The Quacks of Quedlinburg | Push Your Luck, Brew Your Potion, Try Not to Explode

Everyone's reaching into their own bag at the same time. One more ingredient, or stop now? Someone draws a chip, holds their breath, and the whole table groans as their pot boils over. Across the table, someone else is cackling because they pushed their luck and got away with it. Again.

That's Quacks. You're a travelling potion-maker, drawing ingredient chips from your bag to brew the best potion you can. Push too far and your pot explodes. Between rounds you buy better ingredients, so your bag gets stronger as the game goes on. After nine rounds of brewing, the player with the most points wins. It won the 2018 Kennerspiel des Jahres.

Why it works for family night

• Everyone plays at once. Nobody's ever sitting around waiting for their turn.
• A tension everyone feels. "One more chip?" is instantly gripping, whatever your age.
• Explained in about ten minutes. The idea of pushing your luck clicks straight away.
• Grows with your family. Simple to start, with plenty of clever choices for the grown-ups.

Players: 2–4
Time: About 45 minutes
Age: 10+
Best for: Games for Family Night

FAQ

Is there a lot of downtime waiting for other players?
No. Everyone draws and brews at the same time, so there's very little waiting between turns.

Is this suitable for people new to modern board games?
Yes. The rules can be explained in under ten minutes, and the appeal of pushing your luck is clear from the first round.