- BGG rating
- 8.4
Race for the Chinese Zodiac: Cat
- 3–5 players
- 40–70 min
- Complexity 2.5/5
- 2019
- BGG rank
- BGG #13,147
- BGG rating
- 6.4
Race for the Chinese Zodiac
2019
Rules assistance for Race for the Chinese Zodiac
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 3–5 players
- 40–70 min
- 8+
- Complexity 2.9/5
Rules assistant for Race for the Chinese Zodiac
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Race for the Chinese Zodiac is a board game released in 2019 for 3–5 players, 40–70 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Christina Ng Zhen Wei and Yeo Keng Leong and its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Hand Management, and Auction / Bidding.
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About the game
Legend has it that a long time ago, mankind was ignorant to the extent of not knowing how to count or tell the years apart. The ever-benevolent Jade Emperor wanted to help mankind out. From there, the idea of a twelve-year cycle and the naming of each year in the cycle after an animal was born. But how should the Jade Emperor choose twelve animals from among so many animals in the living world, while remaining impartial? To resolve this equitably, the Jade Emperor decided to hold a race involving all animals on his birthday. The first twelve animals to cross the river and reach the Heavenly Palace will have a year named after them, in the order of how they finished the race. The race became known as The Great Race and the twelve-year cycle was named the Chinese Zodiac. Race for the Chinese Zodiac is a board game that recreates The Great Race. Each player has a hand of eight action cards (numbered 1-8) as well as energy cards of different values and karma tokens. Each player selects one animal token and takes the corresponding animal card, which grants the player advantages during the race. All players place their animal token on the start space of the racetrack. Players assemble the dual-layered and double-sided action wheel that's used to determine the effectiveness of each action and place it in the center of the table. On a turn, all players select an action card and an energy card from their hand, then they reveal these cards simultaneously. If the action card selected is one value lower than the player's previously played action card, the player must spend one karma token; if two or more values lower, they must spend two karma tokens. Players then resolve all played actions based on the orientation of the wheel, ideally gaining movement, new energy cards, and karma. Everyone places their played cards face up in front of themselves, then rotate the wheel clockwise by one space and start a new turn. The first animal to complete the race earns the coveted right of having the first year of the Chinese Zodiac named after it! —description from the publisher
Designers
Publishers
- Capstone Games
- Starting Player
Questions and answers
Race for the Chinese Zodiac supports 3–5 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 Race for the Chinese Zodiac is 40–70 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 Race for the Chinese Zodiac 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.
Race for the Chinese Zodiac has a complexity rating of 2.9 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-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.
Race for the Chinese Zodiac belongs to these categories: Animals, Racing, and Mythology. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Hand Management, and Auction / Bidding. 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 Race for the Chinese Zodiac are: Christina Ng Zhen Wei and Yeo Keng Leong. 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 Race for the Chinese Zodiac 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.