
- BGG rank
- BGG #23,773
- BGG rating
- 6.0
Switchboard
- 2–4 players
- 45 min
- Complexity 1.8/5
- 1966

Rules assistance for Shifti
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.
Shifti is a board game released in 1977 for 2–4 players, 30 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Design Associates and its main mechanics are Tile Placement and Modular Board.
Shifti is similar to the game Shuttles, but four people can play. Players roll dice with stars and pips, and can move pieces when pips show up, and can shift the playing field when stars show up. If stars show up on both dice, your turn is over. To complicate matters, you can only move on black squares. First to get all four pieces kitty corner across the board wins, like in Pachisi.
Shifti supports 2–4 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 Shifti 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 Shifti 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.
Shifti has a complexity rating of 1.0 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.
Shifti belongs to these categories: Dice and Abstract Strategy. Its main mechanics are Tile Placement and Modular Board. 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 Shifti are: Design Associates. 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 Shifti 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.