
- BGG rank
- BGG #4,387
- BGG rating
- 6.4
Marrying Mr. Darcy
- 2–6 players
- 30–60 min
- Complexity 1.4/5
- 2014

1701
Rules assistance for Hanafuda
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.
Hanafuda is a board game released in 1701 for 2–7 players, 60 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. Its main mechanics are Hand Management, Set Collection, and Push Your Luck.
Hanafuda cards originated in beginning of 18th-century Japan. Legend says stewards of Edo Shogunate created it from Portuguese playing cards. A deck consists of forty-eight cards divided into twelve suits of four cards each. Each suit represents one of the twelve months of the year or individual plants (almost all flowers). The cards are small (about 1 x 2 inches), made from stiff cardboard, and are beautifully illustrated. Many different games can be played with a Hanafuda deck. The standard game was Hachi-Hachi (Eighty-eight), which resembles the Western game Casino, but is more complicated and subtle. The standard game now is Koi-Koi. Re-implemented by: Go Stop, the game using Hwatu (화투, 花闘), Korean Hanafuda.
Hanafuda supports 2–7 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 Hanafuda is 60 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 Hanafuda 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.
Hanafuda has a complexity rating of 1.7 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.
Hanafuda belongs to these categories: Card Game, Print & Play, and Game System. Its main mechanics are Hand Management, Set Collection, and 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 catalogue lists Hanafuda 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.