The first time I came across Dobble, it was being played by a group of 18 year olds at an outdoor festival.
Their excited shrieks of laughter and frustration were the first indication that this game was a good one. After observing for a round or two, I quickly surrendered to having a go myself.
What Exactly Is Dobble?
The best way I can describe Dobble is like leveled-up Snap, but much more fun.
It gets its name from the little smiling hand symbol, which forms its logo.
Each colourful, circular card shows eight different images. By some magical equation, every combination of two cards will have one (and only one) of those images in common.
Can you spot the common images between this pair?
And this pair?
There are lots of different variations for playing this game, but the basic idea of each is the same. You are aiming to be the first to find an image on your card that matches an image on another.
While it may sound simple, I find that the longer you look, the harder it gets. It’s like when you look too closely at a word you’ve read many times before; out of nowhere, it can start to look completely wrong.
Another catch is that often the images can be very different sizes. I’ve lost count of the amount of times this little detail has tripped me up.
Is Dobble Actually Fun?
There’s nothing worse than a game that looks nice and sounds great, but is a bore to play. I’ve encountered many of those, but thankfully Dobble isn’t one of them.
One of its best features is that everybody is playing at all times. Each player is constantly scanning his or her cards, hoping to be the first to make and call a match. Nobody is left waiting, so there’s no time to get bored or restless.
With no complicated rules to keep track of, players can relax and enjoy the game and each other’s company. The fast pace keeps everybody on their toes, with laughter and frustration guaranteed.
Dobble Is Perfect For All The Family
Since purchasing my own set, I have played with young teenagers (at a youth group I was a leader for), my husband and my mother. All had an equally fun time with this game, regardless of age. It’s recommended for ages 6 and up, and although I haven’t played it with school-age children myself, I’d imagine it would definitely go down well with them too.
Because of its visual nature and simple rules, Dobble is the perfect card game for families. In addition, games are usually finished within minutes, meaning that short attention spans don’t pose any problems. It also means that you can enjoy Dobble when you have just a few moments to spare; perhaps while waiting for the potatoes to boil!
Since it can be played by 2-8 players, it will probably suit most families who want to share and enjoy a game together.
For families with younger children, Dobble 123 (age 3 and up) and Gruffalo Dobble (age 4 and up) are also available.
The Final Verdict
Dobble is a quirky and fun game that your family will never grow out of. Its handy tin packaging makes it perfect to bring along with you for guaranteed fun on the go.
Compared to many games, it comes in at a relatively low price. Especially considering the amount of play it’s likely to get.
A staple game for every family’s collection.