/pic5971438.jpg)
2019
WISE Score
A mini-golf card game where you swap gnomes to dodge high scores and sneak in some negative-number math practice.
Our reviews and ratings are 100% unbiased. As an Amazon Associate, Screenwise earns from qualifying purchases, so if you buy a book or game through one of our links, we may earn a commission. We don't get any credit if you just Google it instead :)
Gnoming Around is a fantastic 'filler' game that punches way above its weight class. It takes the familiar mechanics of the classic game Golf and adds enough personality and polish to make it a family staple.
It’s one of those rare titles that feels intentional—it’s not just a way to kill time, but a way to actually engage across generations. If you’re looking to build a 'boredom insurance' shelf of physical games, this belongs on it.
Perfect for ages 6 and up. While the box says 7+, any kid who understands basic addition and the concept of 'lower is better' can jump in, especially if a parent helps with the final tally.
Grandpa Beck's Games is the gold standard for 'wholesome' without being cheesy. It's designed for intergenerational play, meaning it actually works for a 7-year-old and a 70-year-old at the same table.
While the mini-golf gnome theme is charming, the mechanics are a polished iteration of the classic card game 'Golf' or 'Skyjo'. It's more about tactical swapping than creative world-building.
It is a physical card game with zero mature themes, no digital components, and no aggressive conflict. The social dynamics are friendly and competitive in a healthy way.
Great for 'stealth math.' Kids are constantly adding and subtracting, often using negative numbers, while managing a 3x3 memory grid.
If you haven't played a Grandpa Beck game yet (Cover Your Assets, Skull King), you're missing out on a specific brand of family-first design. They specialize in games that are easy to teach but have just enough 'take-that' strategy to keep adults from checking out. Gnoming Around (stylized as Gnoming A Round) fits this perfectly by using a mini-golf theme to mask what is essentially a clever math and memory exercise.
The game uses a 3x3 grid of cards. You start with most cards face down and spend the game flipping, swapping, and discarding to get your total score as low as possible. The 'aha!' moment for kids usually comes when they realize that vertical sets of matching cards cancel each other out, or when they land a negative-point card that drastically drops their total.
It's a great tool for kids who are just starting to grasp that a smaller number (or a negative number) can be 'better' than a large one. Because the rounds are fast—usually about 10 minutes per round for three rounds—the sting of a bad hand doesn't last long. It’s also one of the few games that scales gracefully up to 7 players without the downtime becoming unbearable.
Get a personalized guide on any topic
