Barrel of Monkeys Dropple – A Fun Twist on Dropple and Barrel of Monkeys for Kids Ages 4+
Barrel of Monkeys Dropple – A Fun Twist on Dropple and Barrel of Monkeys for Kids Ages 4+
Barrel of Monkeys Dropple is a family board game for 2–4 players ages 4 and up that blends elements of Dropple and Barrel of Monkeys. Players take turns pulling colored sticks from a barrel while 23 red monkeys and one golden monkey hang from them. The goal is to have the fewest monkeys at the end. It’s a simple, quick game that introduces young children to strategy and turn-taking.
How does Dropple combine two classic games?
Dropple takes the tension of pulling sticks from a barrel (similar to pick-up sticks or Kerplunk) and mixes it with the iconic linking monkeys from Barrel of Monkeys. Instead of linking monkeys together by hand, you insert sticks through the barrel and hook the monkeys’ arms onto those sticks. When a stick is pulled, any monkeys attached to it fall into the barrel or onto the table. The dice determines which color stick you must remove, adding an element of luck.
What’s inside the box?
| Item | Quantity |
| Barrel with Base | 1 |
| Red Monkeys | 23 |
| Golden Monkey | 1 |
| Sticks | 30 |
| Die | 1 |
| Instruction Sheet | 1 |
Setting up the game
Place the barrel on its base. Randomly insert all 30 sticks through the holes in the barrel so that the sticks cross each other. Then hook the arms of the 23 red monkeys and the golden monkey onto the sticks, distributing them as evenly as possible. Each player takes a spot around the barrel.
Playing a turn
On your turn, roll the die to see which color stick you must remove. The die has colored faces matching the stick colors. Carefully pull out one stick of that color. If any monkeys fall off – either into the barrel or onto the table – you must add those monkeys to your personal pile. Then play passes to the next player. The golden monkey works like a red monkey during the game; if it falls, you add it to your pile.
How the golden monkey helps you
If you roll the face of the golden monkey on the die, you get to remove five red monkeys from your pile and put them back into the barrel. This can be a big comeback if you’ve collected many monkeys. The golden monkey itself does not count as one of the five – you only return red monkeys.
Winning the game
The game ends when all 30 sticks have been removed from the barrel. At that point, each player counts the monkeys in their pile. The player with the fewest monkeys wins. Ties are broken by the number of monkeys each tied player has, but the instructions don’t specify a tiebreaker beyond that.
Common questions about Barrel of Monkeys Dropple
Can you play with more than 4 players?
The game is designed for 2–4 players. The rules do not cover larger groups.
Is the golden monkey ever removed from the barrel?
The golden monkey stays hooked onto a stick just like the red monkeys. It is only removed when it falls off during a turn.
Do you need to set up the sticks exactly the same way every time?
No, you insert the sticks randomly, so each game has a unique configuration. This gives the game high replay value.
What if a monkey falls while you are pulling a stick?
Any monkeys that drop when you remove a stick are added to the pile of the player who pulled that stick.