
- BGG rank
- BGG #8,842
- BGG rating
- 6.8
Red Carpet
- 2–4 players
- 30–45 min
- Complexity 2.0/5
- 2025

2021
Rules assistance for SenbaZuru
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
For 2 players

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
SenbaZuru is a board game released in 2021 for 2 players, 15–20 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Pau Moré Gómez and Anna Lucini Canals and its main mechanics are Hand Management and Tile Placement.
Senbazuru is an ancient Japanese legend that says that anyone who makes a thousand paper cranes will receive the favor of one crane. The thousand origami became a symbol of peace in Japan from the story of Sadako Sasaki (1943-1955). In this exclusive strategy game for two players we will have to build origami and place them on the table, if we place them well, we will be able to keep the opponent's origami. Each player, in turn order place one of the 4 tales from their hand, catching all the origami place in one diagonal line of the same color. then draws a new tile. The're some tiles with special effects alowing you to win more point or block some origami lines.
SenbaZuru supports 2 players according to the catalogue. This is the publisher’s listed player count, so the game is designed for exactly that number of participants. Variants for other group sizes, if any, are described in the rulebook of your edition, so check it before setting up a different configuration.
The listed playing time for SenbaZuru is 15–20 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 SenbaZuru for ages 10 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.
SenbaZuru has a complexity rating of 1.7 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.
SenbaZuru belongs to these categories: Abstract Strategy. Its main mechanics are Hand Management and Tile Placement. 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 SenbaZuru are: Pau Moré Gómez and Anna Lucini Canals. 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 SenbaZuru 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.