Mouse Trap Jenga

A patient adrenaline game for silly people

How to Play

  • Take turns stacking live mousetraps where each trap is touching at least two other traps

  • Keep going till you are out of traps or it falls down and explodes

  • That's it. Have fun

How to Start

  • Optional: Put a towel or silicone baking pad down. It is mighty handy for ensuring you have stable base.

  • Place two traps touching each other. Different configurations lead to different games. Tall or short a-frame are common.

How do you win!?

  • Remember building sandcastles at the beach. You don't win at sandcastles. This is like that but with a wee more excitement. It's more like skateboarding. Everyone who shows up wins the day. Some people play it safe and others go big and get cheers.

  • Set up people for moves. Go for height. Try bold and creative moves.

  • Everybody who plays wins. Or maybe nobody wins and there is just one loser. That's up to you. Whatever helps you sleep.

  • You definitely lose if you're a jerk. For example, intentionally bumping people when they are placing their trap or any bad juju is discouraged.

  • When the stack goes boom, celebrate and congratulate each other on a good game.

  • If you use all the traps:

    • Expert-level: start to take the all down.

    • Good-video: slo-mo record tossing something in the stack

This is what winning looks like

This is what winning looks like

Special Situations

  • If during your turn a few traps fall, still complete your turn.

  • Generally, don't move other people's set traps. Play with what you got.

  • Earthquakes and asteroids are fair play.

Get your gear

  • Box of 48 Traps

  • Optional:

    • Silicone Baking Pad

    • Safety Glasses (mostly for show)

    • Suitcase if you want to be classier than a cardboard box

Pro-tips

  • Techniques

  • Kick stand;


  • Kitties and Kiddos

    • Kitties may want to get close with their lil' fuzzy mittens and have a bad time. Keep animals at a distance

    • Kiddos may also want to get close with their lil' fingers and could have a bad time. Keep tiny humans at a distance.

  • After a boom

    • After an detonation - some of the traps may still be set. Be careful as you pick traps up - this is the most common time people get snapped.

    • Maybe play again - or call it a good round.

  • Placing the traps

    • Exhale slowly like you're in the special forces - it will relax your hands and increase your focus.

    • 3 points define a plane. Attend to if the center of mass is supported or it'll fall.

  • Photos

    • People are generally completely absorbed in their move. This makes for good candid photos. Remember to have fun and smile :)

    • Often people want to take photos and not play. That's cool. Thanks for documenting the silliness.

  • Not difficult enough?

    • Use your non-dominant hand.

    • Set a timer for moves.

    • Use rat traps with contact explosives.

Setting the traps

  • For many, this is the first time they've ever set a mousetrap. Excellent opportunity to learn how to efficiently set a mousetrap. You got what it takes. With a little practice you'll be setting up a half-dozen traps in a minute.

  • Assemble set traps in an ordered manner with the trigger pointing away from you. This decreases the likelihood of an accidental snap.

  • It's like a knife. One end is safer to grab than the other. Be mindful of the snappy part.

  • Also, they are not as hair-trigger as you may think. Place a trap upside down to prove this. And then even add a few more traps on top.