- BGG rank
- BGG #23,054
- BGG rating
- 5.8
Zatre: Das Kartenspiel
- 2–4 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 1.4/5
- 2006
- BGG rank
- BGG #9,692
- BGG rating
- 6.3
Zatre
1990
Rules assistance for Zatre
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–6 players
- 45 min
- 8+
- Complexity 2.0/5
Rules assistant for Zatre
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Zatre is a board game released in 1990 for 2–6 players, 45 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Manfred Schuling and its main mechanics are Tile Placement.
Similar games
- BGG rank
- BGG #99
- BGG rating
- 7.7
Azul
- 2–4 players
- 30–45 min
- Complexity 1.8/5
- 2017
- BGG rank
- BGG #135
- BGG rating
- 7.7
Tigris & Euphrates
- 2–4 players
- 60–120 min
- Complexity 3.5/5
- 1997
- BGG rank
- BGG #149
- BGG rating
- 7.6
Patchwork
- 2 players
- 15–30 min
- Complexity 1.6/5
- 2014
- BGG rank
- BGG #246
- BGG rating
- 7.6
Azul: Summer Pavilion
- 2–4 players
- 30–45 min
- Complexity 2.1/5
- 2019
- BGG rank
- BGG #278
- BGG rating
- 7.5
Calico
- 1–4 players
- 30–45 min
- Complexity 2.2/5
- 2020
- BGG rank
- BGG #286
- BGG rating
- 7.5
Samurai
- 2–4 players
- 30–60 min
- Complexity 2.4/5
- 1998
- BGG rank
- BGG #334
- BGG rating
- 7.3
Kingdomino
- 2–4 players
- 15–25 min
- Complexity 1.2/5
- 2016
- BGG rank
- BGG #337
- BGG rating
- 7.3
Hive
- 2 players
- 20 min
- Complexity 2.3/5
- 2001
- BGG rank
- BGG #386
- BGG rating
- 7.4
Project L
- 1–4 players
- 20–40 min
- Complexity 1.6/5
- 2020
- BGG rank
- BGG #445
- BGG rating
- 7.5
Akropolis
- 1–4 players
- 20–30 min
- Complexity 1.8/5
- 2022
- BGG rank
- BGG #520
- BGG rating
- 7.3
Azul: Stained Glass of Sintra
- 2–4 players
- 30–45 min
- Complexity 2.0/5
- 2018
About the game
Zatre is short for Zahlen & Treppen, numbers and steps. The publisher was obliged to replace the phrase "scrabbling with numbers" for "dominoes for the 21st century" on the box, but really it is just Scrabble with numbers. And very good for it, it is too. There are 121 tiles with 1-6 dots like a standard die or domino (20 of each number plus an extra 1). Players alternately draw and place 2 tiles on the board extending the pattern already laid. When you make a vertical or horizontal line that totals 10, 11 or 12 (12 is the limit), you score 1, 2 or 4 points accordingly on your game pad. Completing scoring lines on the pad gives a rising bonus and covering marked squares on the board gives you a doubling bonuses on your pad. Simple and quick, but surprisingly challenging when you get the idea. The idea being that you must keep an even, balanced score pad, scoring 10s and 11s, not just successive 12s. Easy to pick up, but it requires some effort to score well; spotting those opportunities to place one tile which scores each way, making sure you keep clocking up 10s, to turn into 11s or 12s. Luck does play a role, but good players consistently score highly game after game, so there must be something deeper at work. The publisher Perner maintains a website with play & chat over the internet and there are several very active Zatre clubs in Germany, Austria & Switzerland. Players results are scored on the ranking table on the website. Re-implemented by: Zatre: Das Kartenspiel
Categories
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- AMIGO
- Peri Spiele
- Perner Produktions GmbH
- Newcome Spiele Vertrieb
Questions and answers
Zatre supports 2–6 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 Zatre 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 Zatre 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.
Zatre has a complexity rating of 2.0 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.
Zatre belongs to these categories: Abstract Strategy. Its main mechanics are Tile Placement. 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 Zatre are: Manfred Schuling. 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 Zatre 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.