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The Ladybug's Costume Party
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Kayanak
1999
Rules assistance for Kayanak
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–4 players
- 15 min
- 4+
- Complexity 1.2/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Kayanak
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Kayanak is a board game released in 1999 for 2–4 players, 15 minutes per game, and ages 4 and up. It was designed by Peter-Paul Joopen and its main mechanics are Dice Rolling and Memory.
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About the game
In the freezing frost of the Arctic, the Inuit — or polar bears, depending on which edition of the game you own — dedicate themselves to their favorite occupation: ice fishing. Of course each of them wants to make the biggest catch, but they're discovering that this isn't so easy. Only the one who moves across the ice floes with foresight, breaks open the ice at the right spots, and guides the fishing rod skillfully, will be able to get the desired fish out of the water! In Kayanak, players punch holes through the "ice" (a sheet of paper) to try to catch fish, which are represented by steel balls of various sizes. In the basic game, the first player to catch ten fish wins. For children aged 6 and over, big fish are worth more than small ones, and the fisher with the most points at the end of the game wins.
Categories
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- HABA
- Nabita World co., Ltd.
Questions and answers
Kayanak 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 Kayanak 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 Kayanak for ages 4 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.
Kayanak 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.
Kayanak belongs to these categories: Children's Game and Action / Dexterity. Its main mechanics are Dice Rolling and Memory. 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 Kayanak are: Peter-Paul Joopen. 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 Kayanak 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.