- BGG rank
- BGG #5,125
- BGG rating
- 7.4
KINGs: TRICKTAKERs
- 2–5 players
- 30–40 min
- Complexity 2.7/5
- 2023
- BGG rank
- BGG #5,288
- BGG rating
- 6.7
Anansi
2016
Rules assistance for Anansi
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 3–5 players
- 25–35 min
- 10+
- Complexity 1.7/5
For 3 players
Rules assistant for Anansi
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Anansi is a board game released in 2016 for 3–5 players, 25–35 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Cyril Blondel and Jim Dratwa and its main mechanics are Trick-taking, Multi-Use Cards, and Predictive Bid.
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About the game
Some say Anansi is a trickster, but he is a spider for sure and sometimes even a man. Let me tell you why he is also known as the "Keeper of Stories": One day, Anansi decided to gather all stories and become the wisest of all. After many years, he finally had all the stories in the world, but poor Anansi did not feel any wiser. Eventually he realized that true wisdom is not achieved by keeping knowledge to yourself, so he decided to share his stories and inspire people with them — and believe it or not, that was how this game was made! In the trick-taking card game Anansi, you have to be smart about which tricks you are trying to get. Each trick represents a story, but stories untold are worth only a little. If you can acquire followers — by playing a card not to the trick, but for its indicated number of followers — you can match up your followers with stories to inspire them, and inspiring all your followers should always be your goal because this grants you the trickster's favor and sweet bonus points. Note that cards played to gain followers can affect the trump suit, which means that the trump can change several times in a game. It is up to you to adapt to the new situation! Anansi is in the same game line as Spicy, with the game box and card backs being decorated with a special metallic print in purple. For such a rich and cultural theme, publisher HeidelBÄR Games paired up with Nigerian artist Dayo Baiyegunhi and South African artist Emmanuel Mdlalose to create a unique and colorful look for the story world of Anansi.
Categories
Designers
Publishers
- HeidelBÄR Games
- Blackrock Games
Questions and answers
Anansi supports 3–5 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 Anansi is 25–35 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 Anansi for ages 10 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.
Anansi has a complexity rating of 1.7 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.
Anansi belongs to these categories: Card Game, Mythology, and Environmental. Its main mechanics are Trick-taking, Multi-Use Cards, and Predictive Bid. 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 Anansi are: Cyril Blondel and Jim Dratwa. 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 Anansi 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.