- BGG rating
- 7.0
Kaleidos: 2009 Expansion
- 2–10 players
- 60 min
- Complexity 2.0/5
- 2009
- BGG rank
- BGG #4,553
- BGG rating
- 6.7
Kaleidos
1994
Rules assistance for Kaleidos
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–12 players
- 60 min
- 10+
- Complexity 1.2/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Kaleidos
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Kaleidos is a board game released in 1994 for 2–12 players, 60 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Spartaco Albertarelli, Elena Prette, and Marianna Fulvi and its main mechanics are Pattern Recognition.
Expansions
- BGG rating
- 7.5
Kaleidos: 2014 Expansion
- 2–10 players
- 60 min
- 2014
Kaleidos: Expansion Set 1
- 2–12 players
- 2023
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About the game
From Game Report Review: The game comes with four identical sets of ten paintings, each depicting a scene packed (to greater and lesser extents) with various objects. Each of up to four players or teams uses their own set, so there’s no craning around to see the picture at the far end of the table. In fact, spiffy cardboard easels prop up the scenes nicely so they’re easier to view. Everyone loads identical scenes onto their easels and a deck of cards provides a letter for the round. Everyone gets sixty seconds to write down as many things beginning with that letter as they can find in the scene. Although each word can be used only once - a football and baseball wouldn’t count as two BALLS - an object can be used multiple times for different words (e.g., BASEBALL, BALL). Once time has expired, players read through the lists. Any object on multiple lists scores one point for those who wrote it. Any item unique to a single list scores three points. When all lists have been scored everyone advances to the next scene and a new letter is chosen. The high score after all 12 scenes wins. Re-implemented by: Kaleidos Junior
Categories
Mechanics
Publishers
- Editrice Giochi
- Trefl Joker Line
- Muduko
- Diset S. A.
- Heidelberger Spieleverlag
- Vennerød Forlag AS
- Competo / Marektoy
- Lifestyle Boardgames Ltd
- Oliphante
- Ystari Games
- CMON Global Limited
- Cocktail Games
- Mercurio
- Cool Mini Or Not
- KaleidosGames
Questions and answers
Kaleidos supports 2–12 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 Kaleidos 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 Kaleidos 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.
Kaleidos has a complexity rating of 1.2 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.
Kaleidos belongs to these categories: Party Game. Its main mechanics are Pattern Recognition. 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 Kaleidos are: Spartaco Albertarelli, Elena Prette, and Marianna Fulvi. 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 Kaleidos 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.