Rat-a-Tat Cat (1995) Board Game

Rat-a-Tat Cat is a card game designed by Monty Stambler and Ann Stambler and published by Gamewright in in 1995. The game is targeted towards children aged 6 and above and combines elements of memory, open drafting, push your luck, and take that mechanics. The game features colorful artwork by artists Chris Van Dusen, Björn Pertoft, Roni Shepherd, and Markus Wagner.

Game Components of Rat-a-Tat Cat

A deck of cards: four sets of cards numbered from 0 through 8, nine copies of the 9 card, and three of each of the action cards (“Peek”, “Swap”, and “Draw 2”).

Cat and rat cards: low-value cat cards and high-value rat cards[3″).

How To Setup Rat-a-Tat Cat

To set up the game, each player is dealt four cards that are placed face down in a row in front of them. Before the first turn, each player looks at the two outermost cards in their row. The remaining cards form a draw pile, and the top card is turned over to start the discard pile. If the top card is an action card, it is shuffled back into the draw pile and a replacement is dealt.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Game Objective

The objective is to have the fewest points at the end of the game by collecting low-value cards and avoiding high-value cards.

Gameplay Mechanics

Memory and Strategy: Players must remember the values of their own and others’ cards to strategize effectively.

Card Swapping: Players can swap cards to lower their score by drawing from the draw pile or the discard pile and replacing one of their face-down cards.

Action Cards: Utilize “Peek”, “Swap”, and “Draw 2” cards to gain advantages. “Peek” allows a player to look at one of their face-down cards, “Swap” lets a player exchange one of their cards with an opponent’s, and “Draw 2” forces a player to draw another card from the draw pile.

Ending the Round: A player can end the round by saying “rat-a-tat cat”, after which all other players get one more turn before revealing their cards and tallying scores.

Player Experience

Rat-a-Tat Cat is a delightful and easy-to-learn game that is perfect for family game nights. It enhances memory and strategic thinking among younger players while providing a fun and competitive atmosphere for adults as well. The game is simple enough for children as young as six to understand but still engaging for adults due to its combination of luck and strategy.

Pros

Family-Friendly: Accessible to players as young as six years old.

Educational Value: Enhances memory and strategic thinking among younger players.

Simple to Learn: Quick and easy to understand, making it a great filler game.

Engaging Gameplay: Combines memory, strategy, and luck, providing a fun experience for all ages.

Cons

Limited Strategy for Adults: The game may lack the depth and complexity that hardcore gamers prefer.

Luck-Based: The outcome is heavily influenced by the cards drawn, which can be frustrating for some players.

Short Game Sessions: Games are relatively short, lasting about 20 minutes.

Personal Thoughts on Rat-a-Tat Cat

Rat-a-Tat Cat is highly recommended for families with young children due to its educational value and engaging gameplay. It teaches important skills such as memory, strategy, and probability while maintaining a fun and competitive atmosphere. For adults, it serves as a great filler game that is easy to pick up and play, even if it lacks the complexity desired by some gamers. Overall, it is a versatile and enjoyable game suitable for players of all ages.

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