- BGG rank
- BGG #3,579
- BGG rating
- 6.8
Nobody Is Perfect
- 3–10 players
- 45 min
- Complexity 1.5/5
- 1992
- BGG rank
- BGG #5,388
- BGG rating
- 6.3
The Mole in the Hole
1995
Rules assistance for The Mole in the Hole
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–4 players
- 30 min
- 8+
- Complexity 1.3/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for The Mole in the Hole
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
The Mole in the Hole is a board game released in 1995 for 2–4 players, 30 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Bertram Kaes and Virginia Charves and its main mechanics are Race, Point to Point Movement, and Modular Board.
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About the game
A children's game that is equally entertaining for adults. Players move their moles, who are on a quest to dig underground searching for The Golden Shovel. A distinctive feature of this game is the multi-part board - there are four boards laid on top of each other, each with holes in it leading 'down' to the next level. Players move their moles to those holes and, when one board is 'complete' (i.e., all holes occupied), the board, and any moles remaining on it, are removed from play. Players continue working their way down from level to level, each board having fewer holes than the previous, until they reach the final level, which has only one hole leading to The Golden Shovel. A simple race-to-the-finish game with fun, colorful playing pieces, just as much fun with or without the kids! This game is actually a mild re-working of Inner Circle, also called Top Star, by Virginia Charves. Thematically re-implemented as Up And Down.
Categories
Designers
Publishers
- Grow Jogos e Brinquedos
- Ravensburger AG
- VAKKO
Questions and answers
The Mole in the Hole 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 The Mole in the Hole 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 The Mole in the Hole 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.
The Mole in the Hole has a complexity rating of 1.3 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.
The Mole in the Hole belongs to these categories: Animals and Children's Game. Its main mechanics are Race, Point to Point Movement, 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 The Mole in the Hole are: Bertram Kaes and Virginia Charves. 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 The Mole in the Hole 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.