Last Updated on July 30, 2025 by The Official Game Rules Team

How Brave Is Mave? is a lighthearted and suspenseful card game where players take turns revealing how brave—or how scared—Mave really is. With each card flip, you’ll either uncover harmless adventures or stumble into spooky surprises. Will you keep pushing your luck or play it safe before the ghosts get you? This simple, family-friendly game mixes memory, chance, and a dash of bravery.

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How to Play How Brave is Mave?

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Ages: 6+
Players: 1–10
Play Time: 10 minutes

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Components

• 43 Playing Cards
  • 38 Instruction Cards
  • 5 Skip (Joker) Cards
• 78 Double-Sided Building Cards
  • 48 Stone/Wood
  • 30 Metal
• 1 Barn
• 1 Base Piece
• 1 Goat Figure (Mave)
• 1 Tape Measure

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Objective

Build a winding path for Mave the goat without letting her fall! On your turn, you’ll draw a Playing Card that tells you which Building pieces to add to the path. Some cards also tell you to move Mave forward to a new patch of grass. If she falls, you’re out and the rest of the players win!

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Quick Setup

1. Place the Base:
   Attach the Base piece to the edge of the table using the protruding connector piece.
2. Start the Path:
   Take 2 Building Cards (1 stone and 1 wood). Align the large and small circles on the top card with the matching circles on the card beneath it.
3. Position on Base:
   Place the aligned Building cards on the Base piece, up to the groove.
4. Place the Barn:
   Set the Barn on top of the Building cards, also lined up to the groove.
5. Add Mave:
   Put Mave on the grass patch in front of the barn to begin.

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How to Play

1. Draw a Playing Card:
   Place the Playing Card deck face down. On your turn, draw a card and follow its instructions.
2. Add Building Pieces:
   Use the card to determine which Building pieces to place next on the path.
3. Build Creatively:
   Pieces can go under, over, or between existing cards. Interlock pieces when possible for stability.
4. Hands Off Mave:
   Don’t touch Mave while placing new pieces.
5. Floating Path Only:
   Building pieces cannot touch the table.
6. Falling Pieces:
   If any Building pieces fall off but Mave stays on the path, continue the game and ignore the fallen pieces.
7. Move Mave (If Instructed):
   If the Playing Card shows Mave, move her to the next patch of grass after building. If there’s no grass patch, place one before moving her.

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Playing Card Symbols

• Mave Not on the Card:
  Just add the Building pieces to the path. Mave stays put.
• Mave on the Card:
  Add the Building pieces first. Then move Mave forward to the next grass patch.
• Blue-Outlined Building Pieces:
  These must be placed at least partially in front of Mave (but can extend behind or underneath).
• Non-Outlined Building Pieces:
  These can go anywhere on the path—behind or in front of Mave.

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Skip (Joker) Cards

If you draw a Joker card:

1. Skip Your Turn.
   You do not place any pieces.
2. Next Player Moves Mave:
   On their turn, the next player must draw a Playing Card and move Mave forward at the end of their turn—even if Mave is not shown on the card.

If the next card is also a Joker, repeat the Joker rules.

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Collaborative Mode

Want to work as a team? Play cooperatively to build the longest path possible without Mave falling. Use the measuring tape to track how far she’s made it!

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How Brave Is Mave? offers quick turns, fun surprises, and just enough tension to keep players guessing. It’s the perfect mix of silly and spooky, making it a great pick for game night with kids or anyone who enjoys taking playful risks. How far will you go—and how brave is Mave today?