Happy Pigs (2013)

About this game

As pig farmers in Happy Pigs, players compete on raising healthy pigs by executing strategic combinations of “Actions” (Feed, Mate, Purchase, and Sell) and “Tools” (Vaccines, Nutritional Supplements and Birth Amulets) for each round. Both the frequency to take these “Actions” and the number of “Tools” a player can purchase are restricted by the number of players choosing to take the same action in any given round. Also, from time to time there are unexpected events (such as Pig Shows and Sausage Fest) which offer players great opportunities to outperform their peers. There are four rounds to each season, and all unvaccinated pigs die at each season change. The game concludes at the end of four seasons, when all pigs are sold off at different prices in accordance with their sizes. The player with the highest profit at the end wins the game.

Does it fit your group?

• Group size. Works with 2 to 6.
• Rules load. At 2.3/5 this is a mid-weight game — expect a proper rules explanation before you start.
• Age. The publisher suggests 8 and up. That rates the rules rather than the artwork, so judge the box yourself for younger players.