Goose Games is excited to be featuring the award-winning Quacks of Quedlinburg, a “bag-building” strategy game where you play as a charlatan doctor brewing miracle cures. It’s a riotous mix of strategy and “push your luck” that keeps everyone on the edge of their seats—mainly because those seats might explode.
How to Play: Brew, Buy, and Try NOT to Blow Up
In each of the nine rounds, players simultaneously draw ingredient chips from their personal bags and place them into their cauldrons.
- The Goal: The further your ingredients spiral into the pot, the more victory points and coins you earn to buy better ingredients.
- The Risk: Watch out for “cherry bombs” (white chips). If the total value of white chips in your pot exceeds seven, your potion explodes.
- The Consequence: If you explode, you must choose between receiving victory points or coins for the round—you can’t have both.
- Special Abilities: Each ingredient color has unique powers. Red chips might move you further, while blue chips let you peek into your bag for better options.
Quacks of Quedlinburg vs. “Quacks”
You might have noticed a version simply titled Quacks. While they are essentially the same game, the 2025 re-release by CMYK Games introduces several updates.
- Art Style: The original features traditional “Old World” illustrations, while the new Quacks uses a vibrant, 3D “claymation” art style by Ryogo Toyoda
- Portability: The new standard edition box is smaller and more travel-friendly .
- Rule Tweaks: The calculation for “rat tails” (a catch-up mechanic for trailing players) now occurs at the end of the turn, slightly affecting how some event cards resolve .
- Component Quality: The new edition often features upgraded, more durable tokens, with a Deluxe Edition available that includes premium acrylic ingredients.
Whether you prefer the classic German town aesthetic or the punchy new look, this game is a riot!