Lord of the Fries (1998) Board Game

Lord of the Fries is a card game created by James Ernest and published by Cheapass Games in in 1998. The game is set in a fast-food restaurant in a zombie-infested town, where players take on the role of chefs trying to fulfill orders in a chaotic and competitive environment.

Game Components of Lord of the Fries

Cards: Various food cards and menu cards from different restaurants such as Ratherbee’s Steakhouse, Ghicciaroni’s, Friedey’s Restaurant, Friedey’s Long Wok, Love’s Labours Lunch, and the Holiday Menu.

Expansions: Includes expansion decks like “Long Wok on Short Pier,” “Las Cabezas,” “McPubian’s,” and “Ghicciaroni’s,” each with different restaurant themes.

Dice: One 6-sided die.

How To Setup Lord of the Fries

To set up the game, players need to shuffle the deck and deal a certain number of cards to each player. The exact number of cards can vary, but the goal is to ensure each player has a hand to work with. The remaining cards are placed face down in a draw pile. Each round, a customer order is drawn, and players must combine ingredient cards to fulfill this order.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Game Mechanics: Auction/Bidding, Dice Rolling, Hand Management, Set Collection.

Objective: Players aim to create meals using different food cards to earn points. The first player to complete a meal gets to play those cards and start the next order. Cards played are worth points, while unplayed cards count against the player’s score.

Player Experience

**Lord of the Fries** is designed for 3 to 8 players and takes about 45 minutes to play. The game is known for its humorous meal names and chaotic gameplay, making it a fun and light-hearted experience. Players need to strategize quickly to fill orders and manage their hand effectively.

Pros

Humorous Theme: The game features amusing meal names and a quirky setting.

Easy to Learn: Simple gameplay mechanics make it accessible to new players.

High Replayability: Multiple expansions and various restaurant themes add variety to each game session.

Cons

Complexity: While easy to learn, managing the hand and bidding can become complex, especially with multiple players.

Luck Factor: The use of a die and random customer orders introduces an element of luck, which might not appeal to all players.

Personal Thoughts on Lord of the Fries

**Lord of the Fries** is ideal for those who enjoy light-hearted, fast-paced card games with a touch of humor. It’s a great choice for casual game nights or as an introduction to more complex card games. The game’s thematic expansions and simple rules make it versatile and appealing to a wide range of players. However, those seeking deeply strategic or highly competitive games might find **Lord of the Fries** too light or dependent on luck.

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.