List of mancala games
Games in the mancala family include:
Popular games
The most widely played games are probably:- Bao is a complex strategy game of Kenya and Tanzania, played on a 4×8 board.
- Kalah is the ruleset usually included with commercially available boards; however, the game is heavily biased towards the first player, and it is often considered a children's game. The board is 2×6 with stores. The Pie rule can be used to balance the first-player's advantage.
- Oware, the national game of Ghana, is also known by Warri, Ayo, Awele, Awari, Ouril, and other names. It has relatively simple rules but considerable strategic depth. The board is 2×6.
- Omweso is a strategic game of Uganda, played on a 4×8 board.
- Pallanguzhi is played in Tamil Nadu, Southern India with 2 x 7 stores. Two varieties of this game are popular, Kaashi and Bank.
Games with unusual features
- Bohnenspiel is a German mancala based on a Persian game not unlike some African mancala variants. The board is 2×6 with 2 stores.
- ǁHus is a Namibian game. The board is 4×8.
Modern adaptations
- Bantumi, featured on many early Nokia phones such as the Nokia 3310
- Conga
- Cups
- Devil Bunny Hates the Earth, where you try to save the world by jamming taffy machines.
- Oh-Wah-Ree is a commercial variant of Oware with provision for more than two players.
- 55Stones is a modern mancala game with simultaneous moves.
- Kauri is a modern mancala game with two kinds of seeds.
- Mangala
- Space Walk is a modern boardgame with mancala mechanic.
- Trajan is a modern boardgame variant with mancala mechanic.
- Five Tribes is a modern boardgame variant with mancala mechanic.
- Ostia is a modern boardgame variant with mancala mechanic.
Traditional variants
- Abangah The board is 2×8 with stores.
- Adji-boto
- Agsinnoninka
- Alemungula
- Ali Guli Mane
- Andada
- Anywoli
- Aw-li On-nam Ot-tjin
- Aweet
- Ayoayo
- Ba-awa The board is 2×6 with stores.
- Bajangkaq
- Bāqūra
- Bay Khom
- Bau
- Beatta
- Bohnenspiel
- Chenna Maaney
- Chisolo
- Chonka
- Chongka, or Tchonka
- Choro
- Chuncajon
- Congkak The board is 2×7 with stores.
- Coro
- Dakon
- Dara-dara
- Daramutu
- Ellaewala-kanda
- El Arnab
- En Gehé
- Endodoi
- Enkeshui
- Eson xorgol
- Gabata
- Galatjang
- Giuthi
- Göçürme
- Halusa
- Hawalis
- Hoyito
- Igisoro
- Ingilith
- Isafu
- Isafuba
- Isolo
- J'erin
- Kakumei
- Kale
- Kaloleh
- Kapo
- Kanji guti
- Katro
- Khutka boia
- Kiela
- Kiothi
- Kisolo
- Kotu-baendum
- Kombe
- Köçürme
- Krur
- Kubuguza
- La'b Madjnuni
- La'b Hakimi, or La'b Akila
- La'b Roseya
- Lamlameta
- Latho
- Layli Goobalay
- Li'b al-ghashim
- Longbeu-a-cha
- Lontu-Holo
- Madji
- Main chakot
- Mak Khom
- Makonn
- Mancala'h
- Mandoli
- Mangala
- Mangola
- Matoe
- Mawkar katiya
- Mbau
- Mbothe
- Mechiwa
- Mefuvha
- Melegayası The board is 2×9 with stores.
- Mereköçdü The board is a circle of six holes. Each player has 21 stones.
- Meuchoh
- Meulieh
- Meusueb
- Meuta'
- Minkale (Bin Kale)
- Mongale
- Naranj
- Nchorokoto
- Nsolo
- Ntxuva A traditional game from sub-Saharan Africa with most likely origins in Egypt.
- Ô ăn quan game is 2 mandarin boxes x5 ponds each, with 25 stones or tamarind seeds each
- Obridjie
- Olo
- Ouril
- Oh’valhu-gondi 2 players play with cowrie shells.
- Pachgarhwa
- Pallanguzhi, also known as Pallankuli.
- Pereauni
- Poo
- Puhulmuti
- Sai
- Sat-gol
- Songo
- Sungka
- Til-guti
- Tsoro
- Toee
- Togyzkumalak
- Toguz korgool The board is 2×9 with stores.
- Ünee tugalluulakh
- Vaamana Guntalu
- Vai Lung Thlan
- Walak-pussa
- Warra
- Wa-wee
- 散窯
- 老牛棋
- 分六煲棋