard.

Special Cards:

Ant: Everyone but the active player must take a card from the draw pile.

Cockroach: Players race to play an identically-numbered card on top; only the fastest player succeeds.

Mosquito: Everyone but the active player must slap the pile; the slowest player receives a card from each other player.

Spider: Give a non-Cheating Moth card from your hand to another player.

Scoring: The game ends after a number of rounds equal to the number of players. Players score points for the cards left in their hand: 10 points for each Cheating Moth, 5 points for each action card, and 1 point for each number card. The player with the lowest score wins.

Player Experience

Cheating Moth is praised for its ease of learning and fast-paced gameplay, making it an excellent choice for families and groups of friends. The game is filled with laughter and excitement, particularly due to the cheating mechanic, which keeps players on their toes. It’s a great way to pass an evening and is highly engaging for players of all ages, although it’s noted that the game is more enjoyable with a larger number of players.

Pros

Easy to Learn: Straightforward rules make it accessible for all ages and skill levels.

Fast-Paced: Quick rounds ensure that players never get bored.

Engaging: The cheating mechanic adds a fun and interactive element.

Family Friendly: Suitable for younger kids and enjoyable for multiple generations.

Portable: The game comes in a small box, making it easy to carry.

Cons

Limited with Fewer Players: The game is less exciting with only three players compared to five.

Personal Thoughts on Cheating Moth

Cheating Moth is perfect for anyone looking for a fun, light-hearted game that combines strategy, luck, and deception. It’s an excellent choice for family game nights, casual gatherings, or backyard barbecues. While it’s enjoyable with fewer players, it truly shines with a full group of five, making it a great addition to any game collection that values laughter and quick, engaging gameplay.

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