- BGG rank
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- BGG rating
- 7.3
Ni-Ju
- 2 players
- 15–45 min
- Complexity 2.7/5
- 2016
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- BGG rank
- BGG #17,735
- BGG rating
- 7.2
Mabula
2021
Rules assistance for Mabula
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2 players
- 15 min
- 9+
- Complexity 1.0/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Mabula
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Mabula is a board game released in 2021 for 2 players, 15 minutes per game, and ages 9 and up. It was designed by Néstor Romeral Andrés and its main mechanics are Square Grid.
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About the game
In Mabula, each of the two players start with 12 marbles in their color on the perimeter of the playing area. Placement of the marbles is randomized as long as no color has more than two marbles in a row, even around a corner. On a turn, a player chooses a marble on the perimeter of the board, then moves it as many spaces as they wish across the board. If other marbles lie in this line, push them ahead of this marble, with the only restriction being that you can't push a marble so far that other marbles are pushed into the perimeter of play. Keep taking turns until no player can go. Whoever has the largest orthogonally connected group of marbles wins. Alternatively, you can decide before starting that a player's score will be the product of the sizes of all of their groups. In this situation, the maximum score is 81 (3x3x3x3).
Categories
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Steffen Spiele
Questions and answers
Mabula supports 2 players according to the catalogue. This is the publisher’s listed player count, so the game is designed for exactly that number of participants. Variants for other group sizes, if any, are described in the rulebook of your edition, so check it before setting up a different configuration.
The listed playing time for Mabula 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 Mabula for ages 9 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.
Mabula has a complexity rating of 1.0 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.
Mabula belongs to these categories: Abstract Strategy. Its main mechanics are Square Grid. 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 Mabula are: Néstor Romeral Andrés. 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 Mabula 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.