How To Play: Bears!

Welcome to the wild world of Bears! – the game where you roll dice, grab tents, and try not to get eaten (trust me, it’s more fun than real camping). In this guide, I’ll give you a quick outline of the rules and share the best strategies for winning. I even learned these the hard way, losing my marshmallows and pride to my smug friend Jen.

Overview

What’s in the box

• 20 Black Bear Dice
• 20 White Camp Dice
• 4 Scoring Reminder Cards
• 1 Score Pad
• 1 Pencil
• 1 Rulebook

How To Play Bears!: Rules Summary

Setup

1. Give each player a set of 5 shooter dice and a score card.
2. Place the same number of camp dice as players in the center of the table, plus 1 extra.
3. All players grab their shooter dice. Make sure everyone can reach the camp dice.
4. Keep score markers and the box near for mid-game chaos cleanup. You’ll likely need it.

Gameplay

1. Everyone rolls their shooter dice. At the same time, roll the camp dice in the middle.
2. When the yell to start sounds, grab and match shooter dice to the camp dice as fast as you can. No turn order, just panic.
3. Match dice based on icons: Pair tents to campers to score safe campers, bears to campers to score, or run wild with rerolls if you get stuck.
4. After the round, score based on your pairs. Don’t forget to holler if someone tries to cheat, it’s part of the game.

Winning

1. Keep a running tally of your points each round.
2. When the camp dice run out (after the last round), add up all points.
3. The player with the most points wins! Brag. Celebrate. Demand a rematch.

Special Rules & Conditions

1. If a player grabs a tent die but doesn’t match it with a camper, lose that pairing’s potential points. Sad trombone.
2. If two people grab for the same camp die, whoever yells ‘Bear!’ loudest (or, more honestly, whoever grabs fastest) gets it.
3. Watch for bonus points if you snatch up all the bears or leave someone with only tents. Read the score card for these sneaky extras.

Once you learn how to play Bears!, you’ll mix quick hands with sneaky grabs and laugh a lot when chaos hits. Trust me, it’s wilder than camping during honey season.

Best Bears! Strategies

Mastering Dice Drafting in Bears!

Snagging the Best Dice First

1. Act fast! I always grab the top-scoring tents or bears before my brother can even blink.
2. Keep one eye on the dice you want, but the other on what your rivals might snatch away.

Messing With Opponents

1. If I see someone leaning toward a cozy tent, I take it first just to annoy them. It’s half the fun.
2. Sometimes, I purposely leave bad dice, so my friends have no choice but to raid a dangerous bear den.

Flexible Picking

1. Plans change when the dice gods laugh at you. Adapt quick and don’t cling to just one color or type.
2. Mistakes happen—grab what you can and make the most of it!

Knowing How To Play bears! means you snag the right dice at the right time. Test out these tactics and let chaos reign at your table.

Perfecting the Risk vs Reward Game in Bears!

Stay Cool Under Pressure

I once grabbed the first Tent die I saw—and instantly lost. Never again! Keep calm when chaos erupts and think before snatching.

Read Your Opponents

Watching friends panic is great, but it’s smarter to watch what they grab. Spot their patterns to predict their wild moves.

Know When to Push Your Luck

Big points tempt us. However, hold off sometimes. Let others take risks, then collect easy leftovers. Here’s how:

1. Wait until others commit before making your move.
2. Jump on missed Sleeping Bag or Bear dice for safe points.
3. Balance picking high-reward dice against staying alive each round.

For more tips, remember to search for How To Play bears! guides!

Bears! Sabotage Secrets: Outsmart Your Friends

Watch Your Rivals Like a Hawk

First, always keep an eye on what dice your opponents want. Then, act fast to grab those vital tent or bear dice. Not only does this mess with their plans, but it also makes you look clever.

1. Look for patterns in what your friends grab.
2. Snatch the dice you know they need most.

Timing Your Attacks

Now, never go in too soon. Make a move just as someone reaches for their favorite combo. This gets them frustrated and, honestly, it feels great!

1. Wait until they’re distracted.
2. Grab the piece right before them.

Bluff Occasionally

Occasionally, act interested in a useless die. Then, watch your opponents scramble. This opens up good dice for you while they waste turns.

1. Reach for an unwanted die first.
2. Then quickly grab the one you actually want.

In my last game, I stole a tent just to mess with Brian. He didn’t speak to me for a solid five minutes. How To Play bears! means knowing when to sabotage and when to play nice!

Bring Out Your Inner Bear!

So, that’s the secret sauce to winning at Bears! I’ve laughed, groaned, and watched my friend Jerry try to swipe all the tents and end up with nothing but sad bear faces. If you remember to balance risk with reward, use those How To Play bears! tricks, and don’t forget to sabotage your pals (in the game, not in real life—unless they eat the last slice of pizza), you’ll do great. Now go grab those dice and show everyone who’s the real king of the campsite. Just maybe keep your snacks away from hungry hands!

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