- BGG rank
- BGG #28,374
- BGG rating
- 4.9
Pirate Inc.
- 2 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 1.7/5
- 1985
- BGG rank
- BGG #28,996
- BGG rating
- 4.7
Riombo
1983
Rules assistance for Riombo
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–6 players
- 30 min
- 8+
- Complexity 1.4/5
Rules assistant for Riombo
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Riombo is a board game released in 1983 for 2–6 players, 30 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Reinhold Wittig and its main mechanics are Rock-Paper-Scissors.
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About the game
Players sail their canoe down the River Ombo trying to get the most 'stick' currency. On a player's turn everyone secretly chooses a number of sticks and then reveals them. The total number of sticks determines the number of spaces the player must move. Many of the spaces make the player lose sticks or gain sticks. At the end of the river a player chooses to take 10 sticks or to 'double' his canoe causing all event spaces to double their effect on the next journey down the river. Players must use bluff and guesswork to try to land on the good spaces and avoid the pirate spaces. The first player to get 80 sticks wins.
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Mattel, Inc.
- Edition Perlhuhn (Göttinger Spiele)
Questions and answers
Riombo 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 Riombo 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 Riombo 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.
Riombo has a complexity rating of 1.4 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.
Riombo belongs to these categories: Bluffing, Racing, and Pirates. Its main mechanics are Rock-Paper-Scissors. 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 Riombo are: Reinhold Wittig. 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 Riombo 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.