Go Nuts for Donuts: Card Game that Will Send You Running to the Bakery

Glazed, powdered or plain, who doesn't love a fresh donut? And what family doesn't like a good, rousing card game? Now your favorite baked good comes in a fast-paced, spirited family-friendly card game, Go Nuts for Donuts.

This past Christmas, "Santa" brought us Gamewright's card game, Go Nuts for Donuts, "The Pastry-Picking Card Game" and we LOVE it. Especially my youngest son who wants to play it over and over and over again! Even my teenager enjoyed playing it. The game is easy to learn, quick to play, and colorful to look at. It will also make you hungry. It has just the right amount of strategy so that younger kids can be competitive but older kids and grown-ups won't get bored.

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About How to Play Go Nuts for Donuts

Go Nuts for Donuts by Gamewright is a bidding card game for up to 6 players. The instructions are very simple to learn. At the start of the game, an array of donuts are displayed. The number of donuts in play depends on the number of players. Donut cards have point values and actions attached to them, with both positive and negative consequences. Players bid on which donuts they want to collect for their personal stash. If two players bid on the same donut, it is discarded. Players only collect a donut if no one else wants it. Bidding rounds continue until the deck of cards is used up! The player with the most points (not necessarily the player with the most donuts) at the end of the game wins!

Thoughts on Playing Go Nuts for Donuts

The more often you play Go Nuts for Donuts the better your kids will get, so parents beware! The strategic skills involved in this card game are more social in nature than in many other games because aside from figuring out which donuts will best enhance your hand, players must contemplate the psychology of what moves their opponent might make. Players have to think about what donuts their opponents will bid on and whether or not they want to block a bid, or attempt to collect. You might think that trying to read minds would make the game more antagonistic in nature, but we discovered it led to more laughs than tears!

Those of you who regularly follow my game of the month feature (I love you!) know that we don't usually play games for points, but Go Nuts for Donuts is the exception. The game really is predicated on the accumulation or loss of points through the collection of sweet treats that there is little point to playing the game cooperatively.

That said, I would encourage parents to team up with younger kids if you have concerns over competitive sensitivities. Gamewright recommends the game for ages 8 and up. I think kids as young as 5 can play if they have a few practice rounds and are experienced game players. There is some math basic involved, but grown-ups can help with that.

Finally, Go Nuts for Donuts is a great game for building sportsmanship skills, and you can read more tips for how to help your sore loser here.