
- BGG rank
- BGG #6,100
- BGG rating
- 6.8
Genius Square
- 1–2 players
- 5–30 min
- Complexity 1.0/5
- 2018

2007
Rules assistance for Yavalath
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.
Yavalath is a board game released in 2007 for 2–3 players, 10 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Cameron Browne and its main mechanics are Hexagon Grid and Pattern Building.
Yavalath is an abstract strategy game for two players. Players strive to make a straight line of 4 pieces of their colour, but lose if they make a line of 3 before doing so. The board (a hexagon 5 spaces on a side) is initially empty. Players take turns placing a piece of their colour on an empty cell. Yavalath was invented / discovered by a game-generating computer program developed by Cameron Browne as part of his Ph.D. research.
Yavalath supports 2–3 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 Yavalath is 10 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 Yavalath 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.
Yavalath has a complexity rating of 2.2 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-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.
Yavalath belongs to these categories: Print & Play and Abstract Strategy. Its main mechanics are Hexagon Grid and Pattern Building. 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 Yavalath are: Cameron Browne. 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 Yavalath 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.