- BGG rating
- 6.6
Abluxxen: Sonderkarten / Duell
- 2–5 players
- 25 min
- Complexity 1.7/5
- 2014
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,193
- BGG rating
- 7.0
Linko
2014
Rules assistance for Linko
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–5 players
- 20 min
- 10+
- Complexity 1.4/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Linko
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Linko is a board game released in 2014 for 2–5 players, 20 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Wolfgang Kramer and Michael Kiesling and its main mechanics are Hand Management, Take That, and Melding and Splaying.
Expansions
- BGG rating
- 6.9
Abluxxen: Königskarten
- 2–5 players
- 25 min
- Complexity 2.0/5
- 2015
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About the game
In Linko! (a.k.a. Abluxxen), you take turns playing number cards, and the more cards of the same number you play, the better as cards score points at the end of the game. If someone else plays the same amount of cards with a higher number, however, your cards get nicked! Stealing cards can be good, but if you can't use them later, and end the game with cards in hand, they'll cost you points. In more detail, the deck contains 104 number cards (1-13 x8) and five joker cards. Each player starts with a hand of 13 cards, and six cards are laid face-up next to the deck. On a turn, a player lays down one or more cards of the same value, adding jokers if desired; if she already has cards on the table, she lays these cards so that previously played cards are still visible. If any opponent has most recently played the same number of cards and those cards are of a lower value, then the active player "abluxxes" those opponents — that is, the active player can take the abluxxed cards into her hand and the opponent then draws the same number of cards, either from the display or the deck; if she doesn't take these cards in hand, then the opponent either returns these cards to his hand or discards them and draws that many cards. Refill the display only after someone finishes drawing cards. (Jokers can be played on their own, and they are considered to be higher than all values.) As soon as the deck runs out of cards or a player has no cards in hand, the game ends immediately, even if the player would normally abluxx an opponent. Each player scores one point for each card on the table in front of him, then loses one point for each card in hand. Whoever has the highest score wins. If players wish, they can play multiple rounds and sum their scores over the rounds to determine a winner.
Categories
Designers
Publishers
- Arclight Games
- Kaissa Chess & Games
- Broadway Toys LTD
- Galápagos Jogos
- BoardM Factory
- Rebel Sp. z o.o.
- AMIGO
- Swan Panasia Co., Ltd.
- Ravensburger AG
- OPEN'N PLAY
- Giochi Uniti
- Maldito Games
- Reflexshop
- 999 Games
- Fractal Juegos
- Albi
- Playte
- Gameology, Inc. (게임올로지)
Questions and answers
Linko supports 2–5 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 Linko 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 Linko 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.
Linko has a complexity rating of 1.4 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.
Linko belongs to these categories: Card Game. Its main mechanics are Hand Management, Take That, and Melding and Splaying. 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 Linko are: Wolfgang Kramer and Michael Kiesling. 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 Linko 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.