- BGG rating
- 7.1
Ubongo: Die Erweiterung für 5-6 Spieler
- 2–6 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 1.6/5
- 2010
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,590
- BGG rating
- 6.7
Ubongo
2003
Rules assistance for Ubongo
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 1–4 players
- 25 min
- 8+
- Complexity 1.5/5
For 1 player
Rules assistant for Ubongo
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Ubongo is a board game released in 2003 for 1–4 players, 25 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Grzegorz Rejchtman and its main mechanics are Set Collection, Pattern Building, and Grid Coverage.
Expansions
Similar games
- BGG rank
- BGG #2,117
- BGG rating
- 7.1
Ubongo 3D
- 2–4 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 1.9/5
- 2009
- BGG rank
- BGG #3,480
- BGG rating
- 6.7
Ubongo Extreme
- 2–4 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 1.9/5
- 2007
- BGG rank
- BGG #3,650
- BGG rating
- 6.8
Ubongo: Duel
- 2 players
- 15–40 min
- Complexity 1.8/5
- 2008
- BGG rank
- BGG #17,181
- BGG rating
- 5.6
Ubongo Mini
- 1–4 players
- 10 min
- Complexity 1.2/5
- 2007
- BGG rank
- BGG #4,056
- BGG rating
- 6.8
Tuki
- 2–4 players
- 30–45 min
- Complexity 1.1/5
- 2019
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,054
- BGG rating
- 7.3
Fit to Print
- 1–6 players
- 15–30 min
- Complexity 2.1/5
- 2023
- BGG rank
- BGG #2,647
- BGG rating
- 6.5
Space Cadets
- 3–6 players
- 60–120 min
- Complexity 2.8/5
- 2012
- BGG rank
- BGG #5,044
- BGG rating
- 6.4
Batavia
- 3–5 players
- 45–60 min
- Complexity 2.4/5
- 2008
- BGG rank
- BGG #325
- BGG rating
- 7.3
Galaxy Trucker
- 2–4 players
- 60 min
- Complexity 2.3/5
- 2007
- BGG rank
- BGG #211
- BGG rating
- 7.6
The Isle of Cats
- 1–4 players
- 60–90 min
- Complexity 2.4/5
- 2019
- BGG rank
- BGG #227
- BGG rating
- 7.5
Sagrada
- 1–4 players
- 45 min
- Complexity 1.9/5
- 2017
- BGG rank
- BGG #277
- BGG rating
- 7.5
Calico
- 1–4 players
- 30–45 min
- Complexity 2.2/5
- 2020
About the game
In Ubongo, players compete to solve individual puzzles as quickly as they can to get first crack at the gems on hand for the taking. Original edition: The game board consists of six rows, with twelve gems (of various colors) placed in these rows. At the start of play, each player places their pawn in front of one of those rows. Each player also takes twelve polyominoes — that is, pieces consisting of 2-5 squares in some configuration; players use these pieces each round to try to recreate shapes. At the start of a round, each player receives a puzzle card that depicts a shape created by some number of squares; one side of this card depicts six rows of 3 pieces, the other side depicts six rows of 4 pieces, for a more difficult puzzle. When everyone is ready, someone rolls a die to determine which row of pieces each player can use to recreate the shape on their individual card. The race is timed by a sand timer, and the outcome of this race determines the action on the main playing board. Whoever first solves their puzzle in time gets to move their pawn up to three rows left or right, with the second player to finish moving two rows and the third player only one row. Players then collect two gems from the front of the row where their pawn is located, which means that the more rows you can move, the more control you have over which color gems you can collect. After collecting gems, each player receives a new puzzle card, and a new round begins. After nine rounds, the game ends and whoever has collected the most gems in a single color wins! If players tie, then those players compare who has the most gems in a second color, and so on. 2015 edition: The puzzle-part of the game remains the same, but the scoring track and system has been greatly changed, to be the same as in Ubongo Extreme. There are no pawns anymore, but instead the winner takes a 3-point gem plus a random gem, the second-place player takes a 1-point gem plus a random gem, and others who finish within time take just a random gem. Whoever scores the most gem-points after nine rounds wins the game.
Designers
Publishers
- Devir
- Kaissa Chess & Games
- Kod Kod
- Korea Boardgames
- Swan Panasia Co., Ltd.
- SuperHeated Neurons
- Kärnan
- Four Esses
- Giochi Uniti
- Magellan
- KOSMOS
- Vennerød Forlag AS
- YOKA Games
- Albi
- Competo / Marektoy
- Laser plus
- Egmont Polska
- University Games
- HomoLudicus
- Stupor Mundi
- Igroljub
- Filosofia Éditions
- White Goblin Games
- Brain Games
- Z-Man Games
- IELLO
- Fantasmagoria
- GP Games
- Piatnik Distribution
Questions and answers
Ubongo supports 1–4 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 Ubongo is 25 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 Ubongo 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.
Ubongo has a complexity rating of 1.5 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.
Ubongo belongs to these categories: Puzzle and Real-time. Its main mechanics are Set Collection, Pattern Building, and Grid Coverage. 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 Ubongo are: Grzegorz Rejchtman. 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 Ubongo 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.