Overview
Kerplunk is a fun game for people from the age of 5 upwards. It is great for social gatherings such as parties, game nights and family occasions. The game is very easy to play. The object is to drop the least number of marbles. First, players insert colorful sticks into the game setup and then place all the marbles on top of the sticks. Players then take turns to remove a stick each from the setup and hope that the marbles stay put. More details on how to play Kerplunk and Kerplunk game rules are provided in this post.
Objective of the Kerplunk Game
Drop the least amount of marbles at the end of the game to win.
Kerplunk Game Rules
A game of Kerplunk is guided by some set rules. The following are some Kerplunk Game rules.
- . Each player selects a numbered compartment through which they will play the game. Note that players cannot switch compartments during the game.
- . Any marble(s) that falls when a player is rotating the tube counts against them.
- . A player must pull out the first stick they touch.
- . Players are allowed to hold the tube steady with one hand and use the other hand to pull out a stick.
- . A player’s turn is not over until the next player either touches the tube to rotate it or touches a stick. Marbles that fall before the next player touches either the tube or a stick add to the last player’s score.
Number of Players Needed
2 to 4 players.
Equipment For The Kerplunk Game
- Game Base
- Tube (top & bottom cups)
- Tube connector
- 30 sticks
- 32 Marbles
Setting Up The Kerplunk Game
First, the tube is assembled. The tube has three main parts, the top cup, the bottom cup, and the tube connector. To begin, stand the tube bottom (bottom cup) on a flat surface. The tube bottom is the cup with a hole on its side. Fix the connecter into the bottom cup using the little tabs on the connector and the slots in the tube bottom. Snap the connector down, firmly into the tube bottom.
Next, fix the tube top (a cup with a hole on top) into the connector using the tabs on the connector and the slots in the tube top. Then, snap the tube top down firmly over the connector. To confirm that the setup is firmly in place, pull on both ends of the tube.
Next, the assembled tube is inserted into the game base, after which the colour sticks are removed from the plastic sprues. Insert all the colour sticks into the connector through a hole on one side of the connector, and push through into another hole on the other side of the connector. Place the sticks randomly such that they crisscross each other in different directions to form a web-like network.
After inserting all the colour sticks into the connector, load the marbles into the tube setup by dropping them through the opening at the top of the tube. The marbles will rest on the network of sticks. If any of the marbles fall through into the game base, just reload them through the opening at the top of the tube. Keep reloading any marble that falls until all the marbles are resting on the network of sticks.
Now that you know how to set up the game, it is time to learn how to play Kerplunk.
How to Play Kerplunk
The game base is divided into four compartments numbered 1 to 4. Each player will select a numbered compartment through which they will play the game. Note that players cannot switch compartments during the game. Determine the player to go first; play then continues clockwise. On each turn, a player will slowly rotate the tube so that the window opening (hole) at the side of the tube bottom is lined up with their numbered compartment. Care must be taken to ensure that no marbles fall when rotating the tube as any marble that falls will count against the player.
After aligning the window opening with their chosen compartment, a player taking their turn will cautiously select any of the sticks and pull it out carefully, trying not to cause any marbles to fall. Note that once a player touches a stick, they must pull it out. Players are, however, allowed to hold the tube steady with one hand and use the other hand to pull out a stick. Once a player has pulled a stick out successfully, they set the stick aside and play passes to the left. Any marble(s) that drop during a player’s turn will automatically fall into the player’s numbered compartment. The marbles remain there until the game is over.
Note that a player’s turn is not over until the next player either touches the tube to rotate it or touches a stick. Marbles that fall before the next player touches either the tube or a stick add to the last player’s score. Players keep taking turns until all the marbles have dropped, after which each player counts the number of marbles in their compartment. The player with the fewest marbles in their compartment wins the game.
Winning the Game
Players take turns to pull a stick from the game tube and hope that the marbles stay in place. The player that drops the fewest number of marbles wins the game.