
- BGG rank
- BGG #29,806
- BGG rating
- 5.2
MimiQ
- 2–4 players
- 10 min
- Complexity 1.0/5
- 2011

Rules assistance for Zoo Yatzy
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Zoo Yatzy is a board game released in 2011 for 2–99 players, 10 minutes per game, and ages 4 and up. It was designed by Kristian Dreinø and Freddy Andersen and its main mechanics are Dice Rolling.
In this Yahtzee-like dice game, players get to throw the five dice up to three times on their turn while attempting to make high-scoring sets, whether of animals, flags, or something else; many versions of this game have been released, and the symbols matter only for what you check off, not for a point value since each symbol is worth 1. Choose carefully which lines to score as each line can be scored only once! If all the possible choices for a roll have been filled, then you must score zero points on another line of your choice. If you score 18 or more points on the upper half of the score sheet, then you receive 10 bonus points. (Note that unlike Yahtzee, each symbol is worth only one point; note also that in the lower section, each line has a specific scoring combination, e.g. three elephants score only with two bears, not with a two of something else. Roll five identical items, and you get a 10-point bonus. Whoever has the highest score when all the score sheets are filled wins!
Zoo Yatzy supports 2–99 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 Zoo Yatzy 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 Zoo Yatzy for ages 4 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.
Zoo Yatzy 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.
Zoo Yatzy belongs to these categories: Animals, Children's Game, and Dice. Its main mechanics are Dice Rolling. 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 Zoo Yatzy are: Kristian Dreinø and Freddy Andersen. 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 Zoo Yatzy 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.