What is Animal Snap?
Animal Snap will have you in stitches. It combines quick reflexes, memory and animal names.
Learn how to play the game in simple steps.
| Number of players | 2 to 4 |
| Game length | 15 minutes |
| Game difficulty | Easy |
| What you need to play | A standard deck of playing cards |
If you enjoy Animal Snap, check out this list of the top games to play with a deck of cards.
Object of the Game
In Animal Snap, players aim to gather the most cards by matching cards and calling out animal names before their opponents.
Setting Up the Game
- Each player adopts an animal name, and creativity is encouraged. Silly or unusual names like “Duck-billed Platypus” add extra fun to the game.
- Deal all cards face-down between the players. Don’t worry too much is some players have more cards than other players.
Playing the Game
-
Every round begins with a simultaneous call of “go.” At this cue, all players reveal the top card of their face-down pile, placing it face-up next to their stack.
-
If two or more face-up cards are of the same rank, players with those cards must quickly call out the animal name of another player whose card matches their own.
-
The first player to successfully call out the animal name claims the cards in the face-up piles of the players whose cards matched their own. These claimed cards are added to the bottom of their face-down pile.
-
Players who call out an incorrect name or are not quick enough to match names forfeit their ability to call out in the next round.
Winning the game
The game ends when one player owns all the cards or after a predetermined number of rounds. In the latter case, the player with the most cards wins.
Optional rules
- For close calls, a “zoo” can be created. When players simultaneously call out names, face-up cards from those players are added to the zoo. Players can also call “zoo” if their turned card matches the top card in the zoo. The first player to do so collects all zoo cards, adding them to their face-down pile.
Animal Snap is primarily a game of luck and quick reflexes. It doesn’t require strategic thinking but instead relies on spotting matching cards and reacting swiftly.