Give Me the Brain!

Overview

Give Me the Brain! is a humorous card game for 3-8 players by Cheapass Games. Players are zombie employees at a fast-food restaurant called Friedey’s, sharing a single brain among them. Each player has a hand of job cards representing tasks that must be completed. Some jobs require the brain (higher-thought tasks), while others can be done mindlessly. Players take turns trying to empty their hand by completing jobs. Rolling a die determines whether you keep or fumble the brain. The first player to complete all their jobs (empty their hand) wins.

Components

Job cards (various types: brainless jobs, brain jobs, special cards)
1 six-sided die
Brain token (or the die itself serves as the brain indicator)
Rules card

Setup

Shuffle all job cards together.
Deal each player a hand of cards (typically 5-7 depending on player count).
Place the remaining cards as a draw pile.
Determine who starts with the brain (e.g., roll the die; highest starts with it).

Turn Structure

On your turn:

1. Play Cards

You may play job cards from your hand:

Brainless jobs: Can be played regardless of whether you have the brain. Place them on the discard pile.
Brain jobs: Can only be played if you currently hold the brain. After playing, roll the die to see if you keep the brain or fumble it.
Special cards: Have unique effects (steal the brain, force others to draw cards, etc.).

2. Draw

If you played no cards on your turn, draw 1 card from the draw pile.

3. Brain Check (after playing a brain job)

Roll the die:

Even result (2, 4, 6): You keep the brain.
Odd result (1, 3, 5): You fumble the brain. It goes to the center of the table (no one has it). On future turns, a player can attempt to pick up the brain by rolling even.

4. End of Turn

Play passes clockwise.

Actions

Playing Brainless Jobs

These cards can be played at any time during your turn. They represent menial tasks like mopping, taking out trash, and restocking. Simply place them on the discard pile.

Playing Brain Jobs

These require you to hold the brain. They represent complex tasks like operating the register or counting change. After playing, you must roll the die. Even = keep brain. Odd = fumble.

Picking Up the Brain

If the brain is in the center (fumbled), any player on their turn can attempt to pick it up by rolling the die. Even = you take the brain. Odd = it stays in the center. Attempting to pick up the brain costs your entire turn (you cannot play other cards that turn).

Special Cards

Various special cards allow you to:

Steal the brain from another player
Force opponents to draw additional cards
Play multiple jobs at once
Block other players’ actions

Scoring / Victory Conditions

Win: The first player to play all cards from their hand wins. They have completed all their jobs and can leave Friedey’s.

No points or scoring system – it is a race to empty your hand.

Special Rules & Edge Cases

Multiple Brain Jobs

If you have the brain, you may play multiple brain jobs in sequence on your turn, rolling after each one. If you fumble at any point, you lose the brain and cannot play more brain jobs that turn.

Draw Pile Empty

If the draw pile runs out, shuffle the discard pile to create a new draw pile.

Simultaneous Empty Hands

If two players empty their hands on the same turn (via card effects), the player whose turn it is wins. If it happens between turns, the player who emptied first wins.

Forced Draws

Some special cards force opponents to draw cards, making it harder for them to empty their hand. Timing these cards strategically is key.

Player Reference

Turn: Play cards (brainless freely, brain jobs need brain) -> Roll die after brain jobs -> Draw if no cards played