
- BGG rank
- BGG #21,684
- BGG rating
- 7.2
Rise of the Exiled
- 2–12 players
- 5–15 min
- Complexity 2.0/5
- 2018

2005
Rules assistance for Banzai!
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
For 3 players

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Banzai! is a board game released in 2005 for 3–12 players, 20 minutes per game, and ages 7 and up. It was designed by Tom Berjoan and its main mechanics are Area Movement and Closed Drafting.
Banzai! Le jeu qui rend Fu... 12 families battle for title Banzai Master. They will need strategy and also very quick reflexes in order to be successful.. The game consists of a number of turns in which one player and his family is eliminated from the game. Only the quickest player should be the Banzai Master. During one turn, players change cards simultaneously, but not chaotically. By using particular combinations of cards, they can make announcements, which have effect on the position of the pawns in the game. The number of pawns is smaller than number of players and when any player announce Banzai!, everyone reaches for his pawn. Those who have no pawn, are eliminated for this game. Advanced rules come with more announcements.
Banzai! supports 3–12 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 Banzai! 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 Banzai! for ages 7 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.
Banzai! has a complexity rating of 1.1 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.
Banzai! belongs to these categories: Card Game, Action / Dexterity, and Real-time. Its main mechanics are Area Movement and Closed Drafting. 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 Banzai! are: Tom Berjoan. 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 Banzai! 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.