Tested by Adults: Dobble

Dobble is a speedy observation game where players race to match the identical symbol on pairs of cards. It creates excitement for children and adults alike, whether an eight-year old child playing with their parents, a group of teenagers, twenty-somethings or older couples. You can use it at home, at the cottage, at a party or at the pool. The game of Dobble relies on sharp eyes and quick reflexes, with simple rules and the right amount of madness.

Contents of the Dobble Game and How to Play It

The Dobble game contains 55 game cards packaged in a yellow tin that fits in the palm of your hand. There are eight different images on each card, and every pair of cards has only one image in common, for example a ghost, sunglasses or a road sign. Each image is unique, and substitution is not possible. The aim of the game is to find the same symbol on a pair of cards before your opponents do!

To search for whether an apple or a skull and crossbones is common on two cards, look for matching colours. For example, a dinosaur is always green, a Canadian maple leaf is red etc. What makes the task difficult for players is the different sizes of the symbols. The four leaf clover is a realistic size on one card and on another card, it is hiding behind the fingernail of a pinkie finger. The combination of features makes Dobble an incredibly captivating and exciting game.

Simple? It is not. Several times, during the game, we were convinced that the author had deceived us and there was no matching image on the card, but there was always a match!

Our Review, Upgrades and Tips for Playing Dobble

With the cards, you can play 5 different mini-games. In a mini-game, everyone plays at the same time. When you spot the identical symbol on two cards, say it out loud and then take the card, place it or discard it. To score each game, each of your cards either counts as a plus or a minus. Individually, mini-games only take a few minutes and you do not need much space, which we appreciated in a half-hour train ride. A mini-tournament can also be set up, in which case individual victories score according to each set of instructions.

We played Dobble in groups of two, three and four adult players, one adult with one child, two adults with one schoolchild and three adults and two children - a schoolchild and a preschool-aged child. All the variants were playable and we all enjoyed them. Children created special names for the symbols, so my dragon became a sea horse and a violin a music key.

Later, we played again using the same expression for the same picture, for example, "clock" for a "clock", not "time" or "how many". Then the card did not have to be taken by the person with the sharpest eyes who first identified the matching image but by the person with the best memory who correctly named it according to our agreement. We found that it was an advantage to play with opponents of a similar age.

The Towering Inferno and Fill the Well mini-games are best if there are only two players. For three or more players - The Poisoned Gift, Hot Potato and Catch Them All are good options as they require a higher number of players. For two (or ideally more) players, we have devised another mini-game. It's as simple as the other mini-games described in the Dobble tutorial.

Our New Dobble Mini-Game

There is one up-turned card on the table (I call it a grader*), the rest stays face down on the pile. One of the players takes the top card from the deck, turns it over and places it next to the grapple*. Here again, the opponents must race against time and compare the symbols. The happy finder collects the card and turns over the next one on top of the deck. Immediately, a new pair is sought, still with the grapple* card. Continue until the table is empty. You can also play another version where the person who finds the matching symbol passes the card to an opponent (it is clear to whom in the case of two players, but the player has to choose if there are more opponents). Based on the version, you either get a point or lose a point for every card that you have at the end of the game.

Who is Dobble For and Why we Recommend It

Few know who invented Dobble in 1976, and how the first picture cards looked. We know but won't tell you. Because we don't want to ruin your experience of reading the nice story that is included in the package!

Without exaggeration, We have to say that Dobble is a great distraction both on the road and at home, whether for 10 minutes and for a whole afternoon, for two to eight players. It is fun for children and adults, where even the youngest can win. So Dobble should not be missed in any family.

There are also thematic versions of Dobble, such as Star Wars, Cars or Nemo. So, you can find a version of Dobble that matches your taste.