Sleeping Queens
10th Anniversary Edition
WE PLAY 2 LEARN
Game Ratings
FAMILY
9
YOUNG KIDS
10
OLDER KIDS
5
ADULTS
3
Overview
| Players | Playing Time | Best Age | Educational |
| 2 - 5 | 10-20 minutes | 3 - 10 | Addition Counting |
| Skill | Luck | Strategy | Social | Game Type | Play Style |
| 40% | 60% | 70% | 30% | Card | Competitive |
Sleeping Queens is one of our favorite games we've played as a family.
It's quick and very replayable, our kids ask for it nearly every night. Even better, it is a fun game that has educational value (addition); as opposed to
educational games that try to be fun, but don't usually achieve it.
Sleeping Queens appeals to kids of all ages, including boys and girls. We've played with kids ranging in age from 3 to 10 and all have enjoyed it,
though the younger ones will need some help with the math. And as a parent playing with your kids, it's infinitely preferrable to other "early" games
people think of like Candyland.
How to Play
LEARN THIS GAME IN OUR HOW TO PLAY VIDEO!
Official Rules
The official rules are available from the manufacturer here. The rules are fairly short and very well explained, including helpful illustrations.
Enhanced Rules
This is a very good game using just the official rules, but with a little customization this becomes a fantastic game as we explain in our Custom Rules section.
FAQ
How many players?
- Playable with 2-5
- Best with 3-5
What ages can play?
- Playable for ages 3* to adult
- Best for ages 3* to 10
*If you modify the rules as we suggest in our Custom Rules section, younger kids that do not yet know addition will be able to play with minor help from older kids or adults
Can different skill levels or ages play together?
Yes. Aside from using addition, this is largely a luck based game even though it does not feel that way when playing. If you use our Custom Rules suggestions, younger kids will be able to play and compete with older kids and adults.
How long does it take to play?
5-20 minutes depending on the number of players and luck
Will we get bored after a few games or does it have good replayability?
While the game mechanics do not change, the luck involved and variability in the cards make this a suprisingly replayable game. Especially when compared to other games that young children can play.
Setup/Cleanup
How much work is it?
Low. Setup is simply shuffling the deck of cards and laying out the queens.
Would kids be able to do it on their own?
Kids as young as 3 or 4 could setup and cleanup this game on their own, as long as they can shuffle cards and count to 5.
Will parents have fun too...
...when playing with the kids?
Yes, especially with younger kids. This game is much more enjoyable than some of the alternatives
that can be played with younger kids, particularly if you like math puzzles.
...without the kids?
No, this is not a game for adults only.
Educational Value
What skills will this game help develop?
Addition
This game offers great practice for basic addition skills. And when using our Custom Rules suggestions
the math provides an interesting puzzle.
Counting
Younger kids will have a chance to practice counting the number of cards in hand or traded in and the number of queens everyone has.
Action-Reaction
This is a good introduction to the concept of action-reaction pairs in games (dragon beats knight and magic wand beats potion) for young kids.
But will my kids actually have fun playing it?
Yes, this is first and foremost a really fun game. Addition, while used often, is not the primary point of the game.
Custom Rules
To play with younger kids or across multiple ages/skill levels
Play with number cards face up in front of each player.
This is really what makes it possible to play with younger kids. Instead
of holding number cards in hand as the game suggests, have younger kids keep their number cards face up in front of them. However, make sure to keep the other "Special" cards (Knights,
Dragons, Kings, etc) hidden in hand. This allows older kids or parents to help with the addition without taking away a younger kid's independence in the game. This one simple
change has allowed our three old to play on her own almost from the very first game.
Enriches math experience and makes it more interesting for older kids and adults
Allow math operations on each side of the equation.
This one is really more of a clarification than a customization. As the rules
are currenly written, they seem to imply that you can add two, three, or four cards together to equal the value of one other card. For
example, 1 + 1 + 4 = 6. While the rules do not specifically forbid adding multiple cards on each side of the equation (for example,
1 + 1 + 4 = 3 + 3), they also do not suggest this. However, by purposefully encouraging this, considerable depth is added to the math aspect of the game.
It can also help foster a more fundamental understanding of numbers and addition.
Allow addition to be used with pairs, triples, etc.
This is an extension of the previous rule suggestion, but is worth pointing at separately. It is probably
best described with an example. For a hand of 3, 4, 7, and 7, instead of only allowing 3 + 4 = 7 or the two 7's, allow 3 + 4 = 7 = 7. This is mathematically
consistent and accurate. Another good example is a hand of 1, 2, 2, 3, 4. This becomes 1 + 3 = 2 + 2 = 4.
Shorten game length
Reduce the number of queens or points required to win for a faster game
This is a very simple change to make and doesn't impact game play, though game length is not typically an issue.
Do you use custom rules we haven't thought of? If you have found some other ways to customize the rules, please share them with us through our Contact page. We're always interested in new ways to improve gameplay.
Where to Buy
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