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YINSH
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- BGG rank
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- BGG rating
- 5.3
Balanx
1993
Rules assistance for Balanx
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with saved question history.
Rules assistant for Balanx
For 2 players
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Balanx is a board game released in 1993 for 2 players, 20 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Kris Burm.
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About the game
Balanx is a 2 player balancing game by Kris Burm. The game has a low plastic see-saw grid with spaced grooves. Players have 10 heavy glass marbles in black and white, the same as found in Abalone, and 2 small steel ball bearings. Players start with their marbles on the opposite side and corner of the grid and move them towards themselves forwards and sideways, but not diagonally. The trick is that before a player moves, they hold the balancing board down on their side, making the marbles roll along the grooves and changing the set up entirely. In addition, the steel balls run in side grooves, affecting the balance of the board and making the game very challenging. The winner is the first to get their balls across to their corner, but if any balls are left in the opponents corner to block a finish, you lose. Rules in English, French, Dutch and Swedish. Was awarded the title "Best Abstract Strategy Game" by Games Magazine in 1997.
Videos
Editions
- BalanxENFun Connection1993
Questions and answers
Balanx supports 2 players according to the catalogue. This is the publisher’s listed player count, so the game is designed for exactly that number of participants. Variants for other group sizes, if any, are described in the rulebook of your edition, so check it before setting up a different configuration.
The listed playing time for Balanx is 20 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 Balanx for ages 8 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.
Balanx has a complexity rating of 2.0 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.
Balanx belongs to these categories: Abstract Strategy. Categories describe the theme, setting and style of a game rather than its rules. Filter the catalogue by the same category to find similar games when you enjoyed Balanx and want something comparable for your next game night.
The credited designers of Balanx are: Kris Burm. 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 Balanx 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.