
- BGG rank
- BGG #5,108
- BGG rating
- 6.7
Elements
- 2 players
- 10–20 min
- Complexity 1.3/5
- 2010

2009
Rules assistance for Hau La
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Hau La is a board game released in 2009 for 2–4 players, 15 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by team SAIEN and its main mechanics are Pattern Building.
The objective of Hau La is to be the player with the highest piece in the tower that all the players build together. The rules are very simple. On your turn, you must add one building piece to the tower. The problem is that the pieces used to construct the tower are made of a soft sponge-like material that bends easily. If your new piece bends and touches another piece it cannot be placed. To win, you will need a plan, and a bit of dexterity and above all else an imagination to figure out the final shape of the tower. The final tower always looks like a modern art sculpture. This game was the most popular self-published game in Game Market 2009 in Tokyo,Japan.
Hau La supports 2–4 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 Hau La is 15 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 Hau La 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.
Hau La has a complexity rating of 1.0 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.
Hau La belongs to these categories: Action / Dexterity. 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 Hau La are: team SAIEN. 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 Hau La 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.