Bear Went Over the Mountain

About this board game

Bear Went Over the Mountain is a card-laying and set-collection game for 1–4 players, with games lasting about 20 minutes. Designed for preschoolers ages 4 and up, it invites players to build colorful hikes and discover what Bear likes best.

In this gentle landscape-building game, each player creates a personal hike by laying out cards filled with animals, trees, hills, and valleys. Players choose goals such as spotting the most bluebirds, squirrels, or skunks, then select cards and add them to their developing landscape.

Scoring introduces young players to counting along with simple addition and subtraction. Reading skills can be helpful, but every card also includes pictures and color icons, making the game approachable for children who are still learning their ABCs.

• Card-laying and set-collection gameplay
• Personal landscapes featuring animals, trees, hills, and valleys
• Goals based on spotting animals such as bluebirds, squirrels, and skunks
• Counting, simple addition, and subtraction in the scoring
• Designed for preschoolers ages 4 and up

The player with the most interesting hike wins, giving every landscape a chance to shine. With its accessible visual cues and straightforward goals, Bear Went Over the Mountain offers a playful introduction to collecting and comparing sets.

The game was designed as part of the 2017 Children’s Game Print and Play Design Contest. For “big kids,” optional rules provide a more difficult multiplayer card-drafting experience, while a solitaire version offers a way to play alone.