Go Nuts for Donuts Card Game Rules Explained With Pictures

Objective of Go Nuts for Donuts

The objective of Go Nuts for Donuts is to acquire donuts throughout the game which will score you the most points at the end of the game.

Setup for Go Nuts for Donuts

Depending on the number of players, each player takes a number of selection cards equal to the number of players plus one. For example if there are four players, each player will take a 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 card. Any extra selection cards are returned to the box.
You will create the donut deck based on the number of players. Each card has a different colored background and a number of dots on the description box. Depending on the number of players, you will only use the cards for your number of players. All other cards are returned to the box.
- 2 players – cards with two dots and a green background
- 3 players – cards with two or three dots and a green or pink background
- 4 players – cards with two, three or four dots and a green, pink, or purple background
- 5 players – all cards
Shuffle the donut deck. Place it facedown on the table.
Draw a number of cards equal to the number of players plus one. Set these cards face up to the right of the donut deck. These cards form the donut row.
Place a donut row indicator above each of the cards in donut row. You should place one above the card closest to the donut deck, followed by two, and so on.

Rules for Playing Go Nuts for Donuts

Go Nuts for Donuts is played over a number of rounds. All of the players play in each of the rounds.

To start each of the rounds all of the players will look at the cards in donut row. Each player determines which one of the cards they want. You will find the selection card that matches the number of the donut that you want. Place the card face down on the table. You should keep the card you chose secret from the other players.

Once everyone has chosen their card for the round, everyone reveals their face down card at the same time. You will then start with one and handle each potential number in order.

Players choosing which card they want — For this round one player wanted card one and one player wanted card three. Two players wanted card five.

Grabbing a Donut in Go Nuts for Donuts

For each number the players will see if one or more players chose the donut. You will start with number one and move through the numbers in numerical order.

If only one player chooses the number, that player takes the corresponding donut card and places it face up in front of themselves. Once you take a card it remains visible in front of you for the rest of the game.

Taking a card in Go Nuts for Donuts — Since only one player wanted the Donut Holes and Glazed donut cards, the players who chose those donuts get to take them and place them in front of themselves.

If two or more players chose the same number, none of the players get the donut. The donut is discarded to the discard pile, and none of the players that picked that number get a donut this round.

Two players want the same card — Two players wanted the jelly-filled donut (card 5). Since two players wanted the card, neither player gets to take it. The jelly-filled donut card is discarded.

Should you take a card that has a star icon in its corner, it has a special power. You must activate its power as soon as you take the card from donut row. You will take this action before you resolve the next number. See the corresponding section below for the special powers of certain donuts. If you acquire a donut from another player, from the draw deck, or the discard pile; you do not get to use the card’s special power.

A card with a special power — This Red Velvet card has a special power. When you take the card from the donut row, you can take one card of your choice from the discard pile.

Starting a New Round in Go Nuts for Donuts

When you have handled all of the numbers, the current round ends. You will draw new cards from the draw pile to fill in all of the empty spots in donut row. You will start with one and fill in spaces in numerical order.

Fill in empty spaces in donut row — The cards from the one, three, and five spots have been taken during the round. To start the next round you will reveal a new card for the three empty spots.

All of the players take back the selection card they played in the round.

You will then play another round in the same way as the previous round.

Winning Go Nuts for Donuts

You will keep playing rounds until there are not enough cards in the donut deck to completely fill the donut row at the end of the round. When this happens the game ends.

All of the players will count up the points they score from all of their cards. The player that scores the most points wins the game.

Scoring in Go Nuts for Donuts — At the end of the game one of the players collected these cards. The player has four Donut Holes which score ten points. The Maple Bar scores three points since the player has eight different types of cards. The Powdered donut scores three points, and the Glazed scores two points. The Red Velvet card scores negative two points. Since the player has eleven cards, they will not score any points for the Old Fashioned card. Finally the Coffee scores one point since the player only has one card that scores negative points.

If there is a tie, the tied player that acquired the most cards, wins the game. Should there still be a tie, the tied players share the victory.

Card Meanings in Go Nuts for Donuts

Bear Claw (4+ Players)

Quantity: 2

The Bear Claw card is worth -2 points at the end of the game.

When you take the card from the donut row, you will choose a card to steal from another player. You will place the card face up in front of yourself.

Boston Cream (3+ Players)

Quantity: 6

At the end of the game you will count up how many Boston Cream donuts you collected. You will score points based on how many you have.

1 – 0 points
2 – 6 points
3 – 0 points
4 – 15 points
5 – 0 points
6 – 25 points

Scoring Boston Cream card in Go Nuts for Donuts — The player on the left has three Boston Cream cards. They will score zero points for the cards. The player on the right has two Boston Cream cards which score six points.

Chocolate Frosted

Quantity: 3

When you take a Chocolate Frosted card from the donut row, you immediately take the top card from the donut deck. You will place this new card face up in front of you.

Cinnamon Twist (4+ Players)

Quantity: 2

The Cinnamon Twist card scores one point at the end of the game.

Should you pick up the Cinnamon Twist card from the donut row, all of the players pass one of the cards they previously collected to the player on their left. If one or more players don’t have a card to pass, the Cinnamon Twist card is discarded.

Coffee (4+ Players)

Quantity: 2

At the end of the game count up how many cards you have that score negative points. The Coffee scores one point for each negative point card. The negative point cards still score their negative points.

Scoring the Coffee card in Go Nuts for Donuts — This player has acquired a Coffee card and two cards that score negative points. The Coffee card is worth two points at the end of the game.

Day-Old Donuts (4+ Players)

Quantity: 1

The Day-Old Donuts card scores -7 points at the end of the game.

When you take the card from the donut row though, you can choose any three cards you want from the discard pile. You will add the cards to your set of face up cards.

Donut Holes

Quantity: 6

At the end of the game you will count up how many Donut Holes you collected during the game. You will score points based on how many you collected.

1 – 1 point
2 – 3 points
3 – 6 points
4 – 10 points
5+ – 15 points

Donut Holes example in Go Nuts for Donuts — This player has acquired four Donut Holes cards. They will score ten points for the cards.

Double Chocolate (3+ Players)

Quantity: 2

When you take the Double Chocolate card from the donut row, immediately draw the top two cards from the donut deck. Look at the two cards and choose one that you want to keep. Place that card face up in front of you. Place the other card back on top of the donut deck.

Double Chocolate example in Go Nuts for Donuts — This player took the Double Chocolate card. They drew the Powdered and Old Fashioned cards from the donut deck. They choose one card to keep, and will place the other on top of the donut deck.

Éclair

Quantity: 3

Immediately after picking up an Éclair you will take the top card from the discard pile. You will place the card face up in front of you.

Using an Éclair in Go Nuts for Donuts — This player took the Éclair card on their turn. Due to the card’s special power, they will take the Jelly-Filled card from the Discard Pile and add it to their cards.

French Cruller

Quantity: 1 per player

At the end of the game you will score two points from each French Cruller.

When you take the card from donut row, you will discard any number of cards from the donut row that were not selected by a player. You can choose any number of cards to discard. You cannot discard any card that another player selected though.

Using a French Cruller card in Go Nuts for Donuts — One of the players took the French Cruller card. They can choose any of the cards currently in the donut row and discard them.

Glazed

Quantity: 5

Each Glazed card is worth two points at the end of the game.

Jelly-Filled

Quantity: 6

At the end of the game you will count up the number of Jelly-Filled donuts you collected during the game. You will score points based on how many you collected.

1 – 0 points
2-3: 5 points
4-5: 10 points
6: 15 points

Scoring Jelly-Filled card in Go Nuts for Donuts — This player has four Jelly-Filled cards. They will score ten points for the cards.

Maple Bar

Quantity: 2

At the end of the game you will count up how many different types of donuts you collected. If you collected more than six types of donuts, you score three points from the card.

Scoring a Maple Bar card in Go Nuts for Donuts — This player has acquired eight different types of cards. Therefore the Maple Bar card scores three points.

Maple Frosted (5 Players)

Quantity: 2

You will score five points at the end of the game for the Maple Frosted card if you have the fewest cards in front of you.

Milk (4+ Players)

Quantity: 1

The Milk card scores five points at the end of the game.

When you take the card from the donut row, you will discard three of your face up cards (your choice) or the Milk card.

Mucho Matcha (5 Players)

The Mucho Matcha cards scores three points at the end of the game if you have less than seven types of donuts.

Scoring the Mucho Matcha card in Go Nuts for Donuts — This player has six different types of cards. Therefore they will score three points from the Mucho Matcha card.

Old Fashioned (4+ Players)

Quantity: 2

The Old Fashioned card score five points at the end of the game if you have less than ten donut cards face up in front of you. If you have ten or more donut cards, the card scores zero points.

Scoring an Old Fashioned card in Go Nuts for Donuts — This player has a total of nine cards. Since they have less than ten cards, the Old Fashioned card scores five points.

Plain

Quantity: 7

A Plain donut scores one point at the end of the game.

At the end of the game all of the players also count up how many Plain donuts they collected. The player that collects the most scores an additional three points. If there is a tie for the most Plain donuts, the tied players each score one bonus point.

Determining the bonus points for Plain donuts in Go Nuts for Donuts — Each player scores one point for each Plain donut they take during the game. The player on the left also scores an additional three points because they have the most Plain donuts.

Powdered

Quantity: 4

You will score three points at the end of the game for each Powdered donut.

Raspberry Frosted (5 Players)

Quantity: 2

Should you take the Raspberry Frosted card from the donut row, choose one of the cards you previously collected. You will discard the chosen card. If you have no other cards, you will discard the Raspberry Frosted card.

Red Velvet (3+ Players)

Quantity: 2

The Red Velvet card scores you -2 points at the end of the game.

When you take the card from the donut row though, you will get to choose any one card from the discard pile and place it face up in front of you.

Using the Red Velvet special power in Go Nuts for Donuts — This player picked up the Red Velvet card. They will use its special power to take the Boston Cream card out of the discard pile and add it to their cards.

Sprinkled (3+ Players)

Quantity: 2

The Sprinkled card scores two points at the end of the game.

When you take the card from the donut row, choose one of the cards that are face up in front of you. You will give the chosen card to another player who must place it face up in front of themselves. If you have no other cards in front of you, you must give the Sprinkled card to another player.

Using a Sprinkled donut's special power in Go Nuts for Donuts — A player just took a Sprinkled donut card. They will use the card to give their Red Velvet card (worth -2 points) to one of the other players.

Strawberry Glazed (5 Players)

Quantity: 2

The Strawberry Glazed card scores -2 points at the end of the game.

When you choose to take the card from the donut row, you will choose a card that is face up in front of an opponent. They will discard the card you choose. If none of the other players have a card, you just keep the Strawberry Glazed card.

Go Nuts for Donuts FAQ

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

Go Nuts for Donuts Components

70 donut cards (see distribution above)
42 selection cards
7 donut row indicators
Instructions

Go Nuts for Donuts

Year: 2017 | Publisher: Gamewright | Designer: Zachary Eagle | Artist: Claire Donaldson

Genres: Bluffing, Card, Family, Open Drafting

Ages: 8+ | Number of Players: 2-6 | Length of Game: 20-30 minutes

Difficulty: Light | Strategy: Light-Moderate | Luck: Moderate

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

Written By:

Eric Mortensen

Eric Mortensen is an owner and head writer on Geeky Hobbies since 2014. He is an avid board game player and collector with over 3,000 board and card games in his collection. Since 2014 he has written more than 1,100 board game how to play guides.