
- BGG rank
- BGG #24,942
- BGG rating
- 5.8
TOKYO COIN LAUNDRY
- 1–6 players
- 5–60 min
- Complexity 2.0/5
- 2019

2019
Rules assistance for Cactus
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
For 2 players

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Cactus is a board game released in 2019 for 2–4 players, 10–30 minutes per game, and ages 6 and up. It was designed by Naotaka Shimamoto and Jordan Draper and its main mechanics are Push Your Luck.
Cactus is a dexterity game that has players competing for flowers in the desert by stacking strange colored shapes onto cactus! Cactus shares around half of the pieces with tribe (plus many new), a desert re-theme, new color scheme, around a 50% size reduction, and new die. —description from the publisher
Cactus 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 Cactus is 10–30 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 Cactus for ages 6 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.
Cactus 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.
Cactus belongs to these categories: Animals, Party Game, and Action / Dexterity. Its main mechanics are Push Your Luck. 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 Cactus are: Naotaka Shimamoto and Jordan Draper. 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 Cactus 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.