- BGG rank
- BGG #29,311
- BGG rating
- 4.8
Quelf Jr.
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- BGG rating
- 5.0
Quao
2007
Rules assistance for Quao
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 3–6 players
- 60 min
- 12+
- Complexity 1.1/5
Rules assistant for Quao
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Quao is a board game released in 2007 for 3–6 players, 60 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Matthew Rivaldi and Jean Rivaldi and its main mechanics are Memory and Pattern Recognition.
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About the game
QUAO is the absolute, supreme ruler of an unruly wasteland at the edge of civilization where attempts at democracy are futile. There is only one law in the land and that law is QUAO (pronounced ‘cow’). The mighty and all-powerful bovine of the badlands, QUAO governs the province by sheer antagonism. Only she knows the Rules and she hands them down with iron hoof. WHAT’S UP WITH THE QUAO YOU ASK? First of all, she’s not just a cow, she’s a dictator and you better get used to playing by her Rules! WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE QUAO? When you play this game, being QUAO means you know the Rules and everyone else has to figure them out. You also hand out all the penalties! Use your secret Rules and the help of your loyal subjects Quak, JaQuas and BullyQ to win this game. Just watch out for Cheata’, because she could be your downfall! OBJECT: Each player is dealt five white cards. Each player has a chance to discard one card during each turn. The person that successfully completes and discards all the cards in their hand first, wins the round and becomes the dictator QUAO. Whoever wins the fifth and final round is the ultimate dictator and the winner! HOW TO PLAY: There are four different ‘suits’ of white cards and each suit is played differently when discarded. During each turn a player may discard one of their cards from their hand to the table. This is a commercial variant of the public domain game Mao
Categories
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Wiggity Bang Games
Questions and answers
Quao supports 3–6 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 Quao is 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 Quao 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.
Quao has a complexity rating of 1.1 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.
Quao belongs to these categories: Card Game, Humor, and Party Game. Its main mechanics are Memory and Pattern Recognition. 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 Quao are: Matthew Rivaldi and Jean Rivaldi. 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 Quao 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.