Ada's Library

Eurogames, Playte, Descartes Editeur · Board game · 2003
2 · best 2 20 min Weight 1.7/5
rating Ludopedia
6.4 rating BGG
Buy · from US$ 21.99
rating Ludopedia
6.4 rating BGG
Our Verdict
RECOMMENDED

Enjoy a quick and strategic organizing duel? Ada's Library is a little card game that tests your ability to arrange books before your opponent, with tactical moves reminiscent of pocket chess.

Highlights
  • Two-player shelf organizing duel
  • Fast tactical moves
  • Simple to learn
  • Ideal for two players
Keep in mind
  • Can feel a bit repetitive
  • Relies on card draw luck
  • Objective can change
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About the game

What you do in a play session

In Ada's Library, you and your opponent face off in a book-organizing battle! The goal is straightforward: arrange the ten books on your personal shelf to perfectly match the order of books on the master shelf. Each player starts with ten books in the order they were drawn, and a line of six master cards sets the pattern to be copied. To aid you (or hinder your opponent!) in this mission, you have a deck of action cards. On your turn, you can play a card to make strategic moves: swap the positions of two books, move a book to a new spot (without exceeding the shelf's limits), place a book at either end, swap the books on the ends, or even swap a book of yours with one from your opponent's display. There are also cards that manipulate the master shelf, changing the target order! As soon as your personal shelf perfectly mirrors the master shelf, you win instantly. The game is fast, to the point, and requires you to think about optimizing your actions to achieve the desired pattern before your adversary does. A tactical contest where every move counts towards organizing the perfect library!

Rules videos

Learn by watching before you open the box

1 videos

Best player count

BGG community vote

Duel · 2 players
2 BEST

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Game details

Mechanics, categories, families and credits

Families

Players: Two-Player Only Games Theme: Books / Libraries Theme: Shelving
Publisher Eurogames, Playte, Descartes Editeur
Designer Amanda Greenvoss, Zach Greenvoss
Artist Cyril Saint Blancat, Wanjin Gill

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers before you buy

7 questions
How many players can play Ada's Library?
Ada's Library is exclusively for 2 players, perfect for a quick duel!
How long does a game take?
A game is super fast, usually around 20 minutes, ideal for those who want a quick play.
What is the main objective of the game?
The goal is to be the first to arrange the ten books on your personal shelf in the same order as the books on the master shelf.
What are the action cards?
Action cards allow you to move, swap, or rearrange books on your shelf or even the master shelf, being essential to achieve the desired pattern.
Is Ada's Library a difficult game to learn?
No, the rules are quite straightforward and easy to grasp. The complexity comes from the tactical decisions during the game.
Is the library theme important to the gameplay?
The theme is light, but the book-arranging mechanic is central. It's an abstract game with a pleasant thematic touch.
Is there much player interaction?
Yes, there is direct interaction, mainly through cards that allow swapping books between shelves, which can disrupt the opponent's plan.

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