
- BGG rank
- BGG #29,260
- BGG rating
- 4.9
Ein Nilpferd kommt selten allein
- 3–8 players
- 60 min
- Complexity 1.5/5
- 1993

1988
Rules assistance for Roller Coaster Hippo
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Roller Coaster Hippo is a board game released in 1988 for 3–6 players, 60 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Bertram Kaes and Heiner Wöhning and its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Storytelling, and Singing.
Roller Coaster Hippo is a party game where players have to answer questions, mime, or model objects in clay. The hippopotamus who reaches the finishing line first, wins. Along the way, players are given funny tasks and participate in crazy events. Play typically lasts approximately one hour, although a 30-minute game is also described in the rules. This game has also been released in an advanced version as Ein Nilpferd kommt selten allein (Hippofolies Master)
Roller Coaster Hippo 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 Roller Coaster Hippo 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 Roller Coaster Hippo 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.
Roller Coaster Hippo has a complexity rating of 1.2 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.
Roller Coaster Hippo belongs to these categories: Party Game, Action / Dexterity, and Trivia. Its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Storytelling, and Singing. 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 Roller Coaster Hippo are: Bertram Kaes and Heiner Wöhning. 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 Roller Coaster Hippo 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.