About The Frustration Board Game

The Frustration board game, also known as Trouble or Kimble in different regions, is a competitive race game designed for 2 to 4 players. The main aim is to be the first player to move all four of your colored pegs around the board and into your own designated finish zone. The main part of the frustration board game is the Pop-O-Matic dice roller which is a transparent dome that players press to roll the die, adding an element of chance and preventing the die from being

Frustration Rules

The goal of Frustration is to be the first to get all four of your pegs from the starting area around the board and into your home or finish zone. Players take turns pressing the Pop-O-Matic to roll the die and move their pegs. The first player to successfully move all their pegs into the finish area too wins the game.

Frustration Components

The frustration board game includes a board with individual tracks, colored pieces for each player, and a dice with a pop-o-matic bubble in the center. The players choose their color and place their pieces in the starting section. The board is placed on a flat surface, and all the players sit around it for a good view.

How to Play Frustration Board Game

To get started with Frustration, you will need 2 to 4 players, and the game is generally suitable for players aged six and up. The game comes with a game board, 16 playing pegs (four in each of four colors: red, yellow, green, and blue), and the Pop-O-Matic die roller which is fixed into the game board. Players typically sit around the game board so that they can easily reach the Pop-O-Matic and move their pegs.

Setup

Each player chooses a color and takes the four pegs of that color. All players then place their four pegs in their assigned starting positions or home zone on the board. The youngest player usually goes first, and play proceeds clockwise around the board.

Starting

A player must roll a six using the Pop-O-Matic to get a peg out of the starting position and onto the main track.  Once a six is rolled, the player can move one of their pegs onto their designated starting square on the main track. In some versions, if a player rolls a one, other players may be able to move a piece out of their home.

Taking Turns

On each turn, a player presses the Pop-O-Matic once to roll the die. If they have any pegs on the main track, they must move one of those pegs forward in a clockwise direction according to the number rolled. If a player rolls a six, they usually get an additional turn. Players cannot land on a space occupied by one of their own pieces, but they can jump over their own pieces.

Gameplay

A key element of gameplay is capturing opponents’ pieces. If your peg lands on a space occupied by an opponent’s peg, their peg is sent back to their starting area. The bumped player must then roll a six again to re-enter the game. In the opposite case, if an opponent lands on your starting space while you have a piece there, your piece is also sent back to your home.

Going Out (Entering Finish Zone)

As your pegs approach their finish zone (the four spaces of your color leading to the final “home” space), they move up into it instead than continuing around the main track. To move a peg into the final home space, you need an exact role that matches the number of spaces left to move.

Winning

The first player to successfully move all four of their pegs into their own colored finish or home zone wins the game.

Variations Of The Frustration Board Game

Frustration Board Game with Drinking Rules

This variation adds drinking rules to the standard game. Examples include taking a sip for rolling a one, a shot for being the last to get a piece out, or opponents taking a drink when their piece is sent back to start.

Double Trouble 

• This variation involves each player moving two pieces along a path using separate Pop-O-Matic dice rollers.
• Some versions of the game might include Double Trouble spaces which, if landed on, allow the player to take another turn.
• Some boards may feature Warp Spaces that allow a player to move their peg to the opposite side of the board, sending an opponent’s peg back to home if they land there.
• It’s possible for a Shield to be a feature in some variations, protecting a player from being sent back to home.
• Some spaces might have Arrows allowing movement forwards or backwards by the number rolled.

Conclusion

Frustration, or Trouble, remains a popular board game due to its simple yet engaging rules and the unpredictable nature introduced by the Pop-O-Matic dice roller. Whether playing the classic version or incorporating fun twists like drinking rules, the game provides a lighthearted and competitive experience for players of various ages. The mix of luck and the satisfying act of sending opponents’ pieces back to the start often leads to moments of both excitement and, fittingly, frustration.