- BGG rank
- BGG #17,335
- BGG rating
- 5.9
Gopher It!
- 2–4 players
- 10 min
- Complexity 1.1/5
- 1999
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Ninety Nine
2025
Rules assistance for Ninety Nine
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–4 players
- 30 min
- 8+
- Complexity 1.2/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Ninety Nine
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Ninety Nine is a board game released in 2025 for 2–4 players, 30 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Reinhard Staupe and its main mechanics are Hand Management and Pattern Building.
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About the game
Ninety Nine is a race to 99 points, with players scoring for both smart card playing and smart card discarding. The deck consists of cards numbered 0-10 in ten colors, with each player starting with a hand of six cards and fifteen cards in a reserve pile. Start two discard piles with a face-up card. On a turn, play one card from your hand into your personal row. Cards in your row must increase in value and be different colors; if you can't play, you must score and discard your row, then start a new one. A row scores the square of the number of cards in it, e.g., a row of four cards is worth 16 points when scored. (You can choose to score your row, if desired.) Next, you may discard as many cards as you wish onto the discard piles, but each discard must either: Be the same color as the card covered. Be exactly one number higher than the card covered. Add to 10 if summed with the card covered. For example, you can play a green 10 on a yellow 9, then a red 0 on the 10, then a red 8 on the 0. End your turn by refilling your hand from your reserve pile. If you empty that pile, immediately score 15 points, then create a new reserve pile. As soon as a player scores 99 or more points, they win. Once you're skilled at Ninety Nine, you can add the bonus rule: If you manage to discard all five cards in hand onto the discard piles, you refill your hand to six cards, then take another turn immediately. If you discard the next five, take another bonus turn!
Questions and answers
Ninety Nine 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 Ninety Nine is 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 Ninety Nine 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.
Ninety Nine 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.
Ninety Nine belongs to these categories: Card Game. Its main mechanics are Hand Management and Pattern Building. 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 Ninety Nine are: Reinhard Staupe. 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 Ninety Nine 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.