Ubongo Mini
Ubongo Mini Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Components
- 4 sets of 8 puzzle pieces (one set per player, 4 × 8 puzzle pieces in total).
- 32 task cards with 64 different tasks.
Task card notes:
- Each task card has two sides with different difficulty levels.
- A-side (easy task): requires 3 puzzle pieces.
- B-side (harder task): requires 4 puzzle pieces.
- Each card shows a card number and a building area (the bright area that must be covered).
- The sheet's diagram marks the difficulty levels as "A1" (A-side) and "B1" (B-side, labelled "Schwierigkeits-Level" = difficulty level).
- Each task has at least three solutions with different combinations of puzzle pieces.
Setup
Before the first game, carefully remove the puzzle pieces from their frames.
Take the 32 task cards. Each card has two sides with different difficulty levels:
- The A-sides show the easy tasks, which require 3 puzzle pieces each.
- The B-sides show the harder tasks, which require 4 puzzle pieces each.
For the first game, we recommend using the easy tasks. Turn all cards so that the A-side faces down, shuffle them, and place them as a face-down stack in the middle of the table. The tasks you are about to play should stay face down at first.
Number of task cards to use:
- With 2 players, you need 16 cards.
- With 3 players, you need 24 cards.
- With 4 players, you need all 32 cards.
Return any surplus cards to the box unseen.
Each player receives a set of 8 different puzzle pieces. Each task only needs 3 or 4 puzzle pieces, but you must work out for yourself which puzzle pieces fit. If there are fewer than 4 players, return the puzzle pieces you do not need to the box.
Gameplay
The youngest player begins. Play proceeds clockwise over 8 rounds.
Calling "Ubongo!"
- Whoever solves their own task first calls out "Ubongo!" The player then counts out loud (but not too fast) to 20 if you are playing with the A-sides, or to 30 if you are playing with the B-sides. Before the game, you may also agree on any other number.
- Whoever solved their task first keeps their card at the end of the round as a victory point and places it in front of them.
- The others keep playing while the count runs. Everyone who can also solve their task before time is up may keep their card at the end of the round as a victory point, too.
- When time is up, everyone must stop. Whoever finished first now also receives, as victory points, the cards of those who could not solve their task.
New round
The next round begins with the player to the left of the player who solved the task first in the previous round. Players take a new card in turn, and so on.
Each round proceeds as follows
- The starting player takes the top card from the stack and places it in front of them. The others then each take a card in turn. Important: do not look at the underside of your card yet.
- Once everyone has a card in front of them, all players turn their cards over simultaneously and the round begins.
- Everyone now tries to cover the bright building area of their building board with puzzle pieces as quickly as possible. The area must be completely covered. Nothing may protrude beyond the bright building area at the sides.
- You may rotate and flip the puzzle pieces as you wish.
End of the Game
The game ends after 8 rounds, that is, when the stack in the middle of the table has been used up. The player with the most cards as victory points wins. If several players have the highest score, they share the victory.
Solo Variant
To play alone, you need a clock. Try to solve as many tasks as possible in 5 (or 10 or 20) minutes.
Another solo variant is to time how long you need to solve 5 (or 10 or 20) tasks.
If you get stuck on a task, you may set it aside and draw a new card. Write down your results and try to set new records.
Increased Difficulty
For a harder game, leave out the yellow straight puzzle piece. You then only have 7 puzzle pieces available to solve the tasks. All tasks are still solvable.
You can also use this variant so that less experienced players play with the yellow straight puzzle piece while more advanced players play without it.