
- BGG rank
- BGG #8,469
- BGG rating
- 6.7
Cthulhu: A Deck Building Game
- 1–6 players
- 45–120 min
- Complexity 2.6/5
- 2016

2016
Rules assistance for Onami
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.

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Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Onami is a board game released in 2016 for 2–6 players, 15–30 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Philip Loyer and its main mechanics are Area Majority / Influence.
Onami is a strategic card game that is simple to learn, but difficult to master! The concept is simple, both players draw 5 cards from a shuffled deck of 49 cards. Each card in their hand will have 4 numbers on it, one number on each facing of the card. North, East, South, and West The first player ( chosen randomly ) will then place a card some where on that 5 x 5 grid. Next they will place a double sided token on the card marking that they own it, with the color of their choosing facing up. They will then draw a card from the deck, signaling the end of their turn. The next player will then go, doing the same thing. Players may also rotate the card however they desire to get the optimal outcome. If a player lays a card next to a card they do not own they can potentially take ownership of it and possibly cards next to that one and so forth! Using the example below the second player, who is represented by the black token laid their card to the right of one of the first players cards, who is represented by the white token. The card they laid down has a 7 on the west face of the card. The card to the left of it has a 0 on the east face of the card. Since 7 is greater than 0 the player represented by the black token can gain control of that card, But wait it doesn't end there! There is also the possibility of chain reaction captures! Lets examine the sample below. The card with the black token on it was just laid down by the second player, the number facing west is 3, the number on the card beside it that is owned by the first player has a number of 1 on the east side. Since 3 is greater than 1 it captures it. But it doesn't end there! Since the difference between 3 and 1 is 2 the second player, represented by the black token card capture up to two cards total ( including the initial card captured ) if there are numbers on the next card that are greater than cards it is next too and that the second player doesn't already own. The ending result is as seen below. Using this mechanic, even if you are woefully behind a single card can potentially bring you back in to the game! There are many strategic ways to play Onami, but you must be careful to be both defensive and offensive
Onami supports 2–6 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 Onami 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 Onami 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.
Onami has a complexity rating of 1.0 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.
Onami belongs to these categories: Card Game. Its main mechanics are Area Majority / Influence. 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 Onami are: Philip Loyer. 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 Onami 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.