Overview

Eselsbrucke (German for “donkey bridge,” meaning a mnemonic device) is a storytelling and memory party game published by Schmidt Spiele. Players draw picture tiles depicting various objects and concepts, then create memorable stories incorporating those images. Later in the game, players must recall the objects from other players’ stories. The more creative and memorable the story, the easier it is for others to remember – and the more points everyone can score.

Components

• 180 illustrated concept tiles (depicting various objects, animals, and concepts)
• Cloth bag (for drawing tiles)
• Score track or scoring tokens
• Rules sheet

Setup

1. Place all 180 concept tiles in the cloth bag and mix them thoroughly.
2. Each player prepares to track their score.
3. Determine a starting player.

Turn Structure

The game is played over 7 rounds, divided into storytelling turns and recall turns.

Storytelling Phase (Rounds 1-2 and beyond)

In the first two rounds, each player:

1. Draw 3 picture tiles randomly from the bag.
2. Invent a story incorporating all 3 pictures. The story should be creative, funny, or bizarre – whatever makes it memorable for the other players.
3. Tell the story to all players, showing the picture tiles as you mention them.
4. After telling the story, place the tiles face-down.

Recall Phase

After all players have told their stories for a round:

1. Each player receives one picture tile from another player’s story (distributed randomly or systematically).
2. On your turn, you must name another card from the same story (not the one you received).
3. Correct recall: You earn points (keep the named card).
4. Incorrect recall or failure: You lose points by giving up cards you’ve previously earned (you can never go below zero).

Actions

Creating Stories

• Stories must incorporate all drawn picture tiles.
• The more vivid, absurd, or emotionally engaging the story, the more memorable it will be.
• Players are encouraged to be creative and theatrical.

Recalling

• When given a picture from a story, you must remember and name a different picture from that same story.
• This tests how well the storyteller’s mnemonic worked on you.

Scoring / Victory Conditions

Scoring

• Correct recall: Gain the card as a point.
• Incorrect recall: Lose previously earned cards (but never go below zero).
• The game tracks cumulative points across all 7 rounds.

Winning

After 7 rounds, the player with the most cards (points) wins.

Special Rules & Edge Cases

• Stories should be told clearly and should incorporate the picture tiles in a memorable way.
• The 180 different concept tiles ensure high replayability.
• The game scales well from 3 to 12 players, making it suitable for large groups.
• In larger groups, not every player will hear every story, adding an extra challenge.
• Players cannot take notes – memory is the only tool.
• The game teaches mnemonic techniques in a fun, accessible way.

Player Reference

Rounds: 7

Storytelling: Draw 3 tiles > Create a story > Tell it to all players

Recall: Receive 1 tile from a story > Name another tile from that story

Scoring: Correct = gain card; Incorrect = lose a card

Win condition: Most cards after 7 rounds