- BGG rank
- BGG #4,235
- BGG rating
- 6.2
Quiddler
- 1–8 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 1.4/5
- 1998
- BGG rank
- BGG #11,279
- BGG rating
- 6.1
Karma
2014
Rules assistance for Karma
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–6 players
- 20 min
- 8+
- Complexity 1.1/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Karma
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Karma is a board game released in 2014 for 2–6 players, 20 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Marsha J. Falco and its main mechanics are Hand Management.
Similar games
- BGG rank
- BGG #4,245
- BGG rating
- 6.2
Five Crowns
- 1–7 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 1.2/5
- 1996
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,915
- BGG rating
- 6.5
SET
- 1–20 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 1.7/5
- 1988
- BGG rank
- BGG #14,785
- BGG rating
- 5.8
Xactika
- 2–10 players
- 45 min
- Complexity 2.0/5
- 2002
- BGG rank
- BGG #2
- BGG rating
- 8.5
Ark Nova
- 1–4 players
- 90–150 min
- Complexity 3.8/5
- 2021
- BGG rank
- BGG #15
- BGG rating
- 8.6
Slay the Spire: The Board Game
- 1–4 players
- 30–150 min
- Complexity 2.9/5
- 2024
- BGG rank
- BGG #18
- BGG rating
- 8.4
The Lord of the Rings: Duel for Middle-earth
- 2 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 2.1/5
- 2024
- BGG rank
- BGG #30
- BGG rating
- 8.1
Lost Ruins of Arnak
- 1–4 players
- 30–120 min
- Complexity 2.9/5
- 2020
- BGG rank
- BGG #33
- BGG rating
- 8.1
Arkham Horror: The Card Game
- 1–2 players
- 60–120 min
- Complexity 3.6/5
- 2016
- BGG rank
- BGG #38
- BGG rating
- 8.0
Wingspan
- 1–5 players
- 40–70 min
- Complexity 2.5/5
- 2019
- BGG rank
- BGG #45
- BGG rating
- 8.0
The Crew: Mission Deep Sea
- 2–5 players
- 20 min
- Complexity 2.1/5
- 2021
- BGG rank
- BGG #47
- BGG rating
- 8.0
Everdell
- 1–4 players
- 40–80 min
- Complexity 2.8/5
- 2018
About the game
In Karma, each player is dealt three face-down cards that they cannot look at and that remain on the table in front of them. They are dealt six more cards, choose three of those for their hand, and place the remaining three face-up onto their table cards in three separate stacks. One player begins by placing a card or cards of the same value from their hand onto the table face-up to create a discard pile. The other players in turn must place onto the discard stack a card or cards of the same value that match(es) or exceed(s) the value of the top card of the stack; or else, pick up the stack. Until the draw pile is gone, players must draw at the end of their turns to maintain a hand of at least three cards. All of a player's hand cards must be played before any of their face-up table cards, which must in turn be played before any of their face-down table cards. A few cards allow players to break the foregoing rules. The last player with cards loses the game. Karma is based on the public domain card game, Palace.
Categories
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- AMIGO
- G3
- Set Enterprises, Inc.
- Mercurio
Questions and answers
Karma supports 2–6 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 Karma is 20 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 Karma 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.
Karma 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.
Karma belongs to these categories: Card Game. Its main mechanics are Hand Management. 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 Karma are: Marsha J. Falco. 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 Karma 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.