
- BGG rank
- BGG #27,245
- BGG rating
- 5.4
Fantasyland
- 2–4 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 1.1/5
- 2000

2015
Rules assistance for Kakerlakak
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.

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Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Kakerlakak is a board game released in 2015 for 2–4 players, 15 minutes per game, and ages 5 and up. It was designed by Gunter Baars and its main mechanics are Roll / Spin and Move, Dice Rolling, and Grid Movement.
Kakerlakak, a portable version of the identically named Kakerlakak, puts a cockroach in the kitchen once again, but this time you get to control the cockroach and try to move him to tasty treats while hoping that the cook stays out of sight. Each player has a "treat stick" that shows four treats that she must claim in order by moving the cockroach onto the appropriate space on the 6x6 game board. The trick, though, is that items of cutlery lie all over the floor, blocking your way to the treats along with the shelving units that stand in the middle of the floor. As in the original Kakerlakak, the cutlery items have a pivot in their center, and players can turn the cutlery during the game to open and close paths. On a player's turn, she rolls the cutlery die, then moves the cockroach 2-3 spaces based on the number of pips showing, turning an indicated piece of cutlery before, during or after the move. She then rolls and moves again. Starting after her second move, an opponent rolls the cook die after each movement, and if the cook shows up, that player's turn is over and the dice pass left to the next players. Alternatively, if a player reaches her goal, her turn ends. The first player to reach all four of her food goals, then reach the hole in the kitchen floor wins. Kakerlakak includes action rules that speed up gameplay. The cockroach and cook players both roll simultaneously, with the cockroach player moving as quickly as possible because as soon as the fifth cook face is rolled, the turn is over. The winning condition remains the same.
Kakerlakak 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 Kakerlakak 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 Kakerlakak 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.
Kakerlakak has a complexity rating of 1.1 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.
Kakerlakak belongs to these categories: Children's Game, Dice, and Real-time. Its main mechanics are Roll / Spin and Move, Dice Rolling, and Grid Movement. 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 Kakerlakak are: Gunter Baars. 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 Kakerlakak 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.