Me, Katie, Hal and Bill playing Quelf at Gunderland --- the farm --- on July 30, 2010. (Click on photo to enlarge.)
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Are you looking for a really, really fun and pretty crazy board game to give to and/or play with family or friends over the holidays (or any time)? If so and if you and your potential players are between the ages of 12 (or even a few years younger?) and anything older, Quelf is the game for you.
In late July when our whole family was together, about ten of us ranging in age from the 20s to the 60s played Quelf. We had a blast.
Typically the maximum amount of game players is eight; the minimum is three. However, since we had so many wanting to play, we had six people playing individually and we had two pairs of players. The pairs also work well if a potential player is a little inhibited; the other person in the “pair” can be the safety net and do anything that the first person doesn’t want to do. However, if there was any inhibition by any of our players when we started the game, it evaporated by fifteen minutes into the game!
I think the pairs work well also if you have anyone who wants to play that is, say, between the ages of 7 or 8 and 12. In that age range players might be a little young to “get” everything about the game. However, if paired with someone older who is willing to either interpret and/or act out whatever a drawn card says to do, the younger person (in my opinion) will do just fine in being a part of the fun.
Also, if someone in a “pair” can’t be around for the whole game, he/she can still participate but just leave when necessary.
There’s very little information about the game at the http://www.quelf.com web site. However at another web site is the following (plus more) information:
“Quelf is the unpredictable party game that gives Random a new name! Whether you’re answering hilarious trivia, performing ridiculous stunts, or obeying silly rules, Quelf will inspire you to use your creativity, wit and sense of humor in ways you’ve never imagined. As you move around the game board, as one of eight quirky characters, crazy things start to happen. Your friends start talking strangely. Your mom’s face is wrapped in toilet paper. Your dad is acting like Dracula. And you are reciting a poem about your armpits.”
When I checked the YouTube site, I found one video (below) describing the game of Quelf. I think that video gives somewhat of a bland portrayal of the game, but it explains the mechanics well. However, the other videos I saw make it look more like a beer party game. If you view the YouTube videos, in most of them you’ll see beer bottles. Also, in some of them you’ll see people acting out some things that are on the edge of being a little racy. Be assured that the game has nothing to do with alcohol and also that it is a 100% “clean” game (unless participants choose to make it otherwise). FAMILY FRIENDLY!
I just saw Quelf on the Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Walmart web sites. I think our game was purchased at a Target.
UPDATE: Since posting I’ve found that the game is sold out in many stores, including online. As of this morning (12-20-10), it is in stock at Amazon.com and has the option of standard or 2-day shipping.
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* One of the Quelf cards drawn said that whenever something happened in the game (I can’t remember what it was) we all had to say, “Quelf! From the Land of the Farm!” (Or, maybe it was “In the Land of the Farm.) If I recall correctly, the last person to say it each time had to move back a space or have some other penalty. Anyway, how appropriate that we were at the farm when we played!
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Tags: board game
Marion Gunderson Art (and the Farmer's Daughter) 
December 20, 2010 at 7:34 pm |
The smiles on your faces and the memory of all the laughter emanating from the kitchen make me know how much fun all of you had playing Quelf. You all were obviously having a blast! I would have been one of the inhibited ones.
December 21, 2010 at 4:43 pm |
This was the one thing Claire asked for for her birthday, so I made sure that it showed up by her birthday party. It was really just as fun on the next go round!
December 21, 2010 at 8:42 pm |
I think I recognize that bar on Harold’s plate as Norine’s wonderful marshmallow brownie!!! Sounds like a fun time for the Gunderson Family. (Yep, I would be the one to notice that)
December 21, 2010 at 11:38 pm |
J. Gunder: I’m glad you were able to find it for Claire. It is now sold out at so man places. I’m glad, too, that she and you liked the game so much. When Katie told me that she had picked up a game before that weekend, I would have never predicted a game such as Quelf!
Sue: You are right, that it was a fun time. I have several incriminating photos (that Peggy took)! Well, maybe not incriminating, but many of us doing such goofy things that I’m sure we don’t want the photos plastered on the web. I don’t think I’ve laughed that hard for that long (i.e., the entire length of the game) for a really, really long time.
Oh, and yes, when I posted the photo my eyes kept getting drawn to that brownie. They were so de-LISH! Addicting! Very much a hit!
December 22, 2010 at 4:47 pm |
Sue: Norine’s marshmallow brownies were amazing! Just one bite contained enough sweet for the entire evening. They didn’t last long. We were most grateful to our good neighbors for feeding us that evening.
December 22, 2010 at 6:35 pm |
Clara is right about our being so grateful for your (Sue) family and others feeding us that evening. We wanted to be together with family at the farm without a care in the world so we could focus on our time of celebration. Knowing that a meal (from known-to-be-good-cooks) would be arriving helped us enjoy our very special time together that day before and after we buried Daddy’s ashes earlier that afternoon.