Hide ‘n Cheek Family Game Overview

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After a long night of playing games that challenge the mind, we usually like to end things with something a little silly. While we love thinky games like Alan’s Adventureland, Old West Empresario and Lost Ruins of Arnak, sometimes we need a game that puts fun first.

With the arrival of late Spring, we’ve seen an influx of chipmunks in our yard. Technically they’re ground squirrels, but that is a mouthful, and the word “chipmunks” brings up memories of Saturday morning cartoons featuring Chip ‘n Dale. So, it is only natural that we’d gravitate towards Big G Creative‘s new family game, Hide ‘n Cheek!

Even pre-COVID, we shied away from games like Big Mouth that required you to wear something on your face during play. Today we’ve all become comfortable wearing masks and know the proper way to clean them between uses. Hide ‘n Cheek uses what I would describe as a deluxe mask made of soft plastic with a little bit of fabric to simulate the chipmunks’ expandable cheeks.

Also, inside the box are four hollowed-out tree trunks and a pile of brown acorns along with four green ones. Hide ‘n Cheek uses a similar mechanic as a carnival shell game. On a player’s turn they will take three of the brown acorns and hide them under the four trees while all other players have covered their eyes. The active player can put them all under one tree or spread them out as they see fit.

The trees are scrambled and then everyone opens their eyes. The next player in clockwise order will select one tree and collect any acorns underneath and put them in their cheeks. This continues around the table until all acorns have been claimed. The next player in order then hides three more and play continues in the same manner.

Green acorns are considered “bad” and each person has one to use during the game. Instead of hiding three brown acorns, a player may choose to hide the one green acorn and announcing this fact to the other players. Tree selection happens as normal except the person who finds the green acorn must give three of their brown acorns to the active player (or fewer, if they don’t have three). If the active player finds their own green acorn, they return three brown ones to the pile.

After all the brown acorns in the pile have been played, everyone counts the good (brown) acorns in their cheeks. The player who has collected the most is the Hide ‘n Cheek champion! If tied, an additional “Bad Acorn” round is played among the tied players. Whomever avoids finding the green acorn is the winner!

Another in an extensive line of Target exclusive games, Hide ‘n Cheek is available in store or by mail for under $20. Find out more about Big G Creative’s exhaustive line of family-friendly games on their website and then try to win a copy of Hide ‘n Cheek by entering below!

Hide ‘N Cheek Game Giveaway