Our Verdict
RECOMMENDED
If you love classic, simple games with plenty of interaction, Pachisi is a must-try. A game that blends luck and light strategy, perfect for families and beginners.
Highlights
- Easy to learn
- Great for family play
- Direct player interaction
Keep in mind
- Can be frustrating for those who dislike luck
- Variants without capture reduce the fun
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About the game
What you do in a play session
Pachisi is a classic board game dating back to the 4th century AD, originating from India and still very popular today. Each player controls a set of pawns that start in their corner of the board. The goal is to move all the pawns around the board to the area called 'home.' Movement is determined by dice rolls, and since all players share the same board, there's always a chance to capture opponents' pawns, sending them back to the start. The winner is the first player to get all their pawns home. There are various versions and variants of the game, including Parcheesi, the westernized version, and 'Wa-hoo,' a popular variant in Texas that features different rules and team play. Although there are versions that prohibit capturing pawns, this 'overprotective' variant is not recommended, as it takes away some of the fun and strategy of the game!
Gallery
Box and component photos
Tap any photo to open fullscreen. Photos submitted by the community or publisher.
Rules videos
Learn by watching before you open the box
Best player count
BGG community vote
2
REC
3
REC
4
BEST
5
OK
6
OK
Soundtrack
Ambience suggested by Melodice
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Mechanics, categories, families and credits
Mechanics
Categories
Families
Publisher
(Public Domain), (Self-Published), (Unknown), Adamigo, Adolf Johnsons förlag, Alexander, Alga, Allan Rity, Altap, Amerous Games, Arrow Games Ltd, ASS Altenburger Spielkarten, Beoplast, Berliner Spielkarten, Berwick's Toy Co. Ltd., Brimtoy, Brio AB, Brybelly, BSiri Business, The Canadian Group, Carlit, Cayro, The Games, Chad Valley Co Ltd., Chupa Chups, Clark & Sowdon, Clown Games, Coleco Industries, Inc., Comedy Central, Creative Crafthouse, Croner, Cutler & Saleeby, Daddy-O Productions, danspil, Dilemma Games, Diset S. A., Djeco, Dourios, Drechsler, E. E. Fairchild Corporation, Editions ATLAS, Editrice Giochi, eeBoo, Efko, Ekso, EX-IMP Kft., F.X. Schmid, Fætter BR, Flying Tiger Copenhagen, Fratelli Fabbri Editori (Fabbri Editore), Fun Connection, Funskool Games, Galison, Galt Toys, Geoludie, Gerling & Rockstroh, Gibsons, Glevum Games, Golden, Goliath Games, Granna, Graphic Studio Forsage, Graphische Kunstanstalt Robert Maiwald, Der Grüne Punkt, Guinness Exports Ltd, Gustav Weise Verlag, HABA, Hamleys, Hasbro, Holdson, House of Marbles, Hugo Gräfe Verlag, Inovac Rima SA, Inspirion, IPC Magazines, Inc., John Adams (IDEAL), John Jaques of London, John Waddington Ltd., Joseph Schneider, Jumbo, Kärnan, King International, Kitfix Swallow Group, Klee, Koliopoulos, KOSMOS, F. Krick, L. P. Septímio, LEGO, Lemeco, Leonardo, Litor, Longfield Games, Magnetic Poetry Inc, Majora, Marchant, Marigó, May Fortis ApS, MB Spellen, MB Spiele, McLoughlin Brothers, MEGAPLAST, Merit, Milton Bradley, MoBi, Monkey Pod Games, N.W. Damm & Søn (Damm), National Game Company, National Games, Inc., Nederlandse Spellenfabriek B.V. Amsterdam, Neroulia, Nilco S.A., Nintendo Co., Ltd., Noris Spiele, Oberschwäbische Magnetspiele, Oriental Trading Company, Otto Maier Verlag, Out Of The Blue KG, Palet spil, PanGraf, Papita, Pari Mutuel Urbain, Parker Brothers, Paul Lamond Games Ltd, Peri Spiele, Pertini Toys, Peter Pan Playthings, Piatnik, PICO PAO / Juegos de la Antigüedad, Pin International, Planet Finska, Plasticart, Poptoy, Pressman Toy Corp., Ramsons, Randtoy, Ravensburger AG, Retro Range Toys and Games, RGS Group, Saga, Sala, Schmidt Spiele, Schtelber, Selchow & Righter, Senet Belgium, Si-Si-Spiele, Simba Toys, Sladecolour Board Games, Small Foot Company, Smethport Specialty Co., Somerville Ltd., Søstrene Grene, Spear's Games, Die Spiegelburg, SPIKA GmbH, StirlingFox, Stockinger & Morsack, Super Accord, Tactic, Tofa Semily, Toltoys, Tomland, Tomy, [touch], Toy Brokers Ltd, The Toy Network, TR Crisp Graphics, Traditional Game & Toy Company, Transogram, Trefl, Trixy Games, United Labels AG, Usborne, VEB Landesdruckerei Sachsen, Viking Toys, Waddingtons, Waddy Production, Watkins Strathmore, Western Publishing Company, Westside Fun Games, Whitman, Wilder Manufacturing Co, Winning Moves Games (USA), Woodburn Series, Woodstock Spiele, Woolley & Co, WOSI "Wspólna Sprawa", WWF, Ο ΑΛΕΚΤΩΡ
Designer
(Uncredited)
Artist
(Uncredited), Albert Uderzo, Charles M. Schulz, Constanza Droop, Eelco Martinus ten Harmsen van der Beek, G. Husner, Herbert Leupin, Katja Witt, Kurt Brandes, Lizzy Rockwell, Michaela Kienle, Peyo, Predrag Lazovic, René Goscinny, Roger Hargreaves, Rune Andréasson, Silvia Christoph, Sławomir Jezierski, Yasmin Imamura
Community
Data from BoardGameGeek
11,153owners
180wishlist
7want to play
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers before you buy
How many players can play Pachisi?
The traditional game is for 2-4 players, but some versions support up to 6 or 8 players.
What is the average duration of a game?
A game usually lasts around 30 minutes.
Is Pachisi suitable for children?
Yes, it's a children's game with simple rules, ideal for kids aged 6 and up.
What's the difference between Pachisi and Parcheesi?
Parcheesi is the westernized version of Pachisi, with small variations in rules and board design.
Can I play in teams?
Yes, some variants like 'Wa-hoo' allow team play.
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