Ever had the itch to be a scrappy treasure hunter, but hate getting mud on your shoes? Well, you’re not alone. My friends and I recently put our shovels to the test in a few rounds of Dig, and now I’m here with a full review. If you’re wondering if this game belongs on your next game night—or in the deepest, dustiest part of your closet—stick around and see what dirt I’ve dug up. Spoiler: I only lost my temper twice.
How It Plays
Setting up
Shuffle the deck and deal the Dig cards evenly so every player has a hopeful little mole. Put the treasure and junk cards face down in a pile. Everyone grabs their trusty shovel token (well, it’s just a regular token, but I like to pretend) and off we go!
Gameplay
On your turn, pick a card from the dig pile and flip it over. If it’s treasure, score it! If it’s junk, you get nothing but a dirty snout. Some cards have special effects—my friend once accidentally made me swap my best treasure with their chicken bone. Rude! Turns go clockwise, with players digging, sweating, and occasionally calling each other mole-rats.
Winning the game
Once all the cards are gone, count your treasure. Whoever’s found the most sparkly stuff wins! If there’s a tie, just argue about who deserves it more or throw a celebration for being equally sneaky. Simple, silly, and perfect for folks who like to dig up mayhem.
Want to know more? Read our extensive strategy guide for DIG.
How to Play Dig: Game Rules and Turn Order Explained
Alright, let’s get straight to the dirt. Dig is a game about, well, digging! Picture yourself as a scrappy little dog at the park, nose to the ground, sniffing out buried treasure and hoping you don’t just find more old socks. That’s basically what you’re doing here—minus the questionable hygiene. The goal? Gather the most valuable bones before the deck runs out, or your friends gang up and bury your chances (pun intended!).
Each player gets a character card, a starting bone (which feels weirdly personal), and a secret stash area. On your turn, you can dig up cards from the stack in the middle or sneak a peek at what’s in your own stash. If you think another doggy—err, player—has a better stash, you can even try stealing from them. It’s like poker, but with barking. There are special action cards that let you shuffle, swap, or otherwise mess with other players. I used one on my cousin, and he actually howled. Pretty sure that means the theme is strong.
The best part? You never know what’s coming out of that deck. Sometimes you’ll get golden bones, sometimes a half-chewed shoe. There’s a push-your-luck element, but you can control a lot by remembering what gets played and who’s holding what stash.
The endgame sneaks up quicker than you think—like a squirrel on roller skates. Whoever has the highest bone total when the stack runs out wins and gets eternal bragging rights at the dog park.
Speaking of bragging rights, next up I’ll sniff around whether skill or luck gets you those bones in dig…
Skill vs Luck: Who Really Wins in Dig?
Let’s talk about the age-old battle: skill versus luck. In Dig, this is not just a side plot, it’s the main event. Picture this: you’ve got your little plastic dog, a suspiciously cheerful deck of cards, and a shiny bone in your sights. You think you’ve outsmarted Linda (you never outsmart Linda), but wait! You forgot about the luck factor. In Dig, luck can sometimes pop out like a mole in a whack-a-mole game.
Don’t get me wrong, there’s skill to be had! You have choices every round. There’s tactics in deciding whether to move or dig, or just stare longingly at your cards hoping they turn into better cards. Planning matters. If you watch what other players do, you can spot patterns, predict their moves, and maybe even steal a bone from under their nose. But then—BAM! —someone pulls a lucky card, and it’s back to square one. I’ve seen friends win with smart plays, but I’ve also seen a complete beginner (my nephew, age nine) beat everyone by just drawing the right card at the right time.
So, does skill win the day? Sometimes. But luck is always around the corner, wearing a silly hat and ready to turn everything upside down. If you love games where the best player wins every time, Dig may nibble at your patience. But if you want wild swings and surprise finishes, this one has plenty.
Now, stretch those paws and sniff the air—up next, I’ll dish about Dig’s replay value and what happens when a group of competitive humans and plastic dogs face off, round after round!
How Many Times Can You Dig the Game?
Let’s talk about the real reason my shelves are overflowing—replay value. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve pulled Dig out for another round. Why? Because every session goes differently. The order of the tiles, the choices made, and the wild grudge matches between players all combine to keep things fresh. My friend Greg still won’t let go of the game where he dug up nothing but bones (and not the good kind). No two games unfold the same way, which is a big plus when you’re considering what to play over and over.
Now, player interaction is where Dig really shines like a gem hiding in the dirt. You can play sneaky, grab tiles someone’s clearly eyeing, or just mess with other people’s plans without being a total villain. There’s plenty of table talk—mostly laughter, sometimes suspiciously timed bathroom breaks. I’ve seen alliances form and crumble in the time it takes to eat a cookie.
Since everyone’s scrambling for the top loot, the competition stays fierce but friendly. The good news is you never feel left out, since you’re always involved and watching everyone else’s moves with eagle-eyed suspicion. This keeps everyone engaged from start to finish. Whether you’re a quiet strategist or a loud chaos agent, Dig pulls you in and keeps you digging (pun intended) for more.
But the cardboard doesn’t lie—next, we’ll sniff around the dirt and see if Dig really sparkles in the looks and feel department. Will it delight your eyeballs or just cover your table with mulch? Let’s find out!
Component Quality and Artwork: Dig Gets Its Hands Dirty
Let’s talk about what Dig actually looks and feels like on the table. No, you can’t just dig around in the box and find gold nuggets (I tried)—but the bits inside are pretty nice! The cards feel sturdy, not like those thin, sad ones that get bent the first time someone sneezes. My friend Sam dropped her drink on a card, and it survived! I wish my phone case was made out of this stuff.
The artwork in Dig is playful and a little goofy, which matches the whole theme of dogs digging up treasures (and sometimes, a big old pile of nothing). The illustrations always get a laugh out of someone new. My dog even barked at one of the cards. Good sign? I think so. The rulebook is clear, too, and has some fun little doodles in the corners. That alone made me less grumpy about setting up the game again for the fourth time in one night.
One thing that could have been better: the dog tokens. They look fine, but in a dream world, they’d be chunky wooden pups instead of simple cardboard. Still, none of my friends chewed on them (unlike my real dog), so I won’t complain too much. There’s at least no chance of anyone choking on the components, unless you’re very ambitious.
So, do I recommend Dig based on art and build alone? Heck yes! It’s got charm for days, and everything feels like it’ll survive a rough night of gaming with my crew. If you want a game that actually looks good on your table, Dig’s the way to go. Stay tuned for my final thoughts!
Conclusion
All in all, Dig is a light, fast, and fun game with a goofy theme that kept my friends and I laughing around the table. If you love games where you can poke fun at your pals and don’t mind a bit of luck, Dig is a real treat. I liked the simple rules and the cheerful art, and it’s one of those games you can pull out when nobody wants to read a rulebook that’s longer than a pizza menu.
Sure, it has some swings of luck, and if you dream of pure strategy, Dig might not be your golden bone. But for quick fun and lots of table talk, it’s worth a spot on the shelf. Just watch out for your sneaky friends—they can and will steal the win from right under your nose. That wraps up my review. Now, go Dig up some fun!
