%2Fpic403502.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
About Animal Upon Animal
Animal Upon Animal is Klaus Miltenberger's stacking game for HABA, and it has been a fixture of family shelves since 2005. Players share a single pile of chunky wooden animals built on top of a crocodile, and a die decides how many you place or whether you add to the base instead. It is simple enough for a four-year-old and still gets adults leaning in, because a penguin on a sheep on a snake is never quite stable.
This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.
Is Animal Upon Animal Right for You?
Best for
Animal Upon Animal is for families with young children, and for any adult who wants a genuinely shared game with a pre-schooler. The rules are learned in one turn, there is no reading, and the wooden animals are sturdy enough for small hands. It is also a good five-minute warm-up for adults who will not admit they are enjoying it.
Maybe skip it if…
It is a children's game first, so groups of adults without children will tire of it quickly. Anyone wanting decisions beyond where to put a hedgehog should look elsewhere.
How to Play Animal Upon Animal
Setup
Put the crocodile in the middle of the table. Share out the other wooden animals equally between the players.
On Your Turn
- Roll the die. One or two dots means you place that many of your animals on the pile.
- The crocodile lets you lay an animal on the table touching its head or tail, widening the base. The hand lets you give an animal to another player, who must place it. The question mark lets the others choose which of your animals you place.
- If animals fall, take back one or two of them and put the rest of the fallen animals in the box.
How to Win
The first player to place all of their animals on the pile wins.
💡 Strategy Tips
Save the flat, broad animals for when the pile gets tall. A sheep is a platform; a snake is a problem.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Forgetting the crocodile roll widens the base. Laying an animal next to the crocodile's head or tail is often the best move in the game.
- Placing the flat animals first. They are the easiest to balance on later, so save them for when the pile is precarious.
- Letting the hand symbol go to waste. Giving an opponent your worst animal is the only way to hurt them.
- Pressing down on the pile to test it. A tower that wobbles when you touch it will fall when you let go.
Advanced Strategy
- Place animals so they leave a flat top. The next player needs a surface, and so do you.
- Use the crocodile to build out rather than up when the pile gets tall. A second low stack is far safer.
- When the question mark comes up, choose the roundest or most awkward animal for the roller.
- Keep your chunkiest animal for last. It is the one most likely to finish the game on a crowded pile.
Variants & House Rules
No die
For the youngest players, drop the die and let everyone place one animal per turn. It keeps the stacking without the symbols.
Animal Upon Animal spin-offs
HABA has released several related games, including smaller travel versions and variants with different bases. The original is still the best starting point.
Video Guides
Loading videos…
Our Verdict
Animal Upon Animal is one of the great children's games because it asks for real skill without asking for reading, counting or patience. The die adds just enough decision to make it a game rather than a toy. If you have a child between four and seven, this belongs on the shelf.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens when animals fall?
If one or two fall, you take them back into your supply. If more fall, you take two back and the rest go out of the game into the box.
What age is it for?
The box says four and up, and that is accurate. Adults can play too, and it works well with a mix.
How long does a game take?
About fifteen minutes, often less. Most families play two or three games in a row.