How To Play: Bears!

Welcome, fellow dice wranglers! If you’ve ever wanted to know How To Play bears! and win without flipping the table (or losing friends), you’re in the right place. In this post, I’ll give you a simple outline of the game rules and my best tricks for crushing your rivals. Spoiler: it involves more than just yelling “Bear!” at the right moment.

Overview

What’s in the box

• 20 Camp dice
• 20 Bear dice
• 4 Scoring reminder cards
• Score pad
• Pencil
• Rulebook

How To Play Bears!: Rules Summary

So you want to learn How To Play bears!? Grab your dice and get ready for some wild action. My friends and I had so much fun with this one, except for Sarah, who kept getting eaten by bears. Here are the rules that will keep you from meeting a similar fate.

Setup

1. First, give each player a set of five dice, one set per player.
2. Place an equal number of campsite dice in the center of the table (ten for four players, for example).
3. Assign each player a score sheet and a pencil. Trust me, you’ll need it. John once tried to keep score in his head. We still can’t work out who won that game.

Gameplay

1. Everyone rolls their five player dice at the same time. Yes, this gets noisy and hilarious. Accept it.
2. Next, roll all the campsite dice into the middle.
3. Each player tries to match their dice with those in the center by grabbing pairs as fast as possible. Think musical chairs, but with more growling.
4. Each pair can be: a tent and a camper die (safe!), a bear and a camper die (bear attack!), or a tent and a bear (strange, but it happens).
5. Keep grabbing pairs until someone yells, “STOP!” when the dice run out.

Winning

1. At the end of each round, score your pairs: Safe campers get points, eaten campers lose points, and leftover dice sometimes backfire.
2. Play for a set number of rounds (usually until one of you faints from laughter or you hit the agreed score).
3. The player with the highest score wins. If there’s a tie, the loudest bear impression claims the prize. Just kidding. Or am I?

Special Rules & Conditions

1. If you grab a pair incorrectly, you lose points. Don’t blame the dice. Blame your reflexes.
2. Leftover campers at the end get eaten. That’s a rule, not a threat.
3. Some versions have extra event cards—read as directed for more chaos. We once played with the “Bears Invade the Campsite” card. I’ve never seen my uncle move so fast.

That’s it! Now you know How To Play bears!. Grab your friends, brace yourself, and try not to end up as the bear’s dinner.

Best Bears! Strategies

Mastering Dice Drafting & Timing in Bears!

Understanding the Dice Pool

First, always check the dice pool before you make a move. Every choice matters. Grab what you need, but watch what your friends might want. That way, you block them while you help yourself.

1. Spot high-value bears and tents fast.
2. Pick dice that help your goals, but deny others.

Timing Is Everything

Next, time your grabs. Panic picking means low scores. Only grab early if you see the perfect combo.

1. Breathe, then grab fast when the moment is right.
2. Wait if you think others might grab worse options first.

How To Play bears! With Dice Drafting

Remember, successful players pick dice with purpose. Quick thinking and sharp eyes win the game! Watch the dice, but also the other players’ moves every round.

Choosing Risk versus Reward in Bears!

Spot the High Stakes

When playing Bears!, you face big choices each turn. Will you play it safe or go for broke? These moments decide games. Here’s how I do it without breaking into a cold sweat.

Trust Your Gut

1. If you see lots of tents left, grab those bear dice with high points. You might scare off your friends!
2. Try to predict what dice others want. Sometimes you should take a risk, just to block them.

Read the Room

1. Look at your friends’ faces. If they look too happy, they probably pulled a risky move. Keep your choices bold but careful.
2. Aim for points that are hard to get but keep an eye on the bear attacks. Risk is fun but don’t go extinct!

Remember, How To Play bears! smart isn’t just about luck—it’s about taking brave risks at the right time. And sometimes, laughing at your own bad decisions!

How To Outsmart Your Friends and Win Bears!

Spotting Their Favorite Dice

Always keep an eye on what dice your friends snatch up first. If your buddy goes for tents, chances are, he’s building a tent city. Know your enemy, right?

1. Remember who loves which dice.
2. Grab their favorite when you can.
3. Block their patterns before they score big.

Using Table Talk to Your Advantage

Sometimes, they can’t resist chatting about their plans. Listen closely! When they drop hints, act fast.

1. Pick up on their jokes or complaints.
2. Read into their excitement or panic.
3. Adjust your own picks to mess with their strategy.

Watching Hand Movements

Pay attention to fidgety hands. People reach for what they want before their brain tells them not to. Quick hands, quick snatch!

1. Watch where their fingers go first.
2. Pounce on those dice before them.
3. Laugh as you ruin their master plan!

Learning How To Play bears! well means watching everyone—not just the dice. Soon, you’ll be the bear king at your table.

Master the Bears! Mayhem

Well, that’s it for my strategy secrets! With a little luck and smart picks, you will leave your friends crying into their flimsy tents. Keep an eye on the dice, outfox your pals, and remember the number one rule for How To Play bears!: Don’t get eaten! I’ve lost to my cousin’s wild bear streak more than once, so don’t feel bad if a furry disaster strikes. Give it a shot and watch your group scramble like squirrels. Happy camping—and may the best tent survive!

Want to know what we think of Bears!? Read our detailed review of Bears! here