Jump, skip, roll, catch, and steal—you must do all this to win at Banana Blast. Sounds simple? Well, that is because the Banana Blast rules make it. The fundamentals of the game are pretty simple, making it the perfect game for kids or adults to have a “Blast” with.
The interesting part is that the thrill of the game lies in its unpredictability. You just have to roll the dice and try your luck, but watch out for the monkey—don’t let it fly away. Are you thrilled to learn the ins and outs of the rules of Banana Blast? Keep reading to learn more about the gameplay.
How To Play Banana Blast?
The first thing you need is the Banana Blast game. You can purchase the game online or at a store nearby. Once you have the game, you will need 2-5 players to compete with. All set? Let’s proceed.
Speaking about the game, it is quite simple. To play, you must roll the dice and follow the instructions (as per the symbol that you roll on the die) until the monkey jumps. Once the monkey jumps, the game is over, per Banana Blast rules. However, more than one round of Banana Blast might be needed before children have had their fill of fun.
The Objective
The game’s primary objective is to win by scoring the highest number of points. The way to score the highest points is by collecting the highest number of bananas. Another way to solidify your lead/victory is by ensuring that you catch Banana Joe (the toy monkey) first every time he leaps into the air. As per Banana Blast rules, the player with the most bananas/points wins the game.
Banana Blast Rules To Play
Once you know the actions and the sticker, and you have the game set to play, all that is left is to learn the Banana Blast rules. They are as follows:
- To start the game, all the players must jump. The player who jumps the highest gets to roll the dice first and start the game.
- After the first player rolls the dice, the game will proceed clockwise.
- Per the rules of Banana Blast, all players must always have both hands on the table to prevent unfair means of winning the game.
- A player can only take his hands off the tabletop when he is rolling the dice and drawing the bananas.
- The first player to catch Banana Joe gets to steal two bananas from his opponent and is awarded two points at the end of the game.
- If more than one player catches Banana Joe, the player whose hand is underneath will be awarded the point.
- Nobody is awarded the two bonus points if nobody catches Banana Joe. In such a case, the player with the most bananas wins.
Setting Up: Banana Blast
The game comes with a few components that are quintessential for the game. They are as follows:
- 1 Banana Tree (a plastic or cardboard structure with holes for putting the bananas)
- 12 Bananas (small bananas that need to be inserted into the holes in the Banana Tree)
- 1 Monkey, known as Banana Joe, who you need to catch (read on to find out why)
- One dice
- 1 Sticker Sheet (stickers denoting the actions that each side of the dice will represent)
After you have the components mentioned above, follow the instructions mentioned below:
- Place the Banana Tree on a table, and all the players must surround the table (the Banana tree must be equidistant from each player for a fair game), per Banana Blast rules.
- Put all the 12 bananas in the holes against the Banana tree.
- Then, put Banana Joe in the middle of the tree and place him firmly until he is locked.
- Pull out the sticker sheet(s) and place one sticker on each side of the dice.
Stickers
The sticker sheet comes with four stickers. You need to put one sticker on each side of the dice. The stickers and their functions are as follows:
- Pick 1 Banana – This is the sticker with one banana on it. If your rolled dice land with this side/sticker facing up, you can draw one banana from the Banana Tree.
- Pick 2 Bananas – This is the sticker with two bananas on it. If your rolled dice land with this side/sticker facing up, you can draw two bananas from the Banana Tree.
- Gift a Banana – This is the sticker with a banana tied with a bow. According to the rules of Banana Blast, if your rolled dice lands with this side/ sticker facing up, you must choose a player and give them a banana from your stick pile (previously collected bananas). However, according to banana blast dice rules, your next turn will be skipped if you do not have any bananas.
- Steal a Banana – It features a hand holding a banana. If your rolled dice lands with this side/ sticker facing up, you need to choose a player who has to give you a banana from their stockpile. They must skip their next round if they do not have a banana.
Banana Joe
The name is one of many remarkable aspects of Banana Joe. If you want to earn bonus points and beat your friends, then Banana Joe can help. Here is how to score these bonus points:
- Place Banana Joe in the middle of the Banana tree and play the game.
- Banana Joe can jump in the air at any point. The players must be cautious and catch Banana Joe to earn bonus points.
- The player who catches Banana Joe earns two points (that means he can steal two bananas from any player).
Alternative Gameplay (Additional Players)
One of the most popular questions people ask is, what happens if there are more than five children/ players? Can you play a game of Banana Blast with more than five players?
Traditionally, no! However, house rules are house rules. That means you can alter some of the Banana Blast rules as you wish. In such a case, you must make two teams of players each. Then, each player can take turns rolling the dice and playing. In this case, you can play the game with three rounds counting as one game. One team needs to win two rounds to win this game.
Banana Blast – Minimum Age & Players
Most board games (or games made for children) are developed to foster skills and healthy habits in children. Banana Blast, although an interesting game, is a game geared towards developing and cultivating valuable characteristics like patience, healthy competition, improved hand-eye coordination, and more.
Banana Blast is suitable for children aged five and above. However, there is no saying that an adult cannot enjoy the thrill of catching Banana Joe and earning bonus points. Since Banana Blast dice rules are quite easy, you don’t need rocket science to enjoy the game. Two to five players can play a game of Banana Blast at one point. However, if playing by house rules is what makes your boat float, you can make a few ‘adjustments’ or even team up with your best friend.
FAQS
- Can more than five people play this game?
Ans: Traditionally, no! But according to house rules, yes. If more than five enthused children are waiting to play Banana Blast, you can play by resorting to the Alternative Gameplay mentioned above.
- Who determines who goes first?
Ans: The banana blast dice rules suggest that the player who jumps the highest goes first. This can be decided mutually, or an adult can intervene and decide.
- Can I draw more than two bananas at once?
Ans: No! As much as we would like to win with a single dice roll, the maximum number of bananas a player can draw in a single round is two unless they get the two bananas sticker.
- If someone doesn’t have their hands on the table, will their point be deducted?
Ans: There is no rule for this in stone. However, the general understanding is that all players (except the player rolling the dice) must always have their palms on the tabletop, per the rules of Banana Blast. If a player doesn’t, then either:
- Nothing happens.
- A warning is given.
- A banana is put back into the tree.
- The player who calls it out gets one of their bananas.
Remember – These are house rules and not the banana blast game rules. So, have fun with them.
Did You Know?
- Banana Blast was published by Goliath Games in 2019.
- Specific versions of this game also allow component customization, making the gameplay more personal and amusing.
- Playing Banana Blast can help fine-tune motor skills in children.
Conclusion
The simplicity of the game appeals to younger children, making Banana Blast a viral game among kids. Even adults have seen having fun with their children when playing this game since the Banana Blast rules are easy-peasy. Further, it is an excellent game if the objective is to spend quality family time. So get your box of Banana Blast and watch the kids have the time of their lives.
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