The original version of Pecking Order is played with standard cards - one suit for each player and another to represent 13 perches. Players take turns playing a card at a perch; if a card is played where there is an opposing card, the lower card is discarded, with ties going to the defender. Only one of the cards is revealed - if the defender is already revealed the attacker remains hidden, otherwise the attacker is revealed. The only other rule is that the ace beats the king but is otherwise low. The player controlling the greatest total value of perches wins the game.
The boxed versions of the game have a number of changes:
Players have cards numbered 1-12 and a jaguar, which has special rules
There are only ten perches, three of which have special rules
The defending card is always revealed
A game consists of four rounds
In the 2024 version Monstrolicious, players lead teams of hungry monsters with one goal: to conquer the most tempting desserts from a lavish buffet.