Tabletop games
Hexomino
Nature & Découvertes
- players
- 2–4
- minutes
- 30
- years
- 5+
In the box
56 double-sided hexominos (colours and numbers) · 1 storage bag
The basics
Each player keeps five hidden tiles and places them in turn against those on the table, to score as many points as possible. On the numbers side, a tile must touch at least two sides already placed and match the printed circles; you score the sum of its numbers, plus 10, 20, 30 or 40 points when it touches three, four, five or six sides, and 5 more for a triple. A player who cannot place loses 10 points and swaps a tile. At the end, everyone subtracts the numbers on the tiles they could not place; the highest total wins. On the colours side, for the youngest, one side is enough and each side touched is worth a point from two upwards.
Translated from the French page, checked against the official rulebook · October 2026
Setup
The 56 tiles mixed in the bag; five each, stood on their edge, hidden from the others.
- 56 wooden tiles, the hexominos, with two sides: a colours side for the youngest and a numbers side for older players. Choose the side you play with before starting.
- Mix the tiles in the bag. Each player draws five and stands them on their edge in front of them, so the others cannot see them.
How to play
Place a tile against at least two sides, matching the circles, then draw to keep five.
- On the numbers side, the player with the highest triple starts; if nobody has one, the player whose tile adds up to the most points. They place it in the middle of the table.
- Play then goes clockwise. After placing, draw a tile from the bag: you always keep five while there are tiles left.
- A tile is placed against at least two sides of tiles already in place; only the second player, on their first turn, may touch just one. You must also match the shape of the circles printed on the tiles (figure 1 of the rules).
- A player who cannot place loses 10 points, swaps one of their tiles for another drawn at random from the bag, and the turn passes.
- Points are written down turn by turn.
Scoring
Sum of the numbers, plus 10 to 40 for the sides touched and 5 for a triple; −10 if you cannot place.
- On the numbers side, you score the sum of the numbers on the tile you have just placed.
- Bonus for the sides in contact: three sides, +10; four, +20; five, +30; six, +40.
- Placing a triple scores 5 more points.
- Being unable to place costs 10 points.
- Colours side, for the youngest: play the same way, but a tile may be placed against a single side; it then scores nothing.
- Colours side, each tile scores as many points as sides in contact, from two upwards: 2 points for two sides, 3 for three, and so on up to 6.
- Colours side, a tile of a single colour scores 2 more points.
End of the game
Everyone subtracts the numbers on the tiles they could not place; the highest total wins.
- At the end, a player left with tiles they cannot place subtracts the sum of their numbers from their score.
- The highest total wins.
House rules and pitfalls
The rules do not say exactly when the game stops: it usually ends when the bag is empty and nobody can place…
- The rules do not say exactly when the game stops: it usually ends when the bag is empty and nobody can place any more.
- Aim for the gaps where a tile touches four, five or six sides: the bonus quickly outweighs the numbers.
- On the colours side, counting is learnt by touching the sides with a finger: a good first numbers game from age 5.
Going further
Variants · Frequently asked questions · In the same family
Variants
Side played
Numbers side (older players)
Colours side (youngest players)
One point per side in contact from two upwards, 2 bonus points for a single-colour tile.
choose them when you start a game: the scorer adapts
Frequently asked questions
How many sides must a tile touch?
At least two, on the numbers side. Only the second player, on their first turn, may place against a single side, since there is only one tile on the table. On the colours side, one side is always enough, but the tile then scores nothing.
What happens when you cannot place a tile?
You lose 10 points, replace one of your tiles with another drawn at random from the bag, and it is the next player's turn.
What does a triple score?
Five points on top of the sum of its numbers and the side bonuses. The highest triple also opens the game.
How is the end of the game scored?
Everyone subtracts from their score the sum of the numbers on the tiles they hold but cannot place, then the highest total wins.