- BGG rank
- BGG #23,939
- BGG rating
- 6.0
Le Paresseux
- 3–6 players
- 45 min
- Complexity 1.0/5
- 1990
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- BGG #29,097
- BGG rating
- 5.4
Lotus
1998
Rules assistance for Lotus
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–4 players
- 20 min
- 10+
- Complexity 1.5/5
Rules assistant for Lotus
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Lotus is a board game released in 1998 for 2–4 players, 20 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Dominique Tellier.
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About the game
Lotus is an abstract racing game for 2 to 4 players in which stacked checkers move along a looping track, inspired by East Asian themes and visuals. The objective is to be the first player to move all of your discs from the central starting area to the end of the track. At the start, each player controls six discs—stacked in groups of three, two, and one—and takes turns moving the top disc from any stack. The movement distance is equal to the number of discs in the stack from which the piece is moved, regardless of color. Landing on a space creates a new stack with the moved disc on top, which immobilizes any discs below it until they are uncovered. A central feature of the board is the Lotus space, a special tile that acts as a "trampoline"—a disc landing on it must immediately move again by the same number of spaces, often enabling clever leaps across the track. The track itself features Chinese characters and artwork of an Eastern dragon, enhancing the game's visual appeal. Gameplay is fast and deterministic, with no hidden information or random elements. While accessible to new players, the game presents subtle opportunities for tactical planning and positional control. However, some players have noted balance issues in two-player mode, with a potential advantage for the second player if they mirror the first. In multiplayer games, "kingmaker" scenarios may emerge.
Questions and answers
Lotus 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 Lotus 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 Lotus 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.
Lotus has a complexity rating of 1.5 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.
Lotus belongs to these categories: Abstract Strategy and Racing. Categories describe the theme, setting and style of a game rather than its rules. Filter the catalogue by the same category to find similar games when you enjoyed Lotus and want something comparable for your next game night.
The credited designers of Lotus are: Dominique Tellier. 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 Lotus 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.