The object of the game is to build the largest pile of porcupines possible. The winner is the last person to add a porcupine to the pile without it collapsing.

Players take turns to place one porcupine to the pile at a time. The first three porcupines must be placed in a row to create a base. A porcupine cannot be laid on its (printed) side. A player may use one hand only to place a porcupine and must not touch the stack with that hand.