- BGG rank
- BGG #8,997
- BGG rating
- 6.7
Mezen
- 1–5 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 2.0/5
- 2023
- BGG rank
- BGG #24,236
- BGG rating
- 6.2
Gzhel
2025
Rules assistance for Gzhel
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 1–4 players
- 30 min
- 8+
- Complexity 2.0/5
Rules assistant for Gzhel
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Gzhel is a board game released in 2025 for 1–4 players, 30 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Nikita Sorokin and its main mechanics are End Game Bonuses, Pattern Building, and Solo / Solitaire Game.
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Fit to Print
- 1–6 players
- 15–30 min
- Complexity 2.1/5
- 2023
About the game
Gzhel is an abstract pattern-building game designed in folk painting style with the same name. In Gzhel you will be trying your hand as artisans painting patterns on porcelain figurines. In each round you will have three common goals — three orders for Gzhel painting. Arrange your tokens around the figurines on the pad to complete as many goals as possible and earn victory points. After the eighth round, the player with the most victory points wins. During the game you'll be receiving points for different types of goals: combinations of flowers on your two pads separately; covered patterns on both of your pads. The game lasts 8 rounds, each consisting of 3 steps: The active player names one of 5 animals. All players remove all flower tokens around that animal. Players place these tokens on empty spaces on any of their pads. Players score points for the current aims. Aims change each round, but you know some of the aims for the next round. —description from the publisher
Categories
Designers
Publishers
- Hobby World
Questions and answers
Gzhel supports 1–4 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 Gzhel 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 Gzhel 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.
Gzhel has a complexity rating of 2.0 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-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.
Gzhel belongs to these categories: Abstract Strategy. Its main mechanics are End Game Bonuses, Pattern Building, and Solo / Solitaire Game. 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 Gzhel are: Nikita Sorokin. 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 Gzhel 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.