As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Full details on our Affiliate Disclosure page.
Sorry! vs Trouble: both are classic Hasbro race games where you move four pawns around a track, knock opponents back to start and try to get everyone home first. The big difference is how you move. Sorry! uses a deck of cards with special moves, so you make real choices every turn. Trouble uses the Pop-O-Matic dice bubble, so turns are fast and luck decides more. Quick answer: pick Trouble for preschoolers and very young kids, and pick Sorry! for kids around 6 and up who are ready for a little strategy.
Our pick for most families: Sorry! (Hasbro)
Sorry! gives kids real decisions without long rules, and it stays fun for parents. It costs about $22. For the youngest players, Trouble costs about $10.
Price band: $20–$30 (about $22) · Check today’s price on Amazon
Sorry! vs Trouble at a glance
| Sorry! | Trouble | |
|---|---|---|
| Players | 2 to 4 | 2 to 4 |
| Ages on the box | 6 and up | 5 and up |
| How you move | Draw a card | Press the Pop-O-Matic bubble to roll the die |
| Getting out of Start | Draw a 1 or a 2 | Roll a 6 |
| Choices per turn | Often several: which pawn, split a 7, swap with an 11 | Usually just which peg to move |
| Knocking opponents back | Land on them, slide into them, or play a Sorry! card | Land on them |
| Typical game length | About 30 to 45 minutes | About 20 to 30 minutes |
| Price | about $22 | about $10 |
How Sorry! plays
Each player has four pawns in a Start circle. On your turn you draw a card and move one pawn by that number. Most cards move forward, but several are special:
- 1 and 2 are the only cards that get a pawn out of Start. A 2 also lets you draw again.
- 4 moves a pawn backward four spaces, which can be a shortcut to your Home zone.
- 7 can be split between two pawns, such as 4 and 3.
- 10 moves forward ten or backward one.
- 11 moves forward eleven or lets you swap places with an opponent’s pawn.
- The Sorry! card takes a pawn from your Start, puts it on an opponent’s space and sends their pawn back to their Start.
Slides of your opponents’ colors add a second way to bump pawns. Land on the start of one and you whoosh to the end, sending any pawn in the way back home. Pawns are safe once they reach your colored Safety Zone. Get all four pawns Home first and you win. For the full card list, see our guide on how to play Sorry!.
How Trouble plays
Each player has four pegs in their Home area. On your turn, press the Pop-O-Matic dome to roll the die inside. You need a 6 to move a peg onto the track, and rolling a 6 also earns another roll. Move one peg the number shown. Land on an opponent’s peg and it goes back to its Home. The first player to get all four pegs around the board and into their Finish line wins.
The dome is the star of the show for young kids. There are no dice to lose under the couch, the pop is satisfying and the turns are quick. Our guide on how to play Trouble covers the details, including what to do with exact rolls at the end.
Which game is better for young kids?
Trouble wins for ages 4 to 6. The only decision is which peg to move, the rules fit on one card, and the game moves quickly. Kids can count spaces and practice taking turns without feeling lost.
Sorry! starts to shine around age 6 or 7. Kids need to read numbers on cards, remember what the special cards do and sometimes choose between two moves. That is a good step up, and it is the game parents tend to enjoy more.
Which game has more strategy?
Sorry! does. With a 7 you can split a move to protect one pawn and advance another. With an 11 you decide whether to jump ahead or swap with a leader. With a 10 you can step back one space to line up a slide. In Trouble, the roll decides almost everything, and strategy is mostly choosing which peg to risk.
Which game causes more arguments?
Both games are built around sending other players back to start, so expect some groans either way. Sorry! can feel more personal because the Sorry! card lets you pick exactly whose pawn to bump. If you have a sibling rivalry at your table, Trouble’s random rolls can feel fairer, since nobody chose to hurt anyone.
Other editions worth knowing
- Classic Trouble from Winning Moves has retro artwork and the original style of Pop-O-Matic. It costs about $21.
- Hasbro also sells themed versions of both games. Check the age range before buying, because some add extra rules.
Sorry! or Trouble: our pick by age
Buy Trouble for preschoolers and the first family game in the house. Buy Sorry! for kids who can handle a few special rules and for families who want a game that grown-ups will not mind playing. Many families end up owning both, since together they cost less than a single larger board game.
For more ideas at this age, see the best game gifts for kids and our list of cooperative board games for kids.
Sorry! vs Trouble FAQ
Is Sorry! or Trouble better for a 5-year-old?
Trouble. It needs no reading and only asks which peg to move. Sorry! is usually a better fit from about age 6.
Do you need a 6 to start in Trouble?
Yes. A peg can only leave Home on a roll of 6, and a 6 also earns another roll.
How do you get out of Start in Sorry!?
Draw a 1 or a 2. A Sorry! card can also bring a pawn out by bumping an opponent.
How many players can play Sorry! and Trouble?
Both games are for 2 to 4 players.
