
- BGG rank
- BGG #2,980
- BGG rating
- 6.6
The River
- 2–4 players
- 30–45 min
- Complexity 1.9/5
- 2018

2019
Rules assistance for Kawaii
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Kawaii is a board game released in 2019 for 3–5 players, 15 minutes per game, and ages 6 and up. It was designed by Ismaël Perrin and Marc-Antoine Hofmann and its main mechanics are Push Your Luck and Real-Time.
Collect as many ice creams as you can of your favorite shape and/or flavor! Cherries will gain you extra points, but be careful not to find the door closed when you go to the shop, or you might see your score melt away like ice in the sun… Kawaii is a dynamic card game where your goal is to get the most valuable pile before other players do so. In order to succeed you need to constantly observe other players’ actions, use your memory and act fast, with no hesitation. Ready?
Kawaii supports 3–5 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 Kawaii 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 Kawaii for ages 6 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.
Kawaii has a complexity rating of 1.3 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.
Kawaii belongs to these categories: Card Game, Party Game, and Real-time. Its main mechanics are Push Your Luck and Real-Time. 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 Kawaii are: Ismaël Perrin and Marc-Antoine Hofmann. 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 Kawaii 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.