How To Play: Party Animals

Party Animals is a wild, chaotic game where you pick goofy animals, grab, punch, and toss friends around wild maps. Knowing the rules helps, but mastering grabs, punches, and map hazards makes you a champ. My pals and I laughed so hard, we almost forgot how to play party animals!

Party Animals: Box Cover Front

Overview

So you want to throw your friends off a blimp, do you? Excellent choice. Party Animals is the wildest party game I’ve played in ages. In this guide, I’ll explain How To Play party animals with an outline of the rules (so you don’t get lost like I did my first time). You’ll also get some of my best strategies for winning, or at least looking good while flailing around.

What’s in the box

  • 1 Game board
  • 8 Animal character figures
  • 8 Player boards
  • 64 Action cards
  • 32 Event cards
  • 1 Punch marker
  • 1 Grab token
  • 1 Rulebook
  • 30 Banana tokens
  • 12 Power-up tokens

How To Play Party Animals: Rules Summary

Setup

  1. First, grab your Party Animals box and take out all the cute animal miniatures. Don’t let your cat steal them. Trust me.

  2. Next, pick your favorite animal. If anyone snags the corgi before you, call dibs on the sloth for instant shame immunity.

  3. After that, shuffle the item cards and place them in the center. Place the map boards on a flat surface. A wobbly table is basically expert mode.

  4. Then, everyone rolls the die to pick the starting player. Highest roll wins the honor (and possibly the blame) of going first.

Gameplay

  1. On your turn, move your animal up to three spaces. Remember, you can jump, grab, or punch — but not all at once. You’re not a superhero (yet).

  2. You may try to grab an item, a rival, or even your own dignity. Use the grab action and hope your friends don’t shove you off the map while you’re distracted.

  3. Punch another animal to push them away or into a hazard. Just don’t aim for their feelings—they’re quite sensitive.

  4. After moving, resolve any events or hazards you triggered. Falling into water? Prepare to swim with style or shame.

Winning

  1. The last animal standing wins the round. Simple. Easy. Unless your friends have mastered the ancient art of sneaky grabs.

  2. You can play as many rounds as you want. Most epic wins after three rounds gets crowned the Ultimate Party Animal. Loser buys snacks next time.

Special Rules & Conditions

  1. If two animals grab each other at the same time, have a quick thumb war. Winner keeps the item (or their pride).

  2. Some maps have special zones like slippery ice or shock floors. Step there and you’ll move again or get stunned. Read the map rules before you play, unless you enjoy surprises. (I sure do. My friends do not.)

  3. Optional: Make animal noises on every turn. This rule is not in the manual, but it spices up the game night. Trust me, your neighbors will love it.

Now you know How To Play party animals and can wrangle your friends for a legendary showdown. Just watch out for the sneaky ones—there’s always one in every group!

Best Party Animals Strategies

Unleash Your Inner Beast: Mastering Animal Choices in Party Animals

Think About Your Play Style

First off, know if you like chaos or control. Some animals move quick, others hit much harder. Consider how you want to play and pick the right match.

  1. Pick a small animal if you want to dodge and weave.
  2. Choose a heavy one if you love throwing weight around.
  3. Try each animal once to see whose moves feel good.
Team Up With the Right Animal

If you play in teams, pick an animal that balances your friends’ picks. One beefy, one quick, one sneaky — you cover all bases and annoy your rivals.

  1. Ask your friends what animals they like to use first.
  2. Switch it up if your team keeps losing with the same group.
Mind the Special Moves

Each animal comes with oddball moves or a unique grab style. Sometimes, a simple tail flick can change the game. Experiment during rounds to spot hidden advantages.

  1. Learn the moves for each animal from the How To Play party animals tips.
  2. Don’t stick to just the animal that looks cute — utility matters more than looks!

Grab, Punch, Victory: Smashing the Party with Skill

Stick and Move

I’ve learned that if you stop moving, you’re lunch meat. Always keep your animal on the run, then throw a punch when your target least expects it.

  1. Circle your foes.
  2. Punch, then back up fast.
  3. Never stand next to an edge for long.
Use Objects for Chaos

I once chucked a soda can at my buddy and won the round. Grabbing stuff adds chaos and gives you options.

  1. Grab items quickly.
  2. Punch while holding objects.
  3. Throw items to disrupt groups.
Read the Room

Always check the chaos before you swing. I got clobbered once because I missed a sneaky crocodile sneaking up on me.

  1. Watch your back.
  2. Punch when others fight each other.
  3. Time your grab for surprise wins.

Learning How To Play party animals with these tricks will turn you into the animal everyone fears. Trust me, it worked for me… after a lot of practice and a few embarrassing fails!

Surviving the Wacky Worlds: Map Awareness & Hazards in Party Animals

After many wild brawls, I learned the hard way that knowing the map is just as key as grabbing or punching. If you ever want to master How To Play party animals, always pay attention to your surroundings! One time I got so focused on smacking my mate Finn, I didn’t notice the floor was about to drop. Spoiler: Finn laughed so hard he nearly choked on his crisps.

Keep Your Eyes Peeled for Traps

  1. Scan for moving floors or hidden holes before charging ahead.
  2. Stay alert for objects that can knock you out, like flying crates!

Use Hazards Against Your Opponents

  1. Lure others near dangerous spots, then give them a friendly push (evil grin optional).
  2. Time your attacks with hazards—nothing beats a punch right as a trap springs.

Never Stick to One Spot

  1. Move around the map to avoid being an easy target for both players and traps.
  2. Learn escape routes in case things heat up… which they always do in Party Animals.

## Party Like an Animal – The Final Word

Well, there you have it, my wildly honest take on How To Play party animals like a proper party legend. Whether you’re tossing your friends into a river or getting drop-kicked by a duck in a wig (true story, thanks Greg), remember to laugh at yourself and enjoy the madness. No strategy is perfect, and chaos is half the fun. Stick to your tactics, learn from your hilarious mistakes, and soon you’ll be the life of the party – or at least, the last bear standing. Now go forth and unleash your inner animal!

Want to know what we think of Party Animals? Read our detailed review of Party Animals here

Jamie in his proper element: With all of his board games
Jamie Hopkins

With years of dice-rolling, card-flipping, and strategic planning under my belt, I've transformed my passion into expertise. I thrive on dissecting the mechanics and social dynamics of board games, sharing insights from countless game nights with friends. I dive deep into gameplay mechanics, while emphasizing the social joys of gaming. While I appreciate themes and visuals, it's the strategy and camaraderie that truly capture my heart.