- BGG rank
- BGG #20,971
- BGG rating
- 5.9
Priceless
- 2–4 players
- 45 min
- Complexity 2.4/5
- 1996
- BGG rank
- BGG #15,645
- BGG rating
- 6.4
Mandarin
1991
Rules assistance for Mandarin
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 3–5 players
- 50 min
- 8+
- Complexity 1.2/5
For 3 players
Rules assistant for Mandarin
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Mandarin is a board game released in 1991 for 3–5 players, 50 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Tom Kremer and its main mechanics are Set Collection, Auction / Bidding, and Roll / Spin and Move.
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About the game
The game board depicts the Chinese Zodiac, a cycle of 12 years in which each year is characterized by an animal or symbol. The Chinese believe that every person will demonstrate in their lives those qualities of temperament of the special animal which controls the year of their birth. Players can discover what Animal Year they were born in by looking for their year of birth around each animal picture on the board. The Chinese Year, unlike the Western Year, runs from February to January, so remember this as you discover your animal sign. For example, a person born in January 1956 would be a goat, whereas a person born in February 1956 would be a Monkey. Put all of the tiles in the Dispenser and place the lid on top. Gently shake the Dispenser and place it in the center of the board. Each player chooses a Mandarin and places it on the board on the center Chinese Character space of their own animal sign. If two or more players share the same sign, simply place the Mandarins side by side on the same space. Tiles are drawn one by one from the Dispenser by firmly pushing down on the lever on the side of the Dispenser. Players collect tiles and place them in the appropriate places on their Collection Cards. The game ends when one player has collected at least one tile of each animal type, or all 6 tiles of one animal set. The first player to do this is the winner.
Designers
Publishers
- Mattel, Inc.
Questions and answers
Mandarin supports 3–5 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 Mandarin is 50 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 Mandarin 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.
Mandarin has a complexity rating of 1.2 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.
The main mechanics of Mandarin are Set Collection, Auction / Bidding, and Roll / Spin and Move. Mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns, such as rolling dice, drafting cards or placing workers. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you enjoyed Mandarin and want something comparable.
The credited designers of Mandarin are: Tom Kremer. 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 Mandarin 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.