- BGG rank
- BGG #23,596
- BGG rating
- 6.0
Das Störrische Muli
- 3–5 players
- 20 min
- Complexity 1.0/5
- 1999
- BGG rank
- BGG #22,149
- BGG rating
- 5.9
Stubborn Mules
2022
Rules assistance for Stubborn Mules
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–5 players
- 20 min
- 8+
- Complexity 1.0/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Stubborn Mules
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Stubborn Mules is a board game released in 2022 for 2–5 players, 20 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Hartmut Kommerell and its main mechanics are Roll / Spin and Move.
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About the game
NOTE: Compared to the former Das Störrische Muli edition, this one is for 2–5 players instead of 3–5 and you have one more die and therefore more choices and some other movement. The game is quite simple and definitely family fare. Players race mules and men to the end of the track and back. However, it has some interesting features, particularly in the determination of the winner. Depending upon the number of players, in addition to the mules, there are 1 - 3 men in the race, each of a unique color. Each player guides a mule. On a turn, three color dice are rolled and the appropriate tokens moved forward. If two of the same color are rolled, then that token moves backwards one space. But if all three dice show the same color, this mule runs three spaces ahead. Simple enough so far. The twist is that the next player may opt to keep intact one or two of the dice and only roll the remaining ones. This subtle rules twist allows for some 'catch-up' ability, as well as some nice hoseage as it makes it possible to move one player's token on several consecutive turns if all players keep that color intact. This may sound like a good thing for the affected player, but in reality being the first to cross the finish line is NOT always the best occurrence. What? Well, the game has a very clever mechanism to determine the winner. If you are the first player to have your token cross the finish line, then you only win if the last piece remaining on the track is a man piece. Otherwise, if the final piece remaining is a mule, then that player is the winner! So, you have to make a judgment during the game as to whether you want to try to finish first or last, then attempt to move the other pieces accordingly.
Questions and answers
Stubborn Mules supports 2–5 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 Stubborn Mules is 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 Stubborn Mules 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.
Stubborn Mules 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.
Stubborn Mules belongs to these categories: Dice and Racing. Its main mechanics are Roll / Spin and Move. 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 Stubborn Mules are: Hartmut Kommerell. 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 Stubborn Mules 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.