Hungry Monkey (2022) Board Game

Hungry Monkey is a fun and engaging card game that was released in in 2022. Designed by Erik Andersson Sundén and published by HeidelBÄR Games, this game is suitable for players aged 8 and above. The game revolves around monkeys trying to climb a ladder to reach bananas at the top.

Game Components of Hungry Monkey

72 animal cards (6 each of 12 different animals)

Bean cards for scoring

Bad Kitty card

Face-down row of 4 cards per player

Eco-friendly, biodegradable or recyclable card materials.

How To Setup Hungry Monkey

To set up the game, each player is dealt a hand of 3 cards and a face-down row of 4 cards. The remaining cards are placed in the center of the table as a deck. The Bad Kitty card is stood on its end next to the deck and then slid into the deck based on the player count. This setup ensures that the game ends when the Bad Kitty is revealed.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Objective: Be the first player to get rid of all your hand cards and then the face-down row of cards.

Card Play: Players must play cards with the same or a higher number than the card currently on top of the pile.

Special Effects: Certain animal cards have special effects, such as King Tiger discarding the entire animal pile, Buffaloes requiring the next player to play an 8 or lower, and Hungry Monkey cloning the top card’s effect.

Gang of Four: If four or more cards of the same rank are on top, the entire pile is discarded, and the active player draws back up to 3 cards and takes another turn.

Bad Kitty: When revealed, the draw pile is considered empty, and players can only play with the cards they currently have.

Player Experience

Hungry Monkey offers a fast-paced experience with a mix of strategy and luck. The game is easy to learn but has clever strategic twists, making it appealing for multiple plays. The beautiful, eco-friendly card artwork and the exotic theme add to the game’s charm. Players need to balance the risk of taking the entire animal pile if they play an invalid card, while also utilizing the special effects of the animal cards to their advantage.

Pros

Easy to Learn: Simple rules make it accessible to all ages.

Strategic Depth: Special card effects and the need to manage hand and face-down cards add a layer of strategy.

Eco-Friendly: Made from biodegradable or recyclable materials.

Beautiful Artwork: Independent illustrations by Sushrita Bhattacharjee.

Fast-Paced: Games typically last around 15 minutes.

Cons

Rule Clarity: Some rules can be slightly awkward and not as clear as they should be.

Scoring Mechanism: The scoring system, which involves random bean cards, may not be appealing to everyone.

Personal Thoughts on Hungry Monkey

Hungry Monkey is perfect for families and casual gamers looking for a quick, engaging game. It’s a great filler game that can be played in short sessions, and its eco-friendly production makes it an attractive choice for those concerned about environmental impact. While it may not offer deep complexity, it provides enough strategic elements to keep players interested and coming back for more. However, players who prefer more structured scoring mechanisms might find the random bean card system less appealing.

We are supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, at no extra cost for you. Learn more.