• Operation Cuckoo two-player board game box by Jolly Dutch
  • Operation Cuckoo board game with blue and red wooden eggs and bird pieces set up on the nest board
  • Operation Cuckoo box with nest game board and blue and red cuckoo and reed warbler playing pieces
  • Close-up of Operation Cuckoo blue and red bird pieces and wooden eggs on the nest board
  • Operation Cuckoo game cover showing two cuckoo birds competing for control of the nest
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Jolly Dutch Productions

Operation Cuckoo Board Game

Operation Cuckoo Board Game

R 549.99
R 549.99
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Product overview

Two cuckoos. One nest. Let the battle begin.

A tactical two-player duel of forced captures, clever sacrifices and multiple paths to victory.

Outmanoeuvre your rival across the battle nest as eggs, reed warblers and cuckoos clash in a quick head-to-head strategy game.

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Returns & Support

We want you to feel happy and confident with your order. Returns may be requested within 7 days of receiving your parcel, provided the item meets our return conditions. If your order arrives damaged, defective, or incorrect, please contact us within 48 hours and we’ll gladly help arrange a replacement, exchange, or refund at no extra cost.

Once approved, refunds are usually processed within 5–7 working days to the original payment method. View our Returns & Refund Policy for full details, or Contact Us. We’re always happy to help.


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About this product

Two cuckoos. One nest. Let the battle begin.

A tactical two-player duel of forced captures, clever sacrifices and multiple paths to victory.

Outmanoeuvre your rival across the battle nest as eggs, reed warblers and cuckoos clash in a quick head-to-head strategy game.

Product Description

Welcome to the battle nest! You have hatched in an unfamiliar nest surrounded by eggs that definitely do not belong to you, and another cuckoo has the very same idea about taking control.

In Operation Cuckoo, two players command opposing groups of eggs, reed warblers and cuckoos across the nest. Each piece moves differently: eggs move one space, while reed warblers and cuckoos can move one or two spaces in a straight line. Positioning matters even more because when a capture is available, you must take it, and captures can even be made backwards. 

There is more than one way to claim the nest. You can eliminate all of your own pieces except your cuckoo, capture the opposing cuckoo, reach an opponent's homebase with your cuckoo, or lure one of your opponent's other pieces into your homebase. 

Once you know the standard setup, flip to the advanced side of the board for a more challenging starting formation and a more interactive contest. 

Looking for a more compact version?
Discover Operation Cuckoo Travel Edition, featuring smaller playing pieces and a one-sided game board for a more portable way to play.

View the Operation Cuckoo Rulebook (PDF)

Why You’ll Love It

  • Tactical two-player battle: Every move can change which pieces are vulnerable and what your opponent is forced to do next.
  • Forced captures add tension: If you can capture an opposing piece, you must do so.
  • Different movement rules: Eggs, reed warblers and cuckoos each create different positioning possibilities.
  • Four ways to win: Victory is not limited to simply capturing the opposing cuckoo.
  • Standard and advanced play: The double-sided board introduces a more challenging advanced starting arrangement once you know the game.
  • Quick head-to-head play: Games take around 15–30 minutes.

Quick Details

  • Publisher: Jolly Dutch
  • Designers: Dennis Harmsen & Esmée Spaargaren
  • Players: 2
  • Age: 10+
  • Play time: 15–30 minutes
  • Game type: Tactical two-player board game
  • Game pieces: Eggs, reed warblers and cuckoos
  • Rules: Dutch, English, French and German
  • Illustrator: Gustavo Furstenau
  • Graphic designer: Vicky Trouerbach

Good to Know

  • Four winning conditions: Different routes to victory reward careful positioning and planning.
  • Best of three: Operation Cuckoo is played in sets, with the first player to win twice becoming the overall winner. 
  • Advanced board: The starred side uses a different starting layout while keeping the same rules. 
  • Eco-conscious production: Jolly Dutch lists biodegradable plastic, biodegradable ink and glue, FSC certification, European production and CO₂ compensation for transport.

What’s in the Box

  • 1 game board
  • 34 wooden pieces
  • Dutch rules
  • English rules
  • French rules
  • German rules