Licensed games based on the 1975 film

Jaws Board Games: Ravensburger Jaws, The Game of Jaws and More

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There are at least five licensed Jaws board games: Ravensburger's 2019 Jaws, Ideal's 1975 The Game of Jaws, Operation: Jaws 50th Anniversary Edition, a Funkoverse set and a Ginger Fox card game. Each game below lists players, age and play time. One section explains which Jaws is which.

  • 5 games
  • 1975 to 2025
  • 2 to 4 players

You'll need a bigger table. Pick a game below to see how it plays.

Search for a Jaws board game and you’ll find some very different boxes: a hobby strategy game, a toy shark with a hook, a dexterity game with tweezers, a skirmish set, and a card game. The page below sorts them by how they play. For more creature features on the table, visit the horror board games hub.

Looking for the Jaws board game? Ravensburger’s 2019 Jaws is the hobby game.

Start here: three Jaws games for different tables

A plastic shark and a hook point to the 1975 Ideal game.

  • Strategy night

    Jaws

    2 to 4 players, about 60 minutes and ages 12+. One player is the shark; the others play Brody, Hooper and Quint across two acts.

    Difficulty2 out of 5
    Time to explain3 out of 5about 15 min
    Player experience2 out of 5
    Geek Level6 / 10Has a favorite side character
    How we rate

  • Quick card game

    Jaws: You're Gonna Need a Bigger Boat Mini Movie Game

    2 to 4 players, ages 10+ and 10 to 20 minutes. One player takes the shark against the Orca's crew in this card game.

    Difficulty1 out of 5
    Time to explain1 out of 5about 5 min
    Player experience1 out of 5
    Geek Level4 / 10Owns the soundtrack
    How we rate

  • For collectors and nostalgia fans

    The Game of Jaws

    Ideal's 1975 dexterity game is out of print, but NECA released a 50th anniversary edition in 2025.

    Difficulty1 out of 5
    Time to explain1 out of 5about 3 min
    Player experience1 out of 5
    Geek Level4 / 10Owns the soundtrack
    How we rate

Ravensburger’s Jaws leads the list, followed by other releases in order of how many readers ask about them. Player counts range from 2 to 4 for Operation: Jaws to a strict two for the Funkoverse set, so check each card before planning a group night.

Ravensburger Jaws, Operation: Jaws 50th Anniversary Edition, Funkoverse and more Jaws games

Short on time? The Ginger Fox card game runs 10 to 20 minutes.

Showing all 5

Jaws

  • 2019
  • 2-4 players
  • 60 minutes
  • Ages 12+

The hobby-style Jaws board game pits one player as the hidden shark against the crew. Its two halves mirror the film's structure, with a different game in each.

How it plays

Act 1 takes place on Amity Island. The shark secretly records its movement as the crew searches, saves swimmers and attaches barrels. In Act 2, the action shifts to the Orca: the shark secretly picks a resurfacing spot, and the crew tries to predict it.

The film or show connection

The shark player faces Brody, Hooper and Quint. Flip the board to go from the island hunt to the showdown on the Orca.

Difficulty2 out of 5
Time to explain3 out of 5about 15 min
Player experience2 out of 5
Geek Level6 / 10Has a favorite side character
How we rate

Type strategy board game

  • one vs many
  • hidden movement
  • two acts
Publisher
Ravensburger
Designers
Prospero Hall and Brian Kirk
Show detailsHide details

Source 1 (ravensburger.co.uk)

The Game of Jaws

  • 1975
  • 2-4 players
  • Ages 6+

More toy-shelf classic than board game: pull junk from a plastic shark's mouth with a gaff hook and hope its jaws stay open.

How it plays

Take turns using the hook to lift junk from the shark's open mouth. The pieces help hold its rubber-band jaws open. If they snap shut on your turn, you lose.

The film or show connection

A 1975 tie-in featuring a plastic great white shark and junk pieces such as a tire, camera, anchor and skull.

Difficulty1 out of 5
Time to explain1 out of 5about 3 min
Player experience1 out of 5
Geek Level4 / 10Owns the soundtrack
How we rate

Type dexterity game Out of print

  • dexterity
  • vintage
  • kids
  • collectible
Publisher
Ideal
Show detailsHide details

Editions and expansions

  • The Game of Jaws (Ideal, 1975)
  • The Game of Jaws 50th Anniversary Edition (NECA, 2025)

Source 1 (en.wikipedia.org) Source 2 (jawsmovie.com) Source 3 (store.necaonline.com)

Operation: Jaws 50th Anniversary Edition

  • 2025
  • 2-4 players
  • 30-45 minutes
  • Ages 10+

Operation with a shark: play Chief Brody and remove film-themed items from a toothy mouth that lights up when you slip.

How it plays

Draw a Boat card to see which item to remove, then use the tweezers without setting off the shark. Slip, and the player with the Bigger Boat card gets a try. The richest player wins when the final operation succeeds.

The film or show connection

Items include a dog's collar, chum buckets and beach-closed signs. Brody protects beachgoers on Amity Island.

Difficulty1 out of 5
Time to explain1 out of 5about 3 min
Player experience1 out of 5
Geek Level3 / 10Knows the main characters
How we rate

Type dexterity game In print

  • dexterity
  • tweezers
  • family
  • in print
Publisher
The Op (USAopoly)
Show detailsHide details

Source 1 (theop.games) Source 2 (shop.asmodee.ca)

Funkoverse Strategy Game: Jaws 100

  • 2020
  • 2 players
  • 20-60 minutes
  • Ages 10+

A standalone, two-player skirmish game in the Funkoverse line, starring Quint and the shark. It can also be combined with other Funkoverse sets.

How it plays

Choose one of your characters each turn and take two actions: move, challenge an opponent or use an ability. Used abilities go on cooldown. Play scenarios to score points.

The film or show connection

Quint and the shark are in the set. Brody and Hooper are not in the box.

Difficulty2 out of 5
Time to explain2 out of 5about 10 min
Player experience2 out of 5
Geek Level5 / 10Quotes the best lines
How we rate

Type miniatures game

  • two players
  • skirmish
  • expandable
  • collectible
Publisher
Funko Games
Designers
Prospero Hall

Jaws: You're Gonna Need a Bigger Boat Mini Movie Game

  • 2-4 players
  • 10-20 minutes
  • Ages 10+

A compact card game in a retro VHS-style box. The shark goes after the boat while the Orca crew fights back.

How it plays

One player takes the shark, trying to sink the boat. The others work together as the crew to stop it. Quick card turns let players attack or defend. The box holds 45 cards and 13 tokens.

The film or show connection

A one-versus-all card game that pits the shark against the Orca's crew.

Difficulty1 out of 5
Time to explain1 out of 5about 5 min
Player experience1 out of 5
Geek Level4 / 10Owns the soundtrack
How we rate

Type card game

  • quick
  • one vs many
  • card game
Publisher
Ginger Fox
Show detailsHide details

Source 2 (brandsuntapped.com)

Compare Jaws board games by player count, play time and age

Jaws games compared by year, players, play time, age, type and print status
GameYearPlayersPlay timeAgesTypeIn print
Jaws20192-460 minutes12+strategy board gameNot listed
The Game of Jaws19752-4Not listed6+dexterity gameNo
Operation: Jaws 50th Anniversary Edition20252-430-45 minutes10+dexterity gameYes
Funkoverse Strategy Game: Jaws 1002020220-60 minutes10+miniatures gameNot listed
Jaws: You're Gonna Need a Bigger Boat Mini Movie GameNot listed2-410-20 minutes10+card gameNot listed

Jaws board game timeline, 1975 to 2025

Jaws games have surfaced in waves: the 1975 release, the 2019 hobby game and the 2025 anniversary edition.

Looking for the Jaws board game? Ravensburger’s 2019 Jaws is the hobby game.

  • 1975

    Spielberg's Jaws opens, and Ideal releases The Game of Jaws, where players fish junk out of a toy shark's mouth.

    Source 1 (jawsmovie.com)

  • 2019

    Ravensburger releases Jaws, a one-versus-many game designed by Prospero Hall with Brian Kirk.

  • 2020

    Funko Games releases Funkoverse Strategy Game: Jaws 100, featuring Quint and the shark.

  • 2025

    For the film's 50th anniversary, NECA releases The Game of Jaws 50th Anniversary Edition, while The Op releases Operation: Jaws.

    Source 1 (boingboing.net)

Two different games share the plain title Jaws, so the comparison below gives you a quick way to identify each one. If you’re buying a gift, the details matter more than the name on the box. The strategy game has its own explainer: the Ravensburger Jaws board game.

Ravensburger Jaws and The Game of Jaws: two different Jaws games

Searches for a jaws board game can turn up at least four separate products.

Ravensburger Jaws (2019)

A strategy board game for 2 to 4 players, ages 12+, that takes about 60 minutes. One player is the shark; the others play Brody, Hooper and Quint.

Ideal's The Game of Jaws (1975)

A dexterity game with a plastic shark and gaff hook. Pull junk from its mouth before the jaws snap shut. The original box lists 2 to 4 players, ages 6+.

NECA's 50th anniversary edition (2025)

A reissue with a 15-inch shark and over 15 accessories. A review lists 2 to 4 players and a 14+ box, plus a different jaw trigger.

Operation: Jaws (2025)

The Op's Operation edition comes with tweezers and a shark mouth that lights up. For 2 to 4 players, ages 10+, 30 to 45 minutes.

A quick way to tell them apart

A plastic shark and hook point to the Ideal game or its NECA reissue. A double-sided board means Ravensburger; tweezers mean Operation.

Ravensburger’s two-act structure helps the game follow the film rather than play like a generic chase. How act one ends shapes act two, carrying the island hunt into the boat fight. For a different take on one player facing a goal unlike everyone else’s, try Disney Villainous.

For kids, Operation: Jaws is for ages 10+.

How Ravensburger's Jaws retells the film in two acts

The game has an island hunt and a boat showdown. Each half can also be played on its own.

  1. Act 1: Amity Island

    The shark player tracks its movement in secret. The crew searches the island, saves swimmers and attaches barrels.

  2. Between the acts

    How Act 1 ends shapes Act 2, so the island hunt sets up the fight that follows.

  3. Act 2: aboard the Orca

    Flip the board. The shark secretly chooses one of three resurfacing spots, while the crew tries to predict where it will appear.

  4. Short on time?

    A rules review says you can play either act as its own shorter game.

The Gloomhaven spin-off is here to clear up a common mix-up in search results. If you’re looking for dungeon crawls and fantasy campaigns, the fantasy board games hub is a better starting point than a page about a shark.

Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion isn't a Jaws game

The name can cause confusion, but this is a fantasy dungeon game.

Short on time? The Ginger Fox card game runs 10 to 20 minutes.

What it is. Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion is a 2020 standalone cooperative campaign from Cephalofair Games, set in the Gloomhaven fantasy world.

Where the name comes from. Jaws of the Lion is the mercenary group players portray. It has nothing to do with Spielberg's film.

Jaws board game facts

A plastic shark and a hook point to the 1975 Ideal game.

  • Play Ravensburger's Jaws as a full two-act game, or run either act by itself for a shorter game.

  • In act 2 of Ravensburger's Jaws, the shark secretly chooses one of three resurfacing spots as the crew tries to guess where it will appear.

  • The 1975 Game of Jaws is a dexterity toy. Players use a gaff hook to pull junk from the shark's mouth without setting off its spring-loaded jaws.

    Source 1 (jawsmovie.com)

  • In Operation: Jaws, you play Chief Brody and remove items such as a dog's collar and chum buckets. Make a mistake, and the shark's mouth lights up.

    Source 1 (theop.games)

  • The Funkoverse Jaws set includes Quint and the shark, but not Brody or Hooper.

  • Ravensburger's Jaws credits Prospero Hall and Brian Kirk, and the shark uses hidden movement in the first act.

Jaws board game questions, answered

Is there a Jaws board game?

Yes, there are several. Ravensburger's Jaws (2019) is the strategy board game, while Ideal's The Game of Jaws (1975) is a dexterity game. You can also find Operation: Jaws, a Funkoverse set and a Ginger Fox card game.

How do you play the Ravensburger Jaws board game?

One player secretly controls the shark; the others play Brody, Hooper and Quint. Act 1 is a hunt on Amity Island, followed by a showdown aboard the Orca in act 2.

How many players can play the Jaws board game?

Ravensburger's Jaws plays 2 to 4. Operation: Jaws and the Ginger Fox card game also list 2 to 4 players, while the Funkoverse set is for 2.

Is Ravensburger's Jaws the same game as The Game of Jaws?

No. Ravensburger's Jaws (2019) is a strategy board game for ages 12+. Ideal's The Game of Jaws (1975) is a dexterity game with a plastic shark and a hook.

Is there a Jaws game with a plastic shark and a hook?

Yes. In Ideal's The Game of Jaws (1975), players hook junk from a toy shark's mouth. NECA released a 50th anniversary edition in 2025 with a larger shark.

Is there an Operation game based on Jaws?

Yes. The Op's Operation: Jaws 50th Anniversary Edition is for 2 to 4 players, ages 10+, and takes 30 to 45 minutes.

Is there a Jaws Monopoly?

Fan wikis list a Jaws edition of Monopoly, but we couldn't confirm a publisher, release year or player count, so we don't cover it as a game here.

Is there a Jaws card game?

Yes. Ginger Fox's Jaws Mini Movie Game is a one-versus-many card game for 2 to 4 players, ages 10+, and takes 10 to 20 minutes.

Is there a Jaws game from Funko?

Yes. Funkoverse Strategy Game: Jaws 100 is a standalone, two-player skirmish game featuring Quint and the shark. It takes 20 to 60 minutes.

Is Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion based on the Jaws film?

No. It’s a Cephalofair fantasy campaign game from 2020. The name comes from a mercenary group in its world.

What age is the Jaws board game for?

Ravensburger’s Jaws is for ages 12+. Operation: Jaws and the Ginger Fox card game are for ages 10+, while the 1975 Game of Jaws was boxed for ages 6+.

Can you play Ravensburger’s Jaws in a shorter version?

Yes. A review of the rules says you can play either act on its own for a shorter game.

Short on time? The Ginger Fox card game runs 10 to 20 minutes.

Looking for the Jaws board game? Ravensburger’s 2019 Jaws is the hobby game.

Sources

  1. Ravensburger: Jaws ravensburger.co.uk
  2. JAWS Archive: Ideal Game of Jaws jawsmovie.com
  3. The Op: Operation Jaws theop.games
  4. Cephalofair: Gloomhaven Jaws of the Lion cephalofair.com