Smug Owls (2023) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Smug Owls is a party game designed by Kevin Ruelle and illustrated by Runaway Parade Games LLC. It was released in 2023 and is suitable for players aged 8 and above. The game is designed for 3-15 players, with the best experience being for 6 players. With a runtime of 15-20 minutes, Smug Owls aims to provide a fun and engaging experience for players looking for a quick and light-hearted game night option.

Game Components of Smug Owls

Riddle cards: 89 cards containing various verbs and words to complete the riddles.

Conjunction cards: 17 cards used to connect the riddle components.

What card: A card starting each riddle.

Question mark card: A card ending each riddle.

Owl standee: A token for the Smug Owl judge.

How To Setup Smug Owls

To set up Smug Owls, create a deck of exactly eight conjunction cards. Split the riddle cards into two stacks of at least eight cards each and place them on either side of the conjunction deck. Each round, you’ll flip two riddle cards and a conjunction card, placing them between the “what” card and the question mark card.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Riddle Generation: Flip cards to create a riddle sentence.

Answering Riddles: Players come up with answers to the riddle.

Smug Owl Judge: The last player to think of an answer or the one without an answer becomes the Smug Owl, judging and distributing the cards to the best answers.

Scoring: The Smug Owl awards the cards to up to three players.

Game End: The game ends after eight rounds, and the player with the most cards wins.

Player Experience

Smug Owls encourages creative and outside-the-box thinking, making it a fun and engaging game for families and friends. The game’s design ensures that multiple players can be recognized for their answers, enhancing the overall camaraderie. However, players who struggle to come up with clever answers quickly might feel frustrated, as they could end up being the Smug Owl frequently.

Pros

High Replayability: With over 130,000 possible riddles, each game is unique.

Creative Answers: Encourages funny, punny, clever, or nonsensical answers.

Quick to Learn: Takes only 30 seconds to learn the rules.

Large Player Count: Supports up to 15 players.

Affordable: Priced at $21.99.

Cons

Frustration for Slow Responders: Players who are not quick with answers might feel left out.

Not Suitable for Young Children: The game’s complexity and need for quick thinking make it less suitable for very young children.

Personal Thoughts on Smug Owls

Smug Owls is an excellent choice for families, friends, and large groups looking for a light-hearted and entertaining game. It promotes creative thinking and humor, making it a great addition to any game collection. However, it may not be the best fit for players who are not comfortable with quick thinking or coming up with clever answers under pressure. Overall, it’s a fun and engaging game that offers endless entertainment with its magically generated riddles.

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