How it plays
Everyone holds a face-down stack of cards. Taking turns, players lay their top card face up on the pile and name the vegetable: tomato, lettuce, cauliflower or pepper. If the previous card shows the same vegetable, or if it has just been named, the player has to lie. Whoever lays one of the 16 cockroach cards calls out “cockroach”; its vegetable becomes taboo, and play continues on a second pile. Anyone who makes a wrong call, stutters or hesitates for more than three seconds picks up all the cards played. The first player with no cards left wins.
What it can help develop
At the sight of a tomato, “tomato” immediately springs to mind. Much as in the Stroop test, this answer often has to be suppressed before it slips out: impulse control under time pressure. Before every call, players have to check: what is on top, what was called last, what is taboo? The last call cannot be seen; it has to be kept in working memory and constantly replaced. Whether the truth or a lie is required is decided afresh with every card, which calls for cognitive flexibility.
Especially suitable for
- Mixed groups from age 6, where adults stumble too
- Playful practice in holding back and switching
- On the go: small box, quick to explain
Less suitable for
- Children who freeze under time pressure or when they have to speak
- Calm, tactical game nights
Our verdict
Cockroach Salad is a worthwhile choice for family groups with children from age 6, where adults have hardly any advantage, and as playful practice in holding back and in switching between truth and lies. Its strengths are the rules, which can be explained in a few minutes, the high laughter factor and the small box for playing on the go. Its limitation is the hectic pace: anyone who is quickly thrown by time pressure or by having to speak will enjoy it less, and games can drag on.
Getting started
- Before the first game, make the lying rule clear: players lie when the vegetable can be seen on the pile, has just been named or is taboo.
- Also make clear what counts as a mistake: a wrong word, stuttering, a filler sound such as “um” or hesitating for more than three seconds. The player then picks up all the cards played.
In detail
Variants and player count
According to Drei Magier, Cockroach Salad is intended for 2 to 6 people from age 6 and takes 30 minutes; the Spiel des Jahres jury gives about 20 minutes, Luding 10 to 20 minutes. According to the 2023 rules, the game was designed by Jacques Zeimet and has 128 cards, including 16 cockroach cards that make a vegetable taboo. Players lay the top card of their stack and name a vegetable; they have to lie if it can be seen on top of the pile, has just been named or is taboo. A wrong word, stuttering, a filler sound such as “um” or hesitating for more than three seconds count as mistakes; the player then picks up all the cards played.
What reviewers say
The Spiel des Jahres jury lists Cockroach Salad on the 2008 recommendation list; according to Luding, it took 4th place in the À la carte award of Fairplay magazine in 2008. Reich der Spiele finds the rules explained in three minutes and the game hectic and turbulent. spieletest.at notes a high laughter factor and no advantage for adults, but also a high level of hectic pace; according to this review, games often last longer than stated. Cliquenabend notes a high fun factor and hardly any strategy; without the cockroach cards, the game is also suitable for children, according to Cliquenabend.
How it compares
Halli Galli (from age 6, 2 to 6 people, about 15 minutes) shares the age, the player count, impulse control as well as perception and speed with Cockroach Salad. Instead of flexibility, Halli Galli has numbers and arithmetic. Halli Galli is less suited to children who cannot yet count to five with confidence. Taco Kitten Pizza (from age 4, 2 to 6 people, about 5 minutes) shares the player count, impulse control as well as perception and speed with Cockroach Salad. Flexibility is not among the skill areas of Taco Kitten Pizza. Cockroach Salad suits mixed groups from age 6, in which adults stumble too, and playing on the go; it is less suited to children who freeze under time pressure or when they have to speak.
Sources
- Drei Magier: Kakerlakensalat (publisher’s page, in German)
- Schmidt Spiele / Drei Magier: Kakerlakensalat rules (PDF, 2023)
- Spiel des Jahres: Kakerlakensalat (jury, in German)
- Luding: Kakerlakensalat (game database, in German)
- Reich der Spiele: review (in German)
- spieletest.at: review (in German)
- Cliquenabend: review (in German)
Frequently asked questions
What age is Cockroach Salad suitable for?
Cockroach Salad is recommended from age 6. A child is ready when they do not freeze even under time pressure and enjoy joining in with the calls. If a child gets stuck at first, you can start by playing without the cockroach cards.
How long does a game take and how many people can play?
A game takes about 30 minutes, but according to one review it can drag on. The game is for 2 to 6 people, who play against each other, and the first player with no cards left in hand wins.
What skills can Cockroach Salad help develop?
Cockroach Salad can help develop impulse control, flexibility as well as perception and speed. Anyone who sees a tomato wants to name it immediately and often has to hold back, as in the Stroop test. On top of this, players switch between truth and lies afresh with every card; hesitating for more than three seconds counts as a mistake.
Is Cockroach Salad too hectic for six-year-olds?
That depends on the child. One review names the hectic pace as a limitation: depending on their temperament, some six-year-olds find it too much. Another review considers the game suitable for all age groups from 6, and according to a third, it also suits children when played without the cockroach cards.
