Board Games
How to play Sorry!
Move all four pawns from Start to Home before the other players.
QUICK ANSWER
How do you play Sorry!?
Draw one card and follow its movement instruction. Use a 1 or 2 card to leave Start. Bump opposing pawns back to Start by landing on them. Move every pawn exactly into Home to win.
Jump to the step-by-step rules ↓EDITOR'S TABLE NOTES
Is Sorry! a good fit for your group?
This game works especially well for players who enjoy visible choices, turn-by-turn planning, and learning around a shared table; the listed 2–4-player range and 30–45 min playing time should also fit the group. Before setting up, decide whether that matches the experience your group wants today.
Rules version covered here
This guide explains the standard beginner version. Component names, board layouts, and special powers can change between editions, so the instructions packaged with your copy settle edition-specific questions. For Sorry!, pay particular attention to the stated setup and ending condition below.
QUICK VIDEO GUIDE
Learn Sorry! in under a minute
About this video
This original mini lesson covers what you need, setup, normal play, the winning condition, and one beginner tip. Continue below for the complete written guide.
INTERACTIVE LEARN-TO-PLAY
Practice Sorry! before the first round
Walk through the setup, try a sample turn, and get a quick answer when play stalls.
Choose colors and place pawns in Start.
Shuffle the deck and choose the first player.
Playable example turn
Step 1 of 4
Draw one card and follow its movement instruction.
What should we do now?
Start with this action: Draw one card and follow its movement instruction.
Scoring and winning
Move every pawn exactly into Home to win.
Common dispute to prevent
Forgetting special card instructions. Agree on any edition-specific variation before the first turn.
The objective
Your goal is to move all four pawns from Start to Home before the other players. Before play begins, make sure every player can explain how the game ends and what determines the winner. That one check prevents many mid-game disagreements.
What you need
A Sorry board, cards, and four pawns per player. Lay out every required item before teaching the rules. If pieces, cards, controllers, or play space are missing, resolve that before the practice turn.
How to set up
- Choose colors and place pawns in Start.
- Shuffle the deck and choose the first player.
Setup check: Ask one player who did not arrange the game to compare the table, field, or screen with these steps. A fresh look often catches an incorrect starting position.
How to play: step by step
- Draw one card and follow its movement instruction.
- Use a 1 or 2 card to leave Start.
- Bump opposing pawns back to Start by landing on them.
- Move every pawn exactly into Home to win.
Example first round
A useful first-round walkthrough for Sorry! begins this way: Draw one card and follow its movement instruction. Next, use a 1 or 2 card to leave Start. Continue in normal turn order until the ending condition applies: move every pawn exactly into Home to win.
How scoring and winning work
- The result is determined by the guide's stated objective: Move all four pawns from Start to Home before the other players.
- The final step explains when play stops: Move every pawn exactly into Home to win.
- For the most common rules question, use this clarification consistently: No.
Useful variations
- For a first teaching game, play one open practice round and explain the reason for each legal move.
- For a shorter session, announce a stopping time before starting; 30–45 min is the normal planning range for Sorry!.
- When playing with beginners, demonstrate this strategy before scoring begins: Move more than one pawn into play.
Beginner strategies
- Move more than one pawn into play.
- Use backward movement to approach the safety zone when helpful.
Choose one of these ideas for the first game instead of trying to remember every strategy at once. Afterward, identify one decision that changed the result and one move you would test next time.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Forgetting special card instructions.
- Trying to enter Home without the exact count.
If an illegal move is discovered, pause and agree on the least disruptive correction. For casual play, consistency and a shared understanding matter more than reconstructing many turns.
Frequently asked questions
Can your own pawns share a space?
No.
What does Sorry do?
It replaces an opposing pawn with one of yours from Start.
Related board games guides
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