How to Play
2 min to learn · 15 min to play · ages 4+
Setup
Pull the 10 Grumps out FIRST. They join the deck after — never in a starting hand.
Pull all 10 Grumps
Dark border, 
in the corner. Set them face-up off to the side.
Shuffle the rest. Deal 4 each.
32 Squad + 12 Action = 44 cards. Shuffle. Deal a hand of 4 to every player. No Grumps in any hand. ✅
Shuffle the Grumps BACK in
Mix the 10 Grumps into the leftover face-down deck. Now nobody knows when they're coming.
Deck in the middle
Empty space next to it = the Zone (Grump landing pad). Pick a starter however you like. Pass left.
The cards
54 cards. Three types. The border tells you which:
The Squad
Your heroes: Lulu (Mind), Clover (Food), Dash (Move), Pip (Learn). Match a Grump's color → beat it. 10 Squad cards wear a yellow ⚡ Bonus ribbon — do the silly thing the card prints.
Action cards
Green border. Each card prints what it does. Read it. Do it. Tag, You're It → bounce a Grump. Mystery Lunchbox → trade a card. Jumping Jacks → 5 reps, beat any Grump.
Grumps
Dark border, in the corner. Bad habits with attitude — Sugar Slime, Couch Potato, Worry Worm. Each shows its weakness up top: one color, or two. Match it. Beat it.
Your turn
DRAW one
- Squad / Action? → into your hand.
- Grump? → slam it in the Zone. Everyone slaps.
PLAY anything
- Squad card → match a Grump's color, beat it.
- Action card → do what's printed.
- ⚡ Bonus → do the silly thing the card calls for.
Drew it, can't beat it?
Drop 1 card from your hand (face-down to discard). The Grump stays in the Zone — smug. Skip the penalty if you redirect it (Tag, You're It) or shut it down with an action. (Parents: this is the game's only forced loss — every other miss has a workaround.)
END — pass left
Holding over 5 cards? Drop one to discard. Then pass left.
Grump combat
Each Grump shows its weakness up top — one color, or two. Match it. Three tiers, easy → hard:
Minion · easy
1 card. Either color works.
Stubborn · medium
1 card. Exact color. No subs.
Boss · hard 
2 cards. Both colors. Same turn.
Played Squad cards → discard. Beaten Grump → trophy in front of you. Anyone can beat Zone Grumps on any turn — leftovers count. 4 trophies wins.
When a Grump flips into the Zone — drama beat. Everyone goes:
Slap & yell NOOOO!
Everyone races to slap the Grump and shout NOOOO!
Fastest slap = a Peek. Look at the top card of the deck. Knowledge is power. (Parents: this keeps off-turn kids engaged — everyone races, not just whoever drew it.)
False slap (no Grump, or slapping a Squad): drop 1 card. Flinching counts.
Plus: Boss flips → Howl!
Three Grumps wear the Howl badge: Sugar Slime, Lazoid, Distraction Djinn.
Boss flips? NOOOO race like always — then every leftover Zone Grump goes straight onto top of the deck. The mess you ignored hits the next draws first.
Trophies you already grabbed stay yours.
⚡ Special plays
⚡ Bonus ribbon — 10 Squad cards. Play one → do the silly thing. Flex (Muscle Mode), wiggle (Hoop Groove), say something nice (Kind Words). Skip the action? Card still works. But missing the moment is the moment.
Action cards — 12 green-bordered. Read it, do it. Redirect a Grump (Tag, You're It), shut one down, or get physical (Jumping Jacks / Squats → 5 reps, beat any Grump).
Variants — two ways to play
Standard is what you just read. Two real variants:
Junior · ages 4–6
First-timers · short attention spansSame setup, same goal — easier and faster.
- Howl is OFF — Boss Grumps still need two colors, but the Zone stays put.
- No penalty for undefended Grumps and no false-slap drops.
- Parents may help — point out matches, share cards if needed.
- Win at 3 trophies instead of 4.
Solo + Travel mode
One player · plane, car, waiting roomSame deck, same setup. Pocket-sized. Works anywhere.
- No NOOOO race — whisper "noooo" if you must.
- Howl stays on. Zone Grumps still pile on top. You vs. the comeback.
- Penalty stays on: can't beat a Grump → drop 1.
- Win: beat 5 Grumps before the deck runs out.
- Lose: 3 Grumps stuck in the Zone at once.