- BGG rank
- BGG #21,688
- BGG rating
- 5.7
Winston
- 2–6 players
- 15–25 min
- Complexity 1.0/5
- 2018
- BGG rank
- BGG #23,433
- BGG rating
- 5.7
Zogen
2018
Rules assistance for Zogen
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–6 players
- 20 min
- 6+
- Complexity 1.7/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Zogen
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Zogen is a board game released in 2018 for 2–6 players, 20 minutes per game, and ages 6 and up. It was designed by Christoph Cantzler and Anja Wrede and its main mechanics are Matching, Pattern Building, and Real-Time.
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About the game
In Zogen, a.k.a. ゾーゲン, the player researchers want to rid themselves of their microorganism cards as quickly as they can, but they can do so only by observing the current lab environment and watching the one thing that changes, then "recording" it by playing their card. In more detail, each player starts with a hand of sixteen cards, with each card showing 0-4 types of microorganisms, which are named "Maru", "Tsuki", "Yama", and "Siri". The start player for the round places one of their cards face up on the table, then everyone plays at once, trying to lay down a card that differs from the initial card by exactly one microorganism, whether one more or one less. Thus, if a card shows "Maru" and "Tsuki", you can lay down a card that shows either "Maru" or "Tsuki" or a card that shows "Maru" and "Tsuki" along with one of the previously missing microorganisms. You must say the name of the microorganism that is added or removed when you play a card, then everyone must match the card that you just played. When a player has only three cards in hand, the round ends and players score points based on their rank in terms of how many cards they hold. Whoever has the most points after you've played the agreed-upon number of rounds wins.
Categories
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Oink Games
Questions and answers
Zogen 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 Zogen is 20 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 Zogen for ages 6 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.
Zogen has a complexity rating of 1.7 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.
Zogen belongs to these categories: Card Game, Children's Game, and Number. Its main mechanics are Matching, Pattern Building, and Real-Time. 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 Zogen are: Christoph Cantzler and Anja Wrede. 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 Zogen 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.