- BGG rank
- BGG #99
- BGG rating
- 7.7
Azul
- 2–4 players
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- 5.3
Dao
1999
Rules assistance for Dao
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 10 min
- 5+
- Complexity 1.5/5
Rules assistant for Dao
For 2 players
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Dao is a board game released in 1999 for 2 players, 10 minutes per game, and ages 5 and up. It was designed by Jeff Pickering and Ben VanBuskirk.
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About the game
From the Designer/Publisher: Components: A 4x4 board, 2 sets of 4 pieces, and 2 players. Beginning: An X is formed with each player's piece aligned "diagonally" from the corners. The game consists of only one simple rule and three ways to win. Pieces move in a straight line, including diagonally, as far as possible with no jumps. The three ways to win are arranging your pieces in a straight line on the board (not diagonally), occupying the four corners, or forming a 2x2 square anywhere on the board. However, the antisocial strategy of trapping an opponent's piece in a corner loses!! 2001 Mensa Select
Editions
- DaoenFamily Games, Inc.2014
- DaoenFamily Games, Inc.2004
- DaoenFamily Games, Inc.
- DaoenReveal Entertainment, Inc.
- DaofrGigamic2006
Categories
Designers
Publishers
- Gigamic
- Family Games, Inc.
- Reveal Entertainment, Inc.
- Playdao.com
Questions and answers
Dao 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 Dao 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 Dao 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.
Dao has a complexity rating of 1.5 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.
Dao 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 Dao and want something comparable for your next game night.
The credited designers of Dao are: Jeff Pickering and Ben VanBuskirk. 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 Dao 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.