- BGG rank
- BGG #1,058
- BGG rating
- 7.2
Container
- 3–5 players
- 60–90 min
- Complexity 3.2/5
- 2007
- BGG rank
- BGG #26,392
- BGG rating
- 5.5
Zanzibar
2007
Rules assistance for Zanzibar
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 45 min
- 10+
- Complexity 2.2/5
Rules assistant for Zanzibar
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Zanzibar is a board game released in 2007 for 2–5 players, 45 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Franz-Benno Delonge and its main mechanics are Pick-up and Deliver.
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About the game
The newest game in Winning Moves Deutschland's series of small square boxes (Spielvergnügen im Quadrat). Each player has a similar deck of 10 tasks but only two cards are in hand at a time. Each player also has up to six merchants (depending on the number of players) of different height and with different numbers on them, which are distributed over the islands and seas of Zanzibar. After the inital set-up, the players draw their two hand cards, and have to fulfill the tasks on these (either to occupy as many spaces in a certain area as possible or as many places with a certain spice scattered all over the island). The merchants have different characteristics. For example, smaller ones are faster but the larger ones are stronger, so they can displace them. Points are gained by fulfilling tasks. The better you fulfill the task, the more points you get. But you also have to decide, wether to reject a task or score quickly, even if you get negative score, just to get a better task and force the game to its end. Each player must also reject one or two tasks (depending on the number of players) during the game. The game ends when one player has fulfilled 9 (or 8 with 4 or 5 players) of his tasks. The player with most points wins.
Categories
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Winning Moves Germany
Questions and answers
Zanzibar 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 Zanzibar is 45 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 Zanzibar for ages 10 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.
Zanzibar 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.
Zanzibar belongs to these categories: Economic. Its main mechanics are Pick-up and Deliver. 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 Zanzibar are: Franz-Benno Delonge. 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 Zanzibar 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.