Nanuk

Overview

Nanuk is a bluffing and bidding card game for 5-8 players. Players are Inuit hunters in the Arctic, boasting about how many animals they can catch and for how many days. Each round, players bid higher or declare the hunt “DOOMED!” The group then splits into Hunters and Doomers. Cards are contributed and drawn to determine if the hunt succeeds. Winners share the spoils; losers get nothing. The player with the highest score at game end wins.

Components

• 100 Cards (24 each of Deer, Seal, Fish, Bird; 4 Inuksuk; 12 cards with Nanuk bear symbols; some cards are “doubles”)
• 1 Day Token
• 1 Gameboard
• 10 Number Tokens
• 10 Hunt/Doom Tokens
• 3 Wind Tokens

Setup

1. The player who has been furthest north is the dealer and first player.
2. Shuffle the entire deck.
3. Deal 3 face-down cards to each player.
4. Give each player 1 Hunt/Doom token (brown spearhead side = Hunt; red skull side = Doom).
5. Set the Day Track on the gameboard to 1.

Turn Structure

Each round (hunt) has four phases:

1. Boasting

Starting with the first player and continuing in the wind direction, each player must either raise the bid or declare the hunt DOOMED. No passing allowed.

2. Choosing Sides

The last bidder becomes Hunt Leader. The player who declared doom becomes Doom Leader. All other players secretly choose Hunt or Doom by placing their token under their hand, then reveal simultaneously. Doomers each ante 1 card face down from their hand.

3. Planning the Hunt

Each Hunter contributes at least 1 card face down. Cards are played one at a time in wind direction, with the Hunt Leader going last. The Hunt Leader mixes all contributed cards and reveals them.

4. Finishing the Hunt

The dealer draws cards from the deck equal to the number of days bid. If a Nanuk (bear) card is drawn and no Inuksuk is available to cancel it, the hunt fails immediately. After all days are drawn, if the target number of animals is met, the hunt succeeds.

Actions

Boasting (Bidding)

A bid consists of a number of animals, a type of animal, and a number of days. You may raise the bid by:

• Raising days (max 12): more days = more cards drawn = higher chance of success but also more Nanuk risk
• Raising the number of animals: you may also change the animal type when raising the number
• Raising both days and animals
• You may not change the animal type without also raising the number.

Declaring Doom

Instead of raising, declare “DOOMED!” This ends bidding. You become the Doom Leader and cannot join the hunt.

Contributing Cards (Hunters)

Each Hunter plays at least 1 card face down. Cards matching the target animal count toward the goal. Inuksuk cards protect against drawn Nanuks. Non-matching animals neither help nor hurt.

Drawing Days (Finishing)

• Cards are drawn one per day of the bid.
• Nanuk symbols on drawn cards trigger failure unless cancelled by an Inuksuk (each Inuksuk cancels exactly one Nanuk).
• If the target is reached early, drawing continues until all days are complete (risking additional Nanuks).

Scoring / Victory Conditions

Hunt Success

Hunters share all cards (contributed + drawn + Doomer antes) equally, starting with the Hunt Leader in wind direction, each choosing 1 card at a time. Leftovers are discarded.

Hunt Failure

Doomers share all cards the same way, starting with the Doom Leader.

Card Scoring (End of Game)

• Set of 4 different animals (one each of Deer, Seal, Fish, Bird): 3 points
• Pair of matching cards (same animal or Inuksuk): 1 point
• Inuksuks are wild for pairs and sets
• Double cards count as 2 separate cards for scoring
• Most Nanuk cards: 2 bonus points (if tied, each tied player gets 1 point)
• Each card may only be used once for scoring
• Highest total score wins

Game End

The game ends when a face-up card appears from the bottom of the deck (indicating reshuffled discards have been reached). The current hunt is completed, then final scoring occurs. If face-up cards appear while dealing new hands, the game ends immediately.

Special Rules & Edge Cases

• Wind Token: Flipped each round to determine direction of play (clockwise or counterclockwise).
• Winter is Near: If face-up cards at deck bottom are reached during a hunt, stop drawing. Players return hands to dealer, who shuffles them with discards. Remaining days are drawn from the new deck. This is the final hunt.
• New Cards: After each hunt, all players are dealt cards to bring their hand back to 3. If a face-up card appears during dealing, the game ends immediately.
• Next Round First Player: The successful leader (Hunt Leader if hunt succeeded, Doom Leader if it failed) becomes first player for the next round.
• Optional Rule: Instead of simultaneous Hunt/Doom decisions, players declare sequentially in wind direction after the doom declaration.
• Longer Games: Players may agree to play multiple “seasons” and total all scores.

Player Reference

Scoring Item	Points
Set of 4 different animals	3
Pair of matching cards	1
Most Nanuk cards	2 (1 each if tied)
Double cards	Count as 2 cards
Inuksuk	Wild for pairs/sets