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The FroGames Card
Put the cheese card down, the rabbit watches you and comes to the table. Then the cat comes too. And then the pony. Soon your sister will have to admit that puppies matter more than her boring book with no pictures.
WHAT IT'S ABOUT
Puppies, kittens, and ponies in an 1800s English estate
Little Endearment is the family and children's version (ages 5+) of Endearment, the Jane Austen game designed by Amy and Dusty Droz for Dux Somnium Games. Set in Regency England, it transforms the adult worker placement into an adorable hunt for the cutest farm animals.
Each turn you choose which location to visit to attract animals: you use your food cards to win rivalries with other players and bring home puppies, kittens, and rabbits. The first to reach 10 Darling points ends the game, then bonuses are counted for whoever collected the most types of food.
What they say abroad
"Little Endearment's simple and intuitive rule system is the perfect introduction to Endearment for families and children as young as 5 years old."
The simple and intuitive rule system of Little Endearment is the perfect introduction to Endearment for families and children from 5 years old.
— Dux Somnium Games
It's a game that only makes sense if there's someone at home who goes straight for the puppies, ignoring every other strategy. And it works better than it should.
— FroGames
Little Endearment
FrogScore · FroGames editorial rating · first reading: based on rules and official presentation, updated with first playsWhat you'll find in the box
Animals, locations and food
Animal cards
Puppies, kittens, rabbits, ponies, and other furry friends. Each is worth different Darling points, and some give special bonuses.
Location cards
Farms and estates of Regency England. Decide which to visit to attract the animals you need.
Food cards
Cheese, carrots, apples, and other treats. You use them to win rivalries when two players want the same animal.
Darling tokens
Track your 10 points to victory. The first to reach it triggers the end of the game, then bonuses are counted.
Recommended sleeves 156 cards in 2 sizes ▼
If you play often, we recommend protecting your cards with clear sleeves to make them last longer.
| Size | Quantity |
|---|---|
| 63 × 88 mm | 120 |
| 127 × 89 mm | 36 |
| Total cards | 156 |
🎲How to playThe rules in four steps▼
How to play
The flow of each round
Each turn is a sequence of 4 actions: choose, compare, resolve, repeat.
Each player secretly chooses which farm or estate to visit, then all reveal simultaneously.
If multiple players have chosen the same location, a rivalry begins: each plays food cards, whoever plays the most wins and takes the animal.
Whoever wins the rivalry (or was alone at the location) takes the corresponding animal and gains Darling points. Some animals give bonuses.
A new food card is drawn, locations are prepared for the next turn. When someone reaches 10 Darling points, the game ends.
⏱️Your first gameThe chronicle, moment by moment▼
A game in five moments
What happens at the table
Not the rules. The experience.
Dealing
Food cards in hand, board in the center. You explain the rules in five clear minutes and the 5-year-old has already understood: choose location, win rivalry, take animals. Go.
First choices
Everyone aims for different locations, no rivalry. Animals arrive at the table one after another. Someone laughs because they took the rabbit, someone else wants the cat.
Rivalry
Two players want the same pet. They play food cards, whoever plays the most wins. The loser complains, the winner rejoices. The interaction has begun.
Final rush
Someone is at 8 Darling points, the others hurry. We start counting the bonuses: who has more cheese, who has more carrots. Choices matter.
Victory
First to 10 points, game over. Food bonuses are counted, someone catches up, someone wins. Immediate request for a rematch.
🐸What to know beforehandThree honest things, from friends▼
What to know beforehand
Three honest things
Short curve
After about ten games, you'll have seen it all. No expansion can change that: the structure is simple, the variety limited. It's good for introducing children to worker placement, less for keeping them engaged for months.
Truly for children
Ages 5+ is not marketing: it's real. But it also means that an adult playing alone will get bored quickly. You need the right audience at the table, otherwise it's too light.
Manageable luck
Drawing food cards introduces variability, but you always have a hand to choose from. It's not a roll of the dice, it's minimal hand management. Kids understand it, adults forgive it.
🏆Victory and defeatWhat the ending rewards▼
How it ends
How to win and how to lose
The game ends when someone reaches 10 Darling points. Then food bonuses are awarded and whoever has the most total points wins.
Victory
- First to 10 Darling points triggers the end of the game
- Bonus for whoever collected the most food cards of each type (cheese, carrots, apples, etc.)
- Whoever has the most total points after bonuses wins
How you fall behind
- You lose rivalries and go home without animals
- You ignore food bonuses and focus only on immediate Darling points
- You always choose already crowded locations instead of diversifying
Little Endearment does one thing only but does it well: it introduces worker placement to an audience that doesn't even know what it is. And it does so with puppies.
💬Frequently asked questionsQuick answers before checkout▼
Frequently asked questions
FAQ about Little Endearment
Is it really playable at 5 years old?
<cite index="1-1,11-1">Yes. The rules are intuitive, there's no text on the cards</cite>, and the rivalry mechanic (play more food cards = I win) is immediate. An adult explains in 5 minutes, the child plays right away.
What mechanics does Little Endearment use?
Simplified worker placement (choose location), hand management (manage food cards), set collection (collect animals and bonuses). All stripped down to be accessible to the youngest players.
Does it also work for adults?
Only if there are children at the table or if a very light filler is needed. Alone or among experts, the depth is not enough. It's a true gateway game, not a disguised eurogame.
How long does a game really last?
<cite index="1-4,11-4">20-30 minutes</cite>, but the first games with young children can extend to 40 if help is needed with choices. After 2-3 games, the rhythm stabilizes and flows smoothly.
Is it available in Italian?
The edition sold on FroGames is in English, but the text on the cards is minimal (only animal and location names, intuitive) and the rules are simple to translate. Perfectly playable even without knowing English.
The people behind the game
Who invented it, who designed it, who publishes it — and what else they've done.
Little Endearment is a board game for families and children aged 5 and up, designed by Amy and Dusty Droz for Dux Somnium Games. For 2-4 players, lasting 20-30 minutes, it introduces worker placement in a simplified version: choose locations in Regency England, win rivalries with food cards, collect adorable animals. The first to 10 Darling points ends the game, then bonuses are awarded for food collections. Intuitive mechanics, zero complex text, refined illustrations. A junior version of the game Endearment, designed to introduce younger players to strategic games. Available on FroGames.it.
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Frequently Asked Questions
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