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Winter is coming and four squirrels must hide their acorns. You slide, they drop — but only in the right order.
What it's about
Slide the squirrels and hide the acorns
Squirrels Go Nuts! is the solo puzzle game designed by Raf Peeters for SmartGames. Winter is coming, and the squirrels need to secure their acorns by hiding them in holes in the ground. It looks like an autumn scene, but it's a brain-teasing puzzle.
You play by sliding the squirrels on the board, horizontally and vertically. Each squirrel carries an acorn, and when it slides over a hole, it drops it. The trick is the order: once a hole is filled, the other squirrels slide over it without losing their acorn. Getting the sequence wrong means getting stuck.
Sixty challenges of increasing difficulty, from age 6 up to expert level — the most difficult ones require dozens of moves. In Squirrels Go Nuts! there's no luck or dice: just logic, planning, and spatial intuition. The portable case with a lid makes it perfect to take anywhere.
The twist is all in the order: fill the right hole first, and that becomes a safe passage for the others. Get the sequence wrong, and an acorn drops where it shouldn't.
The secret of Squirrels Go Nuts! in one line
It seems like a "random" sliding game, but it's solved with logic: you look at where the holes and acorns are, figure out who goes where, then plan the moves. Sweet on the outside, clever on the inside.
From the game experience
Squirrels Go Nuts!
FrogScore · FroGames editorial rating · based on rules, official SmartGames materials and play sessionsIn the forest
What you move in each challenge
The squirrels
They slide horizontally and vertically. Each carries an acorn and drops it when passing over an empty hole.
The acorns
The treasure to keep safe for winter. Each hole holds only one: the order in which you hide them is everything.
The holes in the ground
The dens where the acorns go. Once filled, a hole becomes a safe passageway for others to slide over.
The fixed flower
In some challenges, a piece appears that doesn't move and covers a hole, forcing you to rethink the entire path.
An autumn afternoon, ten minutes, and the last acorn disappearing into the right hole at the right time. It always happens with Squirrels Go Nuts!
🧩
Components4 elements · 4 squirrels, 5 acorns
A challenge in five moments
What happens when you play
Not the rules. The experience.
Choose the next challenge
Open the booklet and choose a number between 1 and 60. The first ones use only 2 or 3 squirrels to warm you up; the more advanced ones put all four on the field and require dozens of moves.
Set up the forest
You position squirrels and acorns exactly as the card shows. You look at where the holes are in the ground and realize there's only one way to hide them all — you just have to find it.
The first slide
Slide a squirrel: it passes over a hole and — *thump* — its acorn disappears underground. Satisfying. Then you try with the second and realize its path is blocked.
The "ah, the order!" moment
You understand the trick: fill the middle hole first and it becomes a safe passage. Now the blocked squirrel slides safely over it and reaches its own. The sequence was everything.
All acorns safe
The last squirrel drops its acorn: challenge solved, winter ready. A moment of satisfaction — and your eye already runs to the next number. "Just one more."
How to play
Four steps for each challenge
You learn in a minute and play for hours. No rules to remember: just logic, planning, and the right order of moves.
Among the 60 available, from beginner to expert level. Each is a puzzle in itself with only one correct solution.
Place squirrels and acorns on the board as shown on the challenge card.
Slide the squirrels horizontally and vertically: by passing over a free hole, they drop their acorn.
The challenge is solved when every squirrel has dropped its acorn into a hole. Winter ready!
Why it works so well
Six things that make it special
Order truly matters
The twist that makes it unique: once filled, a hole becomes a safe passage. Choosing the right sequence to hide the acorns is the core of every challenge.
The blocking flower
In many challenges, a fixed piece covers a hole and cannot be moved: it forces you to look for alternative paths and raises the bar of reasoning.
60 progressive challenges
It starts with 2-3 squirrels and leads to solutions with dozens of moves using all four. A curve that accompanies both those starting at 6 years old and adults.
Logic, not trial and error
First, you analyze the position of holes and acorns, understand who goes where, then you plan. Concentration, problem-solving, and spatial intuition in every game.
One solution, zero luck
No dice, no chance: every challenge has a single correct solution. When you find it, it's because you've reasoned it through completely.
Designed by Raf Peeters, travel-friendly
A classic SmartGames designed by the celebrated author, in a compact case with a transparent lid. All pieces stay in place: ideal for ages 6 and up.
How to solve
A clear goal, one solution
Every challenge has a unique correct sequence. The beauty — and the difficulty — is finding the order of slides that secures all the acorns before winter.
Challenge overcome
- Every squirrel has dropped its acorn
- All acorns are hidden in the ground holes
- The forest is ready for winter: challenge solved
When you get stuck
- A squirrel can no longer reach a free hole
- You filled the holes in the wrong order
- No problem: lift the board, retrieve the acorns, and start over
Squirrels Go Nuts! is one of those puzzles you open "for five minutes" and close half an hour later, with all the acorns safe and the desire to try another one immediately. Quick to learn, hard to put down.
Frequently asked questions
FAQ about Squirrels Go Nuts!
Is a slide puzzle solved only by trial and error?
No, and that's the beauty of it. Many try to move pieces randomly, but Squirrels Go Nuts! is solved with logic: first, you analyze the position of holes and acorns, understand which squirrel can fill which hole and in what order, then you plan the slides. Chance has nothing to do with it.
Ages 6 and up: isn't it too easy for an adult?
The cute theme is deceiving. The first challenges use 2-3 squirrels and are suitable for younger children, but the advanced ones put all four squirrels on the board and require dozens of moves in the exact order. Expert difficulties make even adults break a sweat: it's a beloved classic precisely because it works at any age.
How difficult are the challenges?
They range from beginner level, almost immediate, to expert level requiring dozens of moves. The curve is gradual: you grow with the game, and each level prepares you for the next. Suitable for both children and adults looking for a real brain-teaser.
How do you undo a move or restart?
The acorns fall inside the board, so to undo or restart, simply lift the board and retrieve those already hidden. A practical tip: rest the board on the transparent lid while playing, so you don't lose any acorns.
Is it suitable for travel and as a gift?
It's one of its best features. The case is compact, has a transparent lid, and keeps all pieces in place, so you can play it in the car, on the train, or in a waiting room. Its charming theme and immediate rules also make it an excellent gift for ages 6 and up.
Do you need to know English?
No. The challenges in the booklet are visual diagrams to be reproduced on the board: it's immediately clear where to place squirrels and acorns without needing to read text. It's a puzzle played with the eyes and with logic.
Squirrels Go Nuts! is a solo puzzle board game for 1 player (ages 6+), designed by Raf Peeters and published by SmartGames. Main mechanic: sequential slide puzzle. The player slides the squirrels horizontally and vertically on the board; each squirrel carries an acorn and drops it when passing over a free hole. Order matters: once filled, a hole becomes traversable, and other squirrels slide over it without losing their own acorn. In some challenges, a fixed piece with a flower covers a hole and cannot be moved. Includes 60 challenges of increasing difficulty, from beginner to expert level (with solutions requiring dozens of moves). Trains concentration, logic, planning, problem-solving, and spatial intuition. No luck, no dice: just reasoning, with only one solution per challenge. Portable case with a transparent lid, ideal as a travel game. Available on FroGames.it.
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