There are two different versions of Stupid Deaths. While the basic gameplay is similar, the two games have some significant rule differences. The one pictured in this post is the coffin tin version first released in 2021. The other version was released in 2018 in a cardboard box. Below are the instructions for both versions of the game. Make sure you are consulting the rules for the version of the game that you own.
2018 Cardboard Box Edition of Stupid Deaths
| Setup | Playing the Game | Moving Around the Board | Caught By Grim Reaper | Winning the Game |
Objective
The objective of Stupid Deaths is to either be the first player to reach the red finish space or be the last remaining player.
Set Up
- Place the game board in the middle of the table.
- Each player chooses a pawn and places it on the green space on the game board.
- Each player takes an extra life token, one true card, and one false card.
- The Grim Reaper is placed on the red space on the game board.
- One player shuffles all of the Stupid Deaths cards and places them face down in the middle of the table.
- The oldest player starts the game.
How to Play Stupid Deaths
The current player takes the top Stupid Deaths card and reads it out loud. Make sure not to read out loud whether the story is true or false.
After the story is read, all of the players besides the reader decides whether they think what was read is true or false. When you have decided which answer you are going with, place the corresponding card face down in front of you.
Once everyone has placed one of their cards face down, the reader announces whether the story was true or false. All of the players then reveal their chosen cards.
Moving Around the Board
Each player that played the correct card gets to move their playing piece forward one space clockwise around the board.
Each player that played the incorrect card, does not move their playing piece. Count up how many players guessed incorrectly. Move the Grim Reaper clockwise a number of spaces equal to the number of players who guessed wrong. If for example two players guessed incorrectly, you will move the Grim Reaper two spaces clockwise around the board.
If all of the players answered incorrectly, the reader moves their playing piece forward two spaces. Should one or more players guess correctly, the reader does not move their playing piece forward.
The next round then begins. The game does not say if the role of reader moves clockwise or counter-clockwise.
Caught By the Grim Reaper
If the Grim Reaper should ever land on or pass the space that your playing piece is on, you are touched by death.
If you have an extra life token, you will play it. After playing the token you will move your playing piece one space in front of the Grim Reaper.
Should you not have an extra life token, you are eliminated from the game.
Winning the Game
Stupid Deaths can end in one of two different ways.
If one of the players reach the red finish space, they win the game.
Otherwise the game ends when all but one player is eliminated. The last remaining player wins the game.
2021 Tin Coffin Edition of Stupid Deaths
| Set Up | Playing the Game | Winning the Game |
Objective
The objective of the game is to be the first player to correctly guess the answer to six cards.
Set Up
- One player shuffles all of the cards and places them in a face down pile in the center of the table.
- The last player to have watched a movie becomes the first reader. The role of the reader passes left throughout the game.
Playing Stupid Deaths
The current reader draws a card and reads it out loud. They should stop before the end of the card where it says true or false.
The player to their left then has a minute to analyze the situation and decide whether they think the story is true or false.
When the player has decided how they want to answer, they will say their answer out loud. If they for some reason cannot answer (I don’t know why you wouldn’t just guess), the player on their left gets to guess.
If the player guesses correctly, they take the card and become the reader for the next round. Should the player guess incorrectly, the card is discarded and the player still becomes the reader for the next round.
The rules contradict themselves with regards to turn order. It says that play passes counter-clockwise. Based on the player who made the guess becoming the next reader though, play would have to move clockwise. Therefore I think the counter-clockwise rule was a typo and was meant to say clockwise.
Winning the Game
The first player to collect six cards wins the game.
Stupid Deaths FAQ
If you have any questions about how to play either version of 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
2018 Cardboard Box Version
- Game Board
- 300 Stupid Deaths Cards
- 6 Player Pawns
- Grim Reaper with Stand
- 6 True Voting Cards
- 6 False Voting Cards
- 6 Extra Life Tokens
- Instructions
2021 Tin Coffin Edition
- 90 Stupid Deaths Cards
- Instructions
Year: 2018 | Publisher: University Game
Genres: Party, Trivia
Ages: 12+ | Number of Players: 2-6 | Length of Game: 30-60 minutes
Difficulty: Light | Strategy: Light | Luck: Moderate-High
For more board and card game rules/how to plays, check out our complete alphabetical list of card and board game rules posts.