- BGG rank
- BGG #2,998
- BGG rating
- 7.1
Voodoo Prince
- 2–5 players
- 20 min
- Complexity 1.6/5
- 2017
- BGG rank
- BGG #14,801
- BGG rating
- 6.2
Ohio
1998
Rules assistance for Ohio
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–5 players
- 30 min
- 12+
- Complexity 1.6/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Ohio
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Ohio is a board game released in 1998 for 2–5 players, 30 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Reiner Knizia and its main mechanics are Trick-taking.
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About the game
In Ohio all players start with an identical hand of cards, numbers 1-10 plus one "Ohio" card. After the lead, on your turn you must either pass or play a lower card. When everybody else passes, the last player to have played a card collects for purposes of end-of-game scoring the whole pile of cards (which for convenience will be called a trick) and then has the lead. The Ohio card is deemed always just a little lower than the last card played, so if a 2 is played and then an Ohio card (or two or three Ohio cards), a 1 would still be lower. When one person plays their last card, finish the trick and calculate the scores. Ohio cards count negative 10. All others their face value. Cards still in hand count negative (including Ohio card which is negative 10 if still in hand). The player with the highest total wins.
Questions and answers
Ohio 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 Ohio 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 Ohio 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.
Ohio has a complexity rating of 1.6 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.
Ohio belongs to these categories: Card Game. Its main mechanics are Trick-taking. 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 Ohio are: Reiner Knizia. 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 Ohio 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.