Ubongo Lines Rulebook

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

• General Rules
• Components
• Setup
• Gameplay
• Reward
• End of Round
• New Round
• End of Game
• Variant: Alternative Scoring
• Variant: For One Player

General Rules

Each player receives a set of 8 different pieces in their own color. At the start of each round, the players reveal a new card, and then each must build from their pieces the pattern shown on the card, so that exactly 2 layers are filled.

The player who builds it first calls "Ubongo!", turns the hourglass, and the other players have one minute to build their own patterns. The players receive gems for the patterns they build.

The player who collects the most valuable gems after 9 rounds wins.

Components

• 162 cards (with 324 different tasks)
• 32 pieces (8 per player)
• 1 hourglass
• 1 bag
• 1 round track
• 58 gems:
  • 10 rubies (red)
  • 19 sapphires (blue)
  • 19 ambers (yellow)
  • 10 emeralds (green)

Task cards: each card shows the difficulty level (for example "LEVEL 2-33", where 2 is the level and 33 is the task number), the piece numbers required (numbers 1 to 8), and the pattern to build. The card fronts come in three colors: green (lowest difficulty), yellow, or orange. The card backs are red (highest difficulty).

Setup

• Each player receives a set of 8 different pieces in their own color. If there are fewer than 4 players, return the unused pieces to the box.
• The card fronts come in three colors: green (lowest difficulty), yellow, or orange. The card backs are red (highest difficulty).
• Decide on the difficulty level you want to play. We recommend starting with the first level (green). All players may play at the same difficulty level, or at different levels (for example, parents may choose harder tasks than their children, to even out the chances).
• Draw 9 cards of the chosen difficulty level and place them in a stack in the middle of the table, with the chosen difficulty level facing down. Return the unused cards to the box.
• Take 9 ambers (yellow) and 9 sapphires (blue) from the bag and place them in the matching holes on the round track. These 18 gems are both the prize and the round counter.
• Prepare the hourglass.

Gameplay

• Draw a card from the top of the stack and place it in the middle of the table, with the chosen difficulty level facing up.
• The card shows which pieces each player will use (piece numbers 1 to 8).
• Each player searches for these pieces as quickly as possible.
• Once the pieces are found, each player must build exactly the pattern shown on the card, looking at it from their own side. The pattern must be built in full on two layers. No part of a piece may stick out, be placed on only one layer, or be positioned above the second layer. Pieces may be freely rotated and flipped.
• The player who completes the task first covers their pattern with their hand, calls "Ubongo!", and turns the hourglass. The other players have one minute to finish their patterns.
• As soon as someone notices that the sand has run out, they call "Stop!", and the game must be stopped immediately.

Reward

Everyone who completed their task within the time receives a reward.

1. The fastest player takes a sapphire from the round track and additionally draws 1 gem from the bag.
2. The second player takes an amber from the round track and additionally draws 1 gem from the bag.
3. The third player draws 1 gem from the bag.
4. The fourth player draws 1 gem from the bag.

Players who did not complete their task within the time do not receive any gems.

End of Round

The 9 sapphires and 9 ambers on the round track are also the round counters. After each round is played, 1 sapphire and 1 amber disappear from the track.

• If only the first player completed the task within the set time, they take a sapphire from the round track, and the amber is put into the bag.
• If no player completed their task, the sapphire and the amber from the round track are put into the bag.

At the end of the round, the used cards are placed in the box.

New Round

Draw a new card from the stack and build the next pattern according to the rules.

End of Game

The game ends after 9 rounds, that is, when no gem remains on the round track. Each player adds up the value of the gems they have collected:

• ruby = 4 points
• sapphire = 3 points
• emerald = 2 points
• amber = 1 point

The player who has earned the most points wins. If two or more players have the same number of points, each of the tied players takes part in a tiebreaker round. The one who completes the task first wins the game!

Example: A player at the end of the game has:

• 1 ruby: 4 points (1 × 4)
• 1 sapphire: 3 points (1 × 3)
• 3 emeralds: 6 points (3 × 2)
• 3 ambers: 3 points (3 × 1)

In total, they score 16 points.

Variant: Alternative Scoring

If you want to remove the random factor from scoring, use the following scoring: the fastest player receives 1 ruby, the second player 1 sapphire, the third player 1 emerald, and the fourth player 1 amber. (Players who did not build their pieces within the set time do not receive any gems.)

Variant: For One Player

If you want to play "Ubongo Lines" alone, you will need a watch or timer.

• Shuffle the cards of one color (or of several colors) and try to complete as many tasks as possible within 5, 10, or 20 minutes.
• In another variant, try to complete 5, 10, or 20 tasks in the shortest possible time.
• If you cannot complete a task, you may set the card aside and draw a new one.

Record your results and try to beat your own records.