
- BGG rank
- BGG #5,805
- BGG rating
- 6.2
Knister
- 1–12 players
- 15 min
- Complexity 1.2/5
- 2007

2019
Rules assistance for Knaster
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
For 1 player

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Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Knaster is a board game released in 2019 for 1–99 players, 15 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Reinhard Staupe, Heinz Wüppen, and Markus Schleininger and its main mechanics are Dice Rolling and Pattern Building.
Everyone can play Knaster at the same time; all you need is a score sheet and ears to hear which number is being rolled on two dice. Your score sheet has a 5x5 grid on it, along with numbers from 5-10 outside the rows, columns, and diagonals of this grid. On a turn, someone rolls the two dice, then calls out the sum. Each player either: Writes this number in an empty space in their grid, or Circles this number in their grid if it had been entered on any previous turn. Initially, of course, you can only write a number as you have nothing to circle. You're trying to do two things in Knaster: circle lots of numbers, and fill the rows, columns, and diagonals of your grid with "scoring combinations" of numbers, i.e., three- to five-of-a-kind, two pairs, a full house, or a straight. When you place five numbers in a row, column, or diagonal and you have created one of these scoring combinations, then you immediately circle 1-3 numbers in this same line. If all the numbers in a line are circled, you can then circle the number (5-10) outside the grid that's next to this line. As soon as someone fills in the 25th space in the grid, they let everyone know this, then after one final turn, the game ends. Your score is equal to the sum of the circled numbers outside your grid, along with 1 point for each number circled in your grid. Whoever has the highest score wins!
Knaster supports 1–99 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 Knaster 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 Knaster 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.
Knaster 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.
Knaster belongs to these categories: Dice. Its main mechanics are Dice Rolling and Pattern Building. 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 Knaster are: Reinhard Staupe, Heinz Wüppen, and Markus Schleininger. 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 Knaster 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.