Cootie Board Game Rules Explained With Pictures

The rules for Cootie have changed some over the years. I will try to point out where the rules have changed between different versions of the game.

Looking for a specific Cootie rule? | Setup | Playing With A Spinner | Playing With A Die | Winning the Game | Variant Games | FAQ | Components |

Objective

The objective of Cootie is to be the first player to completely assemble your bug.

Setup

• Assemble the bodies and heads by attaching two halves of the same color together.
• Lay out the bug parts in the middle of the table where everyone can reach them. It is best if you place the same body parts next to one another.
• Place the spinner in the middle of the table.
• Each player takes a body and head piece of the same color. In older versions of the game you do not start with any pieces.
• The youngest player starts the game. In older versions that use a die, all of the players roll the die. The player that rolls highest starts the game.

How to Play Cootie

The main gameplay depends on if your version of the game uses a spinner or a die. Most older versions of the game use a die while newer versions use a spinner. You need to follow the instructions based on whether your copy has a spinner or a die.

Playing With A Spinner

You will begin each turn by spinning the spinner. The section you spin on the spinner determines what body part you will take on your turn.

If you do not have the body part that you spun, you will take one of the corresponding pieces from the table and attach it to your bug.

If you already own that piece, you do not get to take a body part on your turn.

There is a Wild Bug space on the spinner. If you spin this space, you can take one body part that you need and add it to your bug.

Playing With a Die

Most versions outside of the newest editions use a die.

On your turn you roll the die. The number you roll on the die determines what body part you get to take on your turn.

To start the game you need to acquire your body. To acquire your body you need to roll a one on the die. If you roll any other number on the die, you do not get to take any body parts.

After you have acquired your body, you then need to try and acquire your head. To acquire your head you need to roll a two. You cannot acquire any other body parts until you have your body and head.

You can then try to acquire the rest of your required body parts. What part you get to take with each die roll is as follows:

• 1 – Body
• 2 – Head
• 3 – Ears (Most versions require you to acquire two)
• 4 – Eyes (Most versions require you to acquire two)
• 5 – Tongue
• 6 – Legs (Most versions require you to acquire six)

If you roll a body part that you still need, you will add it to your bug. Should you roll a body part that you no longer need, you will not take any parts on your turn.

Some older versions of the game allow you to roll the die again whenever you acquire a new body part. Other versions only allow you to collect one piece on your turn.

After your turn ends, play passes to the next player in turn order.

Winning the Game

The game ends when one of the players complete their bug. To complete a bug depends on what version of the game you have.

• Newer versions require a head, head accessory, eye piece, body, and six legs.
• Older versions require a body, head, two antenna, two eyes, mouth, and six legs.

The first player to complete their bug wins.

Variant Games

Switcheroo

Whenever you spin/roll a bug part that you don’t need, you can choose to keep the part that you already have. Otherwise you can ask another player that has the same part whether they want to trade pieces. If they agree, both players swap pieces.

Head Start

In this variant game you only start the game with a body. To start the game you need to first acquire your head. The only way to do that is to spin the Wild Bug section of the spinner.

If you spin a part other than the head, you do not get to take a piece on your turn.

Once you acquire your head, you can acquire the rest of the body parts that you need.

Cootie FAQ

If you have any questions about how to play the game, leave a comment below on this post. I will try to answer any questions asked as best and as quickly as possible.

Components

The components included with the game depends on the version of the game.

2021 Version

• 4 Bodies
• 4 Heads
• 24 Legs
• 4 Eyes
• 4 Mouth Pieces
• 4 Head Accessories
• Spinner
• Instructions

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Year: 1927 | Publisher: Hasbro, Milton Bradley, Schaper | Designer: William Schaper

Genres: Children’s, Dice

Ages: 3+ | Number of Players: 2-4 | Length of Game: 20 minutes

Difficulty: Light | Strategy: Light | Luck: High

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For more board and card game rules/how to plays, check out our complete alphabetical list of card and board game rules posts.