Pass the Pugs

Pass the Pugs is a fast-paced dice game where players roll a pair of pug-shaped dice to determine a score based on how the miniature dogs land. Players can keep rolling as long as they want but they risk losing all the points they have earned or they can bank what they have and instead risk another player collecting the 100 points needed to win the game.

Gameplay

In Pass the Pugs, players take turns rolling two adorable pug-shaped dice. Once they have rolled players compare the position that the dogs landed with a pose listed in a handy little instruction booklet. The player who rolled the pugs then scores points based on that roll. There are a dozen different possible positions that the pug-tastic dice can land, earning you a range of points. For instance; if both dogs end up on their backs, the Play Dead pose, the player earns 20 points. Whereas if both pugs land sideways and on the same side they only earn 1 point. Once they have worked out how many points they earned a player can choose to throw again or play it safe and bank the points they have collected on this turn. A player can throw the pugs as many times as they like, but they run the risk of the dice landing in either of the dreaded pooped out or puppy love positions. When this happens players are forced to give up the points they have earned. Players take turns trying to score as many points as they dare on their turn and the first player to pass 100 points is declared the winner.

Rolling dice doggy style Pass the Pugs is as entertaining as its original variant Pass the Pigs, unsurprisingly given that the games rely on the same premise – only in place of piglets, you’re rolling pugs! Since the game relies on rolling a pair of dice it is incredibly quick and easy to learn. The most challenging aspect of the game is comparing the position the pugs land in to that on the instructions. That can be harder than it sounds when there are 12 possible positions, although with enough games you begin to remember what each position is worth.. These different positions can earn you anywhere between 1 and 60 points or have you lose points or, if you’re particularly unlucky, get you kicked out of the game.

The easy to learn rules, surprisingly cute doggy dice and lighthearted competitive gameplay makes Pugs an ideal choice for families. At most you might want to avoid having younger children yell “Doggy style” out loud in public when they inevitably roll that position. The whole game, pug-dice, instructions, scorecard and two pencils, are stored in a handy little travel case. Again this makes it perfect for families who want a game to play when on the go. Likewise, all you need is a flat surface to roll the dice so you can set up a game almost anywhere.

The game is designed to be played quickly, with each player getting as many points as they dare and passing the dice on. Although, if players are unlucky, it is easy to get stuck in a loop where players struggle to meet the required 100 points to win. It’s not in the rules, but I would suggest that if you want a shorter game you can set a lower goal for points, that way if you know you’re short on time because you’re playing on the go you can finish a game in less time.

Final thoughts

Overall, Pass the Pugs offers an easy to play and enjoyable experience that focuses on push-your-luck style gameplay. The portable quickplay nature makes it a perfect game to travel with and play a game when you’re waiting at the airport or out on a day trip with the family. As such for my family Pugs has become a go to game for throwing in a backpack when traveling or carrying around ready for some lighthearted entertainment when out and about