Exploding Kittens Games | 90 seconds | 3-8 players | 6 years and up
The tagline for Happy Salmon is simple: “A 90-second game that you will play for hours.” It is considered one of the best games for family gatherings and parties.
The highly social, fun-filled “party game” involves a collection of individual decks of cards, energetic quick-play, and the simple mechanic of calling out actions, finding partners, and taking those actions. Happy Salmon Card Game is a great game for all ages and occasions, making it an excellent choice for family gatherings and on-the-go play. The game makes more sense when you play it than in writing, but it’s super quick to explain, learn, and play.
What Comes with the Game
98 action cards (8 decks of 12 cards)
Game manual
What is Happy Salmon?
The silly, high-energy game of Happy Salmon is basically a 90-second game you’ll want to play multiple times in a row before calling it “done” for the night. It’s a cooperative-competitive game that engages pairs of players in energetic actions, such as “Fish bumps,” “Happy Salmons” or “High Fives.”
There are no turns in Happy Salmon – instead, players simultaneously flip their top cards, seek a partner to complete their actions and toss away their cards as quickly as possible to move on to the next task. The objective is to be the first player to discard all their cards, which defines the competitive aspect of the game and the excitement it generates in social settings.
Your goal in Happy Salmon is to be the first to empty your personal deck of 12 cards, which can only be accomplished by this cooperative partner play. One of the actions includes switching places with another player, contributing to the game’s fast-paced, chaotic atmosphere and emphasizing physical interaction among players. That’s it!
Key Features and Mechanics
Happy Salmon is a fast-paced, interactive card game that combines physical activity with social interaction. One of the standout features is its quick play; each game lasts around 90 seconds, making it perfect for short, energetic play sessions. The gameplay is delightfully simple: players match cards with identical actions, such as “High Five,” “Fish Bump,” or the signature “Happy Salmon.”
This card game isn’t just about sitting around a table; it gets you moving! Players must dash around to find matching cards, promoting both exercise and laughter. The social interaction is a huge plus, making Happy Salmon an excellent icebreaker for parties or gatherings. The rules are straightforward, making it accessible to players of all ages. Whether you’re a kid or just a kid at heart, this game is sure to bring joy and giggles.
How to Play Happy Salmon
Set-up for Happy Salmon Game
Setup for Happy Salmon is pretty easy:
Gather around a small enough table where every player involved is physically capable of high-fiving each other easily.
Have players stand, if possible, for the easiest actions and fastest play.
Separate out the colored decks from each other. Each color belongs to one player in the game.
Set aside any unused decks – you won’t need them to play.
The “Same Card” Mechanic
At the heart of Happy Salmon is the “Same Card” mechanic, which drives the game’s fast-paced and interactive nature. When a player flips a card, they must quickly find another player with the same card to perform the action together. This mechanic not only promotes social interaction but also adds a layer of excitement and urgency. Players must scan the room swiftly to spot a matching card, making every round a thrilling race against time. It’s this blend of quick thinking and physical activity that makes Happy Salmon such an engaging game.
Happy Salmon Green vs. Blue: What’s the Difference?
Happy Salmon comes in two vibrant versions: Green and Blue. The primary difference lies in the color of the case and the backs of the cards. However, the gameplay and components are identical, allowing you to mix and match the two versions seamlessly. This means you can combine both sets to accommodate up to 12 players, making it perfect for larger gatherings. Whether you choose Green or Blue, you’re in for the same high-energy, fun-filled experience that Happy Salmon promises.
How to Play Happy Salmon
Players start the game of Happy Salmon by placing their personal decks on the table and flipping over only the top card, making it visible. The game immediately begins when this occurs. Happy Salmon is an excellent ice breaker for parties and social gatherings.
Players must look at that top card, call out the action the card calls for, and look for a partner among other players – someone who has the same action revealed on the top of their deck. Players must then listen to each other to find their partners so they can proceed with the action and move on.
Note that each personal deck contains three copies of each action.
The actions that exist in the deck are:
Fish bump – Hold out your fist, shout “Fish bump!” and take the action by doing a fist bump.
Happy Salmon – Extend and wiggle your hand, shout “Happy Salmon” and take the action by slapping your partner’s forearm several times as they do the action with you.
High five – Hold your hand up over your head, shout “High five” and perform a high-five with your partner.
Switch it up – Take your deck of cards with you and trade places with your partner around the table. Spin your finger in the air, shout “Switch it up!” and then take the action.
If you can’t find a partner for your action quickly enough, return your card to the deck and draw again. Repeat as needed in the hopes of still beating each other to the punch, er… Fish Bump. You’ll wind up coming back to that card and trying again and this will repeat until someone wins by emptying their deck of cards first.
Strategies for Success in Happy Salmon
The key to winning Happy Salmon is moving quickly. You’ve got to be ready to slap a forearm, give a fish bump, dash with your deck to the new place, or high-five. The only real strategies you can engage in are readiness and speed.
Review of Happy Salmon
So, Happy Salmon is a ridiculously silly, fun, high-energy game that I totally see why it has become an uber-popular choice for casual gamers and families. The fast-paced play means that players quickly lose and gain the advantage, and though it’s technically a competitive game, it’s really more about cooperation and speed than anything else. The game has even been praised by the Toy Insider for its quality and fun factor.
I’d most recommend this game for groups of at least four, despite it technically working for three. Why? Because the energy really jumps with at least four players, and the playtime sags a little with just three. But if you only have three or four players, you can double up the decks per player (we used two decks each) for extended play, with no need to sort or reshuffle decks between rounds.
All done, Happy Salmon is a fast, fun, furiously silly, and fun game that is mostly going to appeal to casual gamers and not hardcore, serious gamers who want strategy as the focus of every game. Happy Salmon is all about luck, mixed with a person’s agility – and strategy really has almost nothing to do with it.
Personally, I love this game for parties with folks who don’t usually play a lot of games, as an icebreaker in new groups of friends merging, or for family game night when we want to do something short and fun without any screens turned on.
There’s really only one complaint I have about Happy Salmon. It is, unfortunately, not very friendly for otherly-abled individuals. One of our players uses a wheelchair and has poor eyesight, which puts her at a disadvantage in playing this game, since “Switch it Up” occurs three times per round and the needed speed makes it difficult for her to see the cards in a timely fashion. So, instead, whenever people had a “Switch it Up” card, we had the two players trade decks as the alternative action. We also took it at a slower pace to ensure she could read the cards fairly. It’s definitely not the same and a little bit unfair if the other person wasn’t doing as well as the person with the physical disability, but since we’re a fun crowd that enjoys the interactions more than winning, it worked out okay.
Where to Buy Happy Salmon
If you’re ready to dive into the fun, Happy Salmon is widely available at various online retailers, including Amazon, Walmart, and Target. You can also find it at local game stores and specialty toy shops. Priced around $12-$15, it’s an affordable addition to any game collection. Whether you’re planning a party or just looking for a quick, interactive game to enjoy with family and friends, Happy Salmon is an excellent choice.
Summary
Happy Salmon is a fast-paced, repeatable game that most folks can learn and play quickly.
The fast pace makes it an excellent icebreaker, filler game, or quick break activity for the family.
The first player to empty their deck wins.
Every deck contains 12 cards with obvious actions noted on them.
The four actions are easy to learn or do.
It’s ideally played with at least four players, though you can do double decks for extended play for smaller groups.
Setup is fast and easy, and games really do take just 90 seconds to play in most cases.
Happy Salmon is unfortunately not great for folks with physical disabilities, including hearing or visual impairment, or mobility issues.
Conclusion: High Five!
Happy Salmon Card Game is a great little game for folks looking for a filler, icebreaker, or quick pause on normal day-to-day living. It’s great for kids, particularly as the game repeats over and over as desired, so no one has to be “left out” feeling like they’re “bad” at the game (because everyone is at some point!). Happy Salmon is also great for casual gamers who enjoy the cooperative nature of playing more than competition when played right. It is, unfortunately, not a great option for otherly abled individuals, however, since mobility, vision, and hearing issues may arise to give other players an unfair advantage.
FAQ
What is the main objective of Happy Salmon?
Players must take actions and speed through their personal decks, discard acted-upon cards, and try to empty their deck first.
How many players can enjoy this game?
Happy Salmon is designed for three to eight players. However, it’s best with at least 4 players.
Is this a good game for parties and social gatherings?
This is a fantastic game for gatherings of families, friends, coworkers, and casual gamers of just about all types.
Who is this game for?
You’ll find Happy Salmon is most suited to casual gamers, kids, and families. It is, unfortunately, not for folks with mobility, hearing, or visual impairments in most cases.
How does the player count affect the gameplay?
The larger the group, the more partner options you’ve got. So, this can speed the game up a little bit. But, as the game literally takes 90 seconds, even with just three players, the number doesn’t affect things too much unless you’re playing at a too-large table.
What makes this game different from traditional board games?
Happy Salmon is a fast-paced card game that involves physical actions for all players instead of strategic thinking. It’s also not a turn-based game, meaning everyone plays simultaneously.
How replayable is this game?
This is an incredibly replayable game, even for groups that play it all the time. The fast pace makes it fun and engaging over and over again, and many folks report playing it for hours back-to-back, or repeatedly at family gatherings and game nights.
Why should I add this game to my board game collection?
The fast-paced game is quick and fun, but it’s also affordable, highly portable, and makes for an amazing, easy-to-pick-up addition for any social gathering or time killer.