Kalah
Sow seeds around the board, plan your moves ahead, and fill your Kalah faster than your opponent.
Who it's for
You want a two-player abstract game that plays in minutes and rewards counting ahead. A lovely wooden board for the coffee table.
Not for you if…
You dislike pure abstract games or want a theme. This is seeds, pits, and arithmetic with no story.
Vibe's take
A calm, clicky counting game where every move ripples through the board. You start by sowing on instinct, then discover you can plan a chain several moves ahead.
About this game
The rule set most commercial Mancala boards actually use, invented in 1940 and patented in the 1950s. The board has two rows of six pits, plus a large store called a Kalah at each end. You own the six pits on your side and the store on your right, and every pit starts with four seeds. On your turn you scoop up all the seeds from one of your pits and sow them one by one counterclockwise, dropping some into your store along the way but never into your opponent's. Where your last seed lands decides whether you get another turn or a capture. It takes minutes to play, and thoughtful players can plan several moves ahead.
Get it
Mechanics
Categories
By the numbers
Players
Duration
10 min
Ages 6+
Complexity
1.6 / 5 — LightBGG Rating
5.9/10
Rank #4,348
8.2k ratings
Published
1940
Designed by
William Julius Champion Jr.
Published by
Schmidt Spiele, (Unknown), Parker Brothers, Queen Games, Spin Master Ltd. and 102 more
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