Jungle Speed rules: how to play and how to win

Jungle Speed quick rules

The goal

All the cards are dealt face down: each player keeps a pile in front of them, their draw pile. The first player to get rid of all their cards wins the game.

Flipping a card

Taking turns clockwise, a player flips the top card of their draw pile and places it in front of them: it covers the previous one and forms their discard pile. Flip the card toward the others, and play with one hand only.

The duel

As soon as two players show the same design on top of their discard piles, they grab for the totem. Color doesn’t matter. The fastest wins; the loser picks up both discard piles and the pot, the pile under the totem, and slides them under their draw pile. They then play first.

The arrow cards

Inward arrows: everyone grabs for the totem, and whoever gets it puts their discard pile into the pot. Outward arrows: all players flip a card at the same time, and a matching design starts a duel.

Mistakes and disputes

Whoever grabs the totem by mistake, or knocks it over, picks up every discard pile and the pot. If it’s unclear, the most fingers on the totem wins, then the hand underneath. A totem knocked off the table cancels the play.

The end of the game

Flipping your last card isn’t enough: you also have to get rid of your discard pile, by winning a duel or putting it in the pot. A last card with outward arrows wins at once.

With three or two players

With 3, as a variant, three discard piles of the same color count as inward arrows. With 2, each hand plays as a separate player, with its own pile; at the end, the player with the fewest cards left wins.

Beginner traps

Look at the designs, not the colors. A card stays dangerous until it’s covered. And your second hand never touches the totem.

How to win Jungle Speed

No points

Jungle Speed has no points: the first player to get rid of their whole draw pile and discard pile wins.

With 2 players

The game ends when one player has emptied both piles, or when each player has emptied one of theirs. Each counts their cards left: the fewest cards wins. The Ludingo sheet can record them.

Example ending

With 2 players, Jake empties both his piles. Emma still has 9 cards in her left-hand pile and 0 in the other: Jake has 0 cards, Emma 9, so Jake wins.

Common mistakes

• Thinking you’ve won by flipping your last card: your discard pile has to go too.
• Starting a duel on two cards of the same color: only the design counts.
• Keeping a card count for a ranking: the rules only name a winner.

How to set up Jungle Speed

Setup takes a minute: deal the cards and place the totem in the middle.