Little Endearment

Explore the picturesque estates and pastures of Regency England, win friendly pasture rivalries with tasty treats, and gather the most charming farm animals in an approachable, family-friendly introduction to the Endearment universe.

Little Endearment: Countryside Friends in Regency England (designed by Amy and Dusty Droz and published by Dux Somnium Games) reimagines the Jane Austen-inspired strategy mechanics of Endearment for younger players and families. Leaving behind high-society romance and complex worker placement, this title shifts perspective to a child’s view of the English countryside—where romance novels take a back seat to puppies, kittens, ponies, and ducks. The primary gameplay objective centers on estate exploration and animal collection: players travel to scenic farms and countryside locations, offer up favorite animal treats, and befriend the sweetest critters to be the first to amass 10 "Darling Points."

The primary mechanical hurdle stems from navigating simultaneous location choices and gentle bidding rivalries. Each turn, players secretly commit which farm or estate setting to visit before revealing their choices simultaneously. If you find yourself alone at a pasture, you automatically welcome that location's animal into your care. However, if two or more players arrive at the same spot, a friendly rivalry breaks out: players wager food cards from their hand (such as apples, carrots, or cheese), with the highest treat offer winning the animal card and its associated Darling Points. Leftover food varieties and animal traits yield endgame scoring bonuses, rewarding both round-to-round tactical bidding and long-term resource diversity. Designed for 2 to 4 players aged 5 and up, a complete match wraps up in a breezy 20 to 30 minutes. To win, you must anticipate which pastures rivals are targeting, manage your snack supply, and charm your way to 10 Darling Points.

Game Specs at a Glance:
Age Range: 5+ Years
Publisher: Dux Somnium Games
Play Time: 20-30 Minutes
Player Count: 2-4 Players
Complexity: Light (Simultaneous Action Selection, Bidding / Auction, Set Collection, Family Gateway)

What's in the Box?

• 1 Central Countryside Game Board
• 60 Illustrated Animal Cards
• 60 Food Cards
• 36 Setting / Location Cards
• 54 Cardboard Food Tokens
• 4 Custom Wooden Animal Pawns
• 4 Wooden Darling Point Trackers
• 1 Illustrated Rulebook