- BGG rank
- BGG #181
- BGG rating
- 7.8
War Chest
- 2–4 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 2.3/5
- 2018
- BGG rank
- BGG #28,948
- BGG rating
- 5.3
Zener
2018
Rules assistance for Zener
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2 players
- 10–15 min
- 8+
- Complexity 1.0/5
Rules assistant for Zener
For 2 players
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Zener is a board game released in 2018 for 2 players, 10–15 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Carlos Seabra and its main mechanics are Grid Movement.
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About the game
Zener is a 2-player tactical move game inspired by the "Zener cards" used in experiments of extrasensory perception (ESP). Each player has 5 pieces with the same symbols as the Zener cards and in your turn must move two different pieces, being a mandatory movement and another free. The next player, in his first move, must move the piece with the same symbol that his opponent moved last (this is the mandatory movement). By moving your piece to the same quadrant of your opponent's piece you will block it by limiting your opponent's options. Win the game who first cross the board with any piece or block all of your opponent's pieces.
Editions
- ZenerMitra2018
Questions and answers
Zener supports 2 players according to the catalogue. This is the publisher’s listed player count, so the game is designed for exactly that number of participants. Variants for other group sizes, if any, are described in the rulebook of your edition, so check it before setting up a different configuration.
The listed playing time for Zener is 10–15 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 Zener 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.
Zener has a complexity rating of 1.0 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.
Zener belongs to these categories: Abstract Strategy. Its main mechanics are Grid Movement. 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 Zener are: Carlos Seabra. 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 Zener 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.