Programmer's Nightmare

Programmer's Nightmare 1998

Design Tom Jolly Publisher Jolly Games
5.6 /10
BGG rating
#26602
BGG rank
2.5
Weight
2–6
Players
2
Best at
20
Minutes
12
Age

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Expansions & Promos

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About the Game

In this game, players take turns laying out program instructions with "ownership bits" on the cards they play, creating a long line of interrelating program instructions that become more complicated as the program builds. Finally, a player will play a RUN card and set the program running. Who will survive the convolutions of the program? That's anyone's guess; each player decides if and how their own program instructions will function!

There is a "Version 2" of the game in the rules; the program is dealt out at random in a loop, the players take turns claiming instructions that they think will let them win the game. Much of this game's strategy is based upon the initial selection of Program Instructions. Version two involves much more strategy and less luck.

Filed Under

Categories
Mechanics
BGG ratings
46 · geek rating 5.50
BGG data
refreshed Sep 7, 2026