Sleeping Queens
Published · Researched 2026-09-21
Gamewright's fairy-tale card game — wake the queens, dodge the kings, steal with knights. A confirmed current product as of 2026-09-20 ($11.99 observed, though the observed listing was sold out).
Identifiers & current-generation confirmation
- Brand / model: Sleeping Queens (Gamewright)
- Current-generation confirmation (2026-09-20): Actively in Gamewright's catalog; $11.99 observed at US specialty retail (listing sold out at crawl time).
- Contents: card count conflicts across sources — 79 vs. 89 cards (edition-dependent; see Spec gap-fill).
Lineage & current lineup (2023–2026)
- Sleeping Queens (2005, designed by 6-year-old Miranda Evarts) has remained continuously in print through 2023–2026. Card-count variance (79 vs. 89) reflects edition/packaging differences over the years.
- Publisher: Gamewright.
Overview
A set-collection and "take that" card game with a storybook skin: queens sleep on their cards; players wake them with kings, put them back to sleep with knights, block with dragons, and win by collecting queens. Simple enough for new readers, sharp enough for adults — the rare game where a 6-year-old can legitimately beat a parent.
- Players: 2–5
- Ages: 8+ (commonly; some retailers list 6+)
- Play time: ~20 minutes
- Price observed: $11.99 US (2026-09-20; listing sold out)
- Best for: tent and picnic-table play with 6–10-year-olds; the "kid beats parent" game
Price (2026-09-20)
- $11.99 observed (US specialty retail, 2026-09-20 — listing was sold out; re-verify live).
Box contents
- Cards (79 or 89 depending on edition — UNVERIFIED), instructions.
Warranty & support
- Gamewright's standard component-replacement support. No formal warranty.
Community verdict
A kids'-game classic with real staying power. Sleeping Queens is the game grandparents buy and kids actually keep playing — the fairy-tale art draws them in, and the king/knight/dragon interactions give it more texture than pure luck. Family reviewers consistently note the age-range honesty: 6-year-olds can play, 8-year-olds play well, and adults don't suffer. For camp, the small box and 20-minute runtime are the selling points; the "take that" knight steals can cause tears in sensitive under-7s (house-rule it). The card-count confusion (79 vs. 89) is an edition artifact, not a quality signal.
Images
- images/sleeping-queens-1.jpg
- images/sleeping-queens-2.jpg
- images/sleeping-queens-3.jpg
- images/sleeping-queens-4.jpg
- images/sleeping-queens-5.jpg
- images/sleeping-queens-6.jpg
Research footer
- Research date: 2026-09-20. All prices and claims dated 2026-09-20; re-verify live before purchase.
- Key sources: Gamewright product data via retail listings; US specialty retail ($11.99, sold-out listing).
Durability & warranty reality
Standard card stock; small box travels well. Sleeve for heavy camp use. Gamewright replaces missing cards.
Yearly history
- 2005–2026: continuously in print; edition/packaging revisions account for card-count variance.
Comparisons (existing catalog rivals)
- Spot It! Camping: Speed vs. strategy — Spot It! for reflexes and younger kids; Sleeping Queens for 6+ table play with real decisions.
- Uno: The luck-based default; Sleeping Queens adds theme and tactics at a similar price.
- Exploding Kittens (this expansion): The other "take that" card game — Exploding Kittens for 7+ party mayhem; Sleeping Queens for the younger, storybook crowd.
Care
Keep dry; store flat to avoid warped cards.
Buying traps & CPSC recalls
- No CPSC recall found (2026-09-20 search).
- Trap: card-count listings (79 vs. 89) — buy the current Gamewright edition; don't chase a specific count.
- Trap: sold-out observed listing — check multiple retailers; it's a staple, not a rarity.
Additional voices
- Family reviewers: the "6-year-old can beat a parent" reputation; grandparent-gift staple.
Spec gap-fill
- Current-edition card count (79 vs. 89): UNVERIFIED — resolve by edition on gamewright.com.
- Box dimensions/weight: UNVERIFIED.