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About Jungle Speed
Jungle Speed is a reflex game built around a wooden totem in the middle of the table. Players take turns flipping cards, and when two face-up cards show the same symbol, those two players race to grab the totem. The winner hands their cards to the loser, and the goal is to get rid of every card you hold. The shapes are deliberately similar, so false grabs are common and very funny. It is loud, physical and over in ten minutes.
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Is Jungle Speed Right for You?
Best for
Jungle Speed is for groups who want something loud and physical that takes seconds to learn. It plays well at four to six, where duels come thick and fast; at eight to ten it is chaotic and great fun, though some players will wait longer for their turn to flip. It is a good warm-up game for a party.
Maybe skip it if…
Groups with very young children or anyone uneasy about grabbing at a heavy wooden totem should be careful, since hands do collide. Players who want strategy will find none here.
How to Play Jungle Speed
Setup
Stand the totem in the centre of the table. Deal out all the cards face down so each player has a pile.
On Your Turn
- Players take turns flipping the top card of their pile face up onto their own discard.
- If two visible cards show the same symbol, those two players duel: the first to grab the totem wins.
- The loser takes both players' face-up cards and adds them under their pile. Grabbing by mistake also costs you cards.
- Special cards change things: inward arrows mean everyone grabs, outward arrows mean everyone flips at once, and coloured arrows make colours match instead of shapes.
How to Win
The first player to get rid of all their cards wins.
💡 Strategy Tips
Flip your card away from you so everyone else sees it at the same moment you do. Flipping it towards yourself is against the spirit of the game.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Flipping your card towards yourself. It gives you an unfair head start and spoils the game.
- Grabbing on near-matches. The shapes are designed to look alike, and a false grab costs you cards.
- Forgetting the special cards. Inward and outward arrows change what everyone must do next.
- Keeping hands on the table near the totem. Most rules sets ask you to keep hands away until a match appears.
Advanced Strategy
- Watch every pile, not just your own. Matches can happen between any two players.
- Keep one hand ready but relaxed. Tense players grab too early.
- Learn the near-identical shapes. The deck is designed to trip you up, and knowing the pairs helps.
- Stay alert after coloured arrows. Colour matches can catch you out until the next special card.
Variants & House Rules
Expansions and editions
Jungle Speed has been reprinted several times with different card art, and some editions add extra special cards.
House rule: team play
Play in pairs, with either partner allowed to grab. It works well at the top of the player count.
Video Guides
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Our Verdict
Jungle Speed is simple, rowdy and short, and it has been a party favourite for a long time. It is not a deep game, and its BGG rating is modest, but as a quick warm-up for a big group it gets everyone laughing within a minute. We recommend it for lively groups.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many players is it best with?
Four to six is ideal. It works with up to ten, but turns come round more slowly.
What happens if two players grab the totem at once?
The player whose hand is lowest on the totem, or holds most of it, usually wins. Agree before you play.
Is it suitable for children?
The box says 7+. Supervise younger players because grabbing can get physical.