- BGG rank
- BGG #4,048
- BGG rating
- 6.2
Café International
- 2–4 players
- 45–60 min
- Complexity 1.7/5
- 1989
- BGG rank
- BGG #16,212
- BGG rating
- 6.5
Janus
1975
Rules assistance for Janus
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–4 players
- 45 min
- 10+
- Complexity 2.3/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Janus
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Janus is a board game released in 1975 for 2–4 players, 45 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Rudi Hoffmann and its main mechanics are Modular Board.
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About the game
The aim of the game is to remove as many of the tablets lying on the board as possible by means of clever manipulation of the playing figure (column)and thus to win as much as possible of the square made up of four fields. The tablet that is removed is always that which the column stood on last. The person who removes the last of the four tablets, wins that square and occupies the payment circle with one of his or her coins. The points are added up at the end of the game. The version from 1988 is part of the Franckh-Kosmos/ 'Edition Perlhuhn' series.
Categories
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Spear's Games
- KOSMOS
Questions and answers
Janus 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 Janus is 45 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 Janus for ages 10 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.
Janus has a complexity rating of 2.3 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.
Janus belongs to these categories: Abstract Strategy. Its main mechanics are Modular Board. 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 Janus are: Rudi Hoffmann. 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 Janus 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.