- BGG rating
- 7.6
Mottainai: Wutai Mountain
- 2–5 players
- Complexity 3.8/5
- 2018
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,314
- BGG rating
- 7.1
Mottainai
2015
Rules assistance for Mottainai
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–5 players
- 15–30 min
- 13+
- Complexity 3.2/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Mottainai
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Mottainai is a board game released in 2015 for 2–5 players, 15–30 minutes per game, and ages 13 and up. It was designed by Carl Chudyk and its main mechanics are Hand Management, Set Collection, and Team-Based Game.
Expansions
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About the game
"Mottainai" (pronounced mot/tai/nai or like the English words mote-tie-nigh) means "Don't waste", or "Every little thing has a soul". In the game Mottainai, a successor in the Glory to Rome line, you use your cards for many purposes. Each player is an acolyte in a temple who performs tasks, collects materials, and sells or completes works for visitors. Every card can be each of these three things. You choose tasks to allow you to perform actions, keeping in mind that other players will get to follow up on your task on their next turn. Clever planning and combining of your works' special abilities is key, as is managing which materials you sell. Mottainai is a quick, but deep, game experience.
Categories
Designers
Publishers
- Asmadi Games
- Ludofy Creative
- 4GAMES
Questions and answers
Mottainai supports 2–5 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 Mottainai is 15–30 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 Mottainai for ages 13 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.
Mottainai has a complexity rating of 3.2 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.
Mottainai belongs to these categories: Card Game and Print & Play. Its main mechanics are Hand Management, Set Collection, and Team-Based Game. 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 Mottainai are: Carl Chudyk. 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 Mottainai 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.