- BGG rank
- BGG #11,468
- BGG rating
- 5.8
Ramses II
- 1–5 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 1.3/5
- 1997
- BGG rank
- BGG #30,126
- BGG rating
- 5.3
Ali Baba
2002
Rules assistance for Ali Baba
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–4 players
- 30 min
- 5+
- Complexity 1.0/5
Rules assistant for Ali Baba
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Ali Baba is a board game released in 2002 for 2–4 players, 30 minutes per game, and ages 5 and up. It was designed by Gunter Baars and its main mechanics are Push Your Luck and Memory.
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About the game
User review: The treasure cards are placed face down in their slots as nine stacks of four cards. The lid is placed on top of them. The lid has nine dials. Each dial has one of six symbols showing. To access the treasure cards beneath the lid the players alternate turns to twist the dials to show the combination of symbols which match the genie card that is in play. When the genie card has been matched, the player may take as many treasure cards as desired. If a player finds a snake card among the treasure cards taken then the player forfeits all treasure cards taken that turn. Whenever a player is done taking treasure cards a new genie card is put in play and the game continues. The game ends when the final genie card is out of play or the final snake has been found. The player with the highest total in treasure cards is the winner. The game is in German, French, and Spanish. This game is also published in an English version from Ravensburger as "Open Sesame".
Categories
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Ravensburger AG
Questions and answers
Ali Baba supports 2–4 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for Ali Baba is 30 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists Ali Baba for ages 5 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Ali Baba has a complexity rating of 1.0 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Ali Baba belongs to these categories: Children's Game, Memory, and Novel-based. Its main mechanics are Push Your Luck and Memory. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of Ali Baba are: Gunter Baars. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists Ali Baba as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.