
- BGG rank
- BGG #5,270
- BGG rating
- 6.3
Igloo Pop
- 2–6 players
- 15–20 min
- Complexity 1.1/5
- 2003

2005
Rules assistance for Hula Hippos
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.
Hula Hippos is a board game released in 2005 for 2–4 players, 10 minutes per game, and ages 5 and up. It was designed by Heinz Meister.
In Maus nach Haus, the members of a mice family race to jump into the mouse hole before the other families can – but they're stymied in their efforts by a mouse hole that never stands still! Each round, one player spins a wooden ring, making it rotate on the table; before the ring slows and falls to the table, players simultaneously flick their mice tokens with their fingers to try to place them inside the "mouse hole" when it lands. Any mouse in the ring is removed from the game, and the first player to bring all his mice home wins. Hula Hippos features the same game play as Maus nach Haus, but this time players have circus hippos that they're encouraging to leap through the hoop. The first player to be hippoless wins.
Hula Hippos 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 Hula Hippos 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 Hula Hippos 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.
Hula Hippos 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.
Hula Hippos belongs to these categories: Animals, Children's Game, and Action / Dexterity. 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 Hula Hippos and want something comparable for your next game night.
The credited designers of Hula Hippos are: Heinz Meister. 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 Hula Hippos 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.