
- BGG rank
- BGG #2,116
- BGG rating
- 7.0
Patchistory
- 2–4 players
- 60–120 min
- Complexity 3.8/5
- 2013

2015
Rules assistance for 曼荼羅 (Mandara)
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.

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Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
曼荼羅 (Mandara) is a board game released in 2015 for 3–4 players, 120 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by 麻生忠嗣 (Tadatsugu Asou) and its main mechanics are Auction / Bidding, Tile Placement, and Worker Placement.
Mandala is type of painting that represents the Buddhist interpretation of the appearance of the universe. Various mandalas are painted to embody the beliefs of Buddhism, even in Japan, ancient artifacts from the Asuka period (550-710 CE) have been left behind. In this game, the players are mandala painters working together to paint a single mandala while competing against each other’s skills. The completion of a mandala painting is accompanied by huge suffering; the painters’ minds wander in six types of world of indecision that are called the six realms. The player who makes the most splendid contribution to the completion of mandala throughout the game to express that belief will win the game. Note: The six realms is a Buddhist concept. It includes Deva realm, Asura realm, Human realm, Animal realm, Hungry Ghost realm, Naraka realm, which are represented by the 6 cards in this game.
曼荼羅 (Mandara) supports 3–4 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 曼荼羅 (Mandara) is 120 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 曼荼羅 (Mandara) for ages 12 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.
曼荼羅 (Mandara) has a complexity rating of 3.0 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-weight 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.
曼荼羅 (Mandara) belongs to these categories: Religious. Its main mechanics are Auction / Bidding, Tile Placement, and Worker Placement. 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 曼荼羅 (Mandara) are: 麻生忠嗣 (Tadatsugu Asou). 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 曼荼羅 (Mandara) 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.