All in for Abducktion

This week, the kids and I learned to play Abducktion, “a weirdly strategic duck kidnapping game” we got from Timberdoodle.

First, we tried the game out with a few friends. There was a little bit of a learning curve as we worked together to decipher the action cards and determine the most effective way to use them.

Action cards are used to manipulate the ducks on your board in an attempt to match one of the patterns on three formation cards.

If you succeed in getting your ducks in formation, you get to keep that formation card, but the ducks get “beamed up” into the spaceship and the remaining ducks swim downstream.

Each action card can only be played once, but you draw replacement cards at the end of your turn for any cards you surrendered after use.

You also draw replacement ducks for any that were “abduckted” during play. The new ducks follow the old ducks on their swim downstream.

The tiny duckies come in a variety of colors and are super cute. But they’re also choking hazards, so you’ll want to keep them out of the reach of young children.

The game can be played by up to six players — and it’s a good thing, since the boys saw their sisters playing the game and wanted to join in the fun.

Abducktion is a thinking game, for sure. Winning requires some strong strategizing…

…although a lot depends on the luck of the draw, as well.

The deluxe version of Abducktion Timberdoodle sells includes an “IntergalaDuck Research” expansion kit.

The expansion kit makes the game even more fun, although we waited until we were comfortable (and quicker) at standard play before adding in the new elements.

Doing so allowed for more varied and difficult formations and made strategizing even more important.

Note all the serious contemplation going on between these competitive sons of mine:

If your family loves boardgames as much as mine does, you’ll definitely want to give Abducktion a try. It’s such a cute concept — and unlike anything else we’ve ever played.

You can buy the deluxe edition individually through Timberdoodle or as a part of their 2024 10th Grade Curriculum Kit. Either way, I know you’re going ot love it!

And while you’re on the Timberdoodle website, I’d encourage you to look around. We love everything we’ve ever ordered from this small family-owned company!

Be sure to sign up for their Doodle Dollar program to save on future purchases. And to read more of my Timberdoodle Reviews, follow this link.

PLEASE NOTE: As a member of the Timberdoodle blog team, I routinely receive free or deeply discounted products in exchange for writing honest reviews. Opinions expressed in these posts are 100% my own. I’ve been a happy and enthusiastic Timberdoodle customer for decades — long before I ever started blogging for their company.