- BGG rank
- BGG #6,030
- BGG rating
- 6.4
Venture
- 2–6 players
- 45 min
- Complexity 2.0/5
- 1968
- BGG rank
- BGG #8,825
- BGG rating
- 6.2
Monad
1968
Rules assistance for Monad
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–4 players
- 45–60 min
- 10+
- Complexity 2.0/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Monad
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Monad is a board game released in 1968 for 2–4 players, 45–60 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Sid Sackson and its main mechanics are Set Collection and Ladder Climbing.
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About the game
The object of the game is to collect round cards known as "Monads," which look like yin-yang symbols. The players do this by Trading, Buying, and Leaping with other cards. Monad / Die 1. Million uses a deck of cards with six colors (Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, and Purple). Half of these are called "Warm" colors (Red, Orange, and Yellow), and the others are "Cool" colors (Green, Blue, and Purple). The majority of cards has one symbol on them (known as "Commons"), but there is one card of each color with 2-5 colors on them (known as "Bis," "Tris," "Quads," and "Quints"). At the start of the game, each player is assigned one of the six colors as their "identity" and is dealt six Commons and one "Bonus" card (which shows three pairs of colors). The Bis, Tris, Quads, and Quints are placed face up in separate piles in the center of the table. On their turn, a player attempts to get higher numbered cards into their hand. The easiest way is by "Trading." To trade, a player turns in a pair of cards with the same number of symbols but of opposite colors (one warm and one cool) and takes the top card from the stack with the next highest number of symbols. When they turn in two Quints, they gain a Monad. If the two cards turned in match one of the pairs on their bonus card, they may also draw the top card from each of the lower stacks. They may also use cards of the same color as their Identity as wild cards, which are treated as having any number of symbols. The player can turn in more than two cards and "Leap" to a higher stack. This allows them to select a card with a higher number of symbols. Finally, they can "Buy" a card. Buying cards uses the numbers located on each card. The player turns in a number of cards which total greater than the number on the card they are after. Monads can be purchased for 80 points. A player can also draw the top card from the deck but doing so prevents them from taking any other action that turn. The first player to accumulate a given number of Monads (which varies depending on the number of players in the game) is the winner. Belongs to the 3M Gamette Series
Categories
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- 3M
- Hexagames (I)
- Eagle-Gryphon Games
- Salagames
Questions and answers
Monad 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 Monad is 45–60 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 Monad 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.
Monad has a complexity rating of 2.0 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-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.
Monad belongs to these categories: Card Game. Its main mechanics are Set Collection and Ladder Climbing. 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 Monad are: Sid Sackson. 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 Monad 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.