Tabletop Game Review: Meow!

Meow!

Jellybean Games

Players: 3-6+

Play Time: 5-20 Minutes

Those who have played the game of MAO know just how brutal a deck of cards can be. If you don’t know what MAO is, the game is actually designed just for you. Players learn the game of MAO through playing the game, rather than before the game. Every time a rule is broken, you are penalized until you figure it out. This painful (But hilarious) card game serves as the inspiration for Meow!

Meow! Is the latest game by Jelly Bean games, and the MAO influences are clear within seconds. Each player will draw two cards, take a look, then pass their cards over to the player to the left. The player who has most recently pet a cat will go first and will play a card from their hand. Every card has a rule, such as “Meow loudly” or “Name a city that no one else has named yet.” All the player has to do to win is follow the rule of the card they played as well as the cards that everyone else has in their hands. That’s it.

At the end of the day, Meow! is a game that will test the memory of players. It’s also a deduction game, as players will want to watch the actions of other players in order to guess unknown rules are. Most of the rules are silly, making playing Meow! A fun light party game or something that a family can enjoy. Usually abiding by the rules is just as fun as trying to memorize all of the rules, and it’s even more entertaining when players get into the game and truly perform their actions.

Most of the rules being silly actions help to increase the players’ chances of memorizing the cards, making this one entertaining for even those with a poor memory (Like myself). Meow! will also be sold in two sets – a child-friendly version and an “adult” one. The adult game isn’t inappropriate or anything like that, it just has rules that require a bit more thought than the children’s game. The cards can also all be mixed together for a diverse game if players desire. Our group enjoyed all of the cards, but the adult ones were a bit more fun to figure out. Each game only uses a few of the cards from the deck, so it will take some time for players to become familiar with every card, making the game have a long-lasting appeal.

Meow! is meant to be played with 3-6 players, and it works well with all of those counts. There are some tweaks to the card counts for games with more players, ensuring that it doesn’t get overwhelming. 3 player games are shorter, but still entertaining. We found ourselves playing back to back games just because of how light and entertaining it was. It’s incredibly easy to learn and fast to teach, and people of all ages and skill levels will be able to fall in love with Meow!

The cards have a simple and cute aesthetic that fits the theme. Each card has an adorable animal that follows the “cult of the cat.” This means that they are all in an adorable little robe, complete with cute, bold lines. The art complements the simple style, making Meow! feel like a complete package. Since it is just a deck of cards, it can be taken anywhere, making it highly portable. It also doesn’t take up any space to play, increasing its versatility.

Meow! is a fun little game that can be brought out for any even and played with anyone. It doesn’t take itself seriously and manages to be funny without relying on any crass subject matter. This one is easy to recommend for those who want something lighter on game night.

You can back Meow! now on Kickstarter. 

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