Japanese Mancala

Also known as: Mancala Basic

Japanese Mancala is a board game for 2 to 4 players, about 10 minutes. Empty your own side first and you win. Free. In-browser. No account.

2–410BoardRanked playCPU available

Play with friends Play vs CPU

Joining is free, and no account is needed.Learn how to play (3 min)

Japanese Mancala in 30 seconds

SetupEach player has six pockets with four stones in each, and a store at their right-hand end.
PlayPick one of your pockets, lift every stone, and drop them one at a time into the pockets going anticlockwise. Stores count.
Extra turnIf your last stone lands in any store, you sow again.
WinningThe first player whose own side is completely empty wins.

At a glance

The numbers for this game. These match the actual game implementation.
Item	This game
Players	2–4 players
Play time	About 10 min
Type	Board
Ranked play	Yes
Practice against the CPU	Yes
Price	Free (no account needed)
Rights holder	A public-domain classic game
Last updated	2026-09-14

How to play Japanese Mancala online

Tap "Play with friends"A party is created with a 6-character code. No account is needed.
Send a link or QR codeShare it on LINE, or just read the code aloud.
Everyone opens it in a browserOnce 2–4 players have joined, the host taps "Start".

Rule highlights

Setup

This is the version of mancala spread in Japan by the Japan Recreation Association, where you win by emptying your own side. 2 to 4 players, each owning six pockets (seven or four by setting) and one store.
Put four stones (three by setting) in every pocket. The stores start empty.
Turns pass anticlockwise. Your own side is always drawn along the bottom of the screen.

How to play

Choose one of your pockets and lift every stone out of it. Empty pockets cannot be chosen.
Sow those stones one at a time into the following pockets, going anticlockwise.
You sow through your own store and through everyone else's. A stone in a store is out of play for good.
With enough stones you go right round the board. The pocket you emptied is not skipped.
If your last stone lands in any store, you take another turn.

Winning

If your own side is empty the moment you finish sowing, you win.
With 3 or 4 players the winner's pockets and store are lifted off the board and the rest play on. Finishing order is the ranking, and whoever is left last comes last.
Turn that setting off and the game stops at the first player to empty their side; the rest are ranked by how few stones they have left.
You may also resign, which puts you last.

House rules

Default is this site’s setting. Changeable shows whether the party can change it.
Name	Description	Default	Changeable
Pockets each	How many pockets each player owns. With 2 players choose six or seven; with 3 or 4 players choose six or four. A number that does not fit the table falls back to six.	Six	Can be changed
Stones per pocket	How many stones start in each pocket. Fewer stones means a shorter game.	Four	Can be changed
Play out for full ranking	Only applies with 3 or 4 players. On, the winner is lifted off the board and the rest play on until everyone is placed. Off, the game stops at the first player to empty their side. With 2 players it makes no difference.	On	Can be changed
Swap who starts	Swap the starting player after each game.	On	Can be changed

Read the full rules Improve your game

FAQ

How many people can play?

Two to four. With three players the left-hand side of the board is left open.

Can I practise alone?

Yes. Choose Practise alone to play the computer. A computer seat works at any table size.

Can I play if I have never tried it?

Yes. The tutorial takes you from sowing to winning in about three minutes.

Is this the same game as Mancala (Kalah)?

Same equipment, different goal. Here you win by emptying your own side; in Kalah — the version most English speakers call Mancala — you win by collecting the most stones. It is listed as its own game.

Is there a clock?

No. Take as long as you like. After three minutes of no moves the page gives you a nudge.

Can I play at school or work (unblocked)?

Yes. Japanese Mancala runs entirely in your browser, with nothing to download or install, so it works on most school and work networks that block app stores or game downloads. If your network blocks the whole site, ask an administrator to allow boardgamejoin.com.

Is there a 2 player mode?

Yes — Japanese Mancala works with 2 players, and up to 4 once more people join.

Can I play against the computer?

Yes. Press “Play vs CPU” on the Japanese Mancala page to start right away against a computer opponent — no waiting for other players.

Can I play on a phone?

Yes. No app is needed — just open it in a browser. You can join the same party as people on a PC or tablet.

Can two people play?

Yes. This game supports 2 or more players.

Rights holder and physical edition

This is a public-domain classic game. The rules follow the standard reference rules.

Related games

Same type (Board)

Same player count

Last updated 2026-09-14 · Run by Qdan, Inc.