
- BGG rank
- BGG #9,795
- BGG rating
- 6.1
7 Ate 9
- 2–4 players
- 5 min
- Complexity 1.1/5
- 2009

2001
Rules assistance for Cosmic Cows
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
For 2 players

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Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Cosmic Cows is a board game released in 2001 for 2 players, 30 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Maureen Hiron and its main mechanics are Roll / Spin and Move and Dice Rolling.
from translation: OBJECT: First player to advance three (3) pawns into his win zone PLAY: (the dice rolling for all practical purposes follows standard “yahtzee” format) Player rolls all five dice, then may set aside any of them to establish any of the NINE zones (chance, 1, 2, 3, Kniffell, 4, 5, 6, straights) Player may set aside, pick up, re-roll any dice up to THREE rolls while trying to create the best combination of dice to move a pawn(s). To move a pawn, one of the following dice combinations must be created: Pair (zwilling) Move the pawn two (2) spaces towards player rolling dice, i.e. a pair of 4’s = move the #4 pawn two spaces. Triples (drilling) Same as above, but move three (3) spaces. Four of a kind (Vierling) Same as above, but move pawn four (4) spaces Two Pair (doppell zwilling) Move each corresponding pawn two (2) spaces Full House Move corresponding pawns three (3) spaces / two (2) spaces NOTE: Two Pair & Full House are the ONLY combos that allow a player to move TWO PAWNS in one turn Five of a kind (Kniffel) Move the center pawn (Kniffel) all the way to player’s back win zone. If pawn is in opponent’s back win zone, move to center. Player MUST move the Kniffel pawn, when possible. Only when player has Kniffel pawn in his win zone, may he then move the corresponding dice # five spaces towards his win zone. Straights (Straße) A small (kleine) straight (4 dice in sequence) moves pawn three (3) spaces, a large (große) straight, moves pawn four (4) spaces. Chance Total all dice. Total = 10 - 12 OR 23 - 25, move pawn three (3) spaces. Total = 5 - 9 OR 26 - 30, move pawn four (4) spaces. Player MUST choose one of these options to move a pawn. He may not combined them, i.e., small straight w/ a pair. 1, 2, 3, 4, 3. After the third roll, if player has no options to move a pawn, he forfeits his roll. Players do NOT need an exact count to move pawn back to its last line in his win zone. Excess moves are lost. Pawns are neutral, regardless of their location on the board. A pawn in a player’s WINZONE can be moved out with the proper dice roll by his opponent. Game ends immediately when either player has THREE pawns in his win zone. Redevelopment of: Quadwrangle From the publisher, Playroom Entertainment: It's time for the Annual Extraterrestrial Cow-Pulling Contest, and aliens from all over the galaxy have come to watch the event! Go head to head with your cross-cosmos rival to see who can abduct three Cosmic Cows™ first! Roll different combinations on the dice to choose which tractor beam to use in order to abduct the cows. With a good mix of strategic offensive and defensive maneuvers, decide which combination of the unknowing bovines to pull toward your spaceship or away from your opponent's! The player that pulls three cows into their Danger Zone wins, in this dicey game of alien tug-of-war! For 2 Players or Teams, 20 Minute Playing Time, Ages 8 to Adult Designer: Maureen Hiron Contents: Gameboard, 10 Dice, 10 Cow Pawns and Instructions in English, Spanish & French
Cosmic Cows 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 Cosmic Cows is 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 Cosmic Cows 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.
Cosmic Cows 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.
Cosmic Cows belongs to these categories: Animals, Dice, and Science Fiction. Its main mechanics are Roll / Spin and Move and Dice Rolling. 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 Cosmic Cows are: Maureen Hiron. 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 Cosmic Cows 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.