- BGG rank
- BGG #17,852
- BGG rating
- 6.1
Fish Stix
- 2–4 players
- 20 min
- Complexity 1.8/5
- 2009
- BGG rank
- BGG #21,435
- BGG rating
- 6.3
Color Stix
2011
Rules assistance for Color Stix
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–6 players
- 10 min
- 5+
- Complexity 1.2/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Color Stix
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Color Stix is a board game released in 2011 for 2–6 players, 10 minutes per game, and ages 5 and up. It was designed by Susan McKinley Ross and its main mechanics are Pattern Building.
Similar games
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,100
- BGG rating
- 6.8
Qwirkle
- 2–4 players
- 45 min
- Complexity 1.6/5
- 2006
- BGG rank
- BGG #3,930
- BGG rating
- 6.6
Qwirkle Cubes
- 2–4 players
- 45 min
- Complexity 1.6/5
- 2009
- BGG rank
- BGG #12,813
- BGG rating
- 7.4
Qwirkle Flex
- 2–4 players
- 30–60 min
- Complexity 2.0/5
- 2025
- BGG rank
- BGG #26,903
- BGG rating
- 5.5
Cirplexed!
- 2–6 players
- Complexity 1.5/5
- 2012
- BGG rank
- BGG #6,391
- BGG rating
- 6.4
Hoot Owl Hoot!
- 2–4 players
- 15 min
- Complexity 1.1/5
- 2010
- BGG rank
- BGG #13,237
- BGG rating
- 6.3
Skippity
- 2–4 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 2.0/5
- 2010
- BGG rank
- BGG #10,506
- BGG rating
- 6.1
Qwirkle Cards
- 2–4 players
- 20 min
- Complexity 1.4/5
- 2015
- BGG rank
- BGG #5,593
- BGG rating
- 6.2
Quick Cups
- 2–4 players
- 15 min
- Complexity 1.0/5
- 2013
- BGG rank
- BGG #6,745
- BGG rating
- 6.1
Shaky Manor
- 2–4 players
- 10–20 min
- Complexity 1.4/5
- 2017
- BGG rank
- BGG #7,263
- BGG rating
- 6.5
Speed Cups²
- 2 players
- 10 min
- Complexity 1.1/5
- 2014
- BGG rank
- BGG #10,300
- BGG rating
- 6.1
Ka-Boom
- 2–5 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 1.1/5
- 2013
About the game
Qwirkle designer Susan McKinley Ross offers a new take on pick-up sticks, one that might be called "pick up the sticks, then put them down again in a pleasing arrangement" but is thankfully better titled Color Stix. Color Stix includes 42 brightly-colored sticks – with seven colored rectangles on each stick – along with a 90-second timer. In the first round of the game, each player takes 7-10 sticks, holds them together in one hand, then drops them on the table once the timer starts. Players then arrange and rearrange the sticks to place similarly colored rectangles adjacent to one another and form large blocks of a single color. Once time runs out, players score points for each color block of at least two rectangles, with each block worth as many points as the number of rectangles in it. Players then pass their sticks clockwise and play another round. After as many rounds as the number of players in the game, the player with the highest score wins.
Categories
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- MindWare
Questions and answers
Color Stix supports 2–6 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 Color Stix is 10 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 Color Stix 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.
Color Stix has a complexity rating of 1.2 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.
Color Stix belongs to these categories: Children's Game and Real-time. Its main mechanics are Pattern Building. 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 Color Stix are: Susan McKinley Ross. 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 Color Stix 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.