Tabletop games
Qwirkle
IELLOSusan McKinley Ross2006
- players
- 2–4
- minutes
- 45
- years
- 6+
In the box
108 wooden tiles: 6 shapes, 6 colours, 3 of each · 1 bag
Official rules (PDF, publisher's site)
Box details
- Designer
- Susan McKinley Ross
- Publisher
- IELLO
- Mechanics
- Hand ManagementPattern BuildingSquare GridTile Placement
- Expansions
- Qwirkle: Super Pouvoirs · 2025
Where to buy it
Near you and online
In a shop
Within 50 km.
Online
Affiliate link: Marquoir may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
The basics
Each player scores points by lining up tiles that share a shape or a colour. On your turn, place one or more tiles sharing a feature in a single line, connected to the tiles already played and with no duplicate, then refill your hand to six; you may instead trade tiles and pass. Each line formed scores as many points as it has tiles (twelve for a six-tile Qwirkle); the game ends when a player, with the bag empty, places their last tile, and the most points wins.
Checked against the official rules · October 2026
The rules, step by step
Setup
108 tiles, 6 tiles in hand, Largest group opens
- A hundred and eight tiles: six shapes in six colours, each in three copies.
- Six tiles for each player, drawn from the bag and hidden from the others; the rest stay in the bag as the draw pile.
- Each player announces their largest number of tiles sharing a colour or a shape (not counting duplicates). The highest starts by placing those tiles and scores the points; if tied, the oldest player. Play then goes clockwise.
How to play
Shape or colour, One line only, Otherwise trade
- On your turn, place one or more tiles that share a feature, all in a single line (they need not touch one another), then refill your hand to six.
- A line shares either the shape or the colour, never with a duplicate: a line of squares has only one square of each colour.
- The tiles placed must be connected to the existing lines.
- Or else trade all or part of your hand: set your tiles aside, draw as many, then put yours back in the bag, and pass your turn. A player who cannot place anything must trade.
Scoring
1 point per tile, Qwirkle +6, End of game +6
- Each line formed or extended scores as many points as it contains tiles, the old ones included.
- A tile that belongs to two lines scores for both.
- A line of six tiles, a Qwirkle, scores six extra points: twelve in all.
- The player who places their last tile and ends the game earns a six-point bonus.
End of the game
Bag and hand empty, Or nobody can place, Most points
- Once the bag is empty, play continues without drawing; the game ends as soon as a player has placed all their tiles.
- If the bag is empty and nobody can place any more, the game ends at once, with no end bonus.
- The most points wins.
House rules and pitfalls
A line can never be longer than six tiles: that is what keeps the game in check.
- A line can never be longer than six tiles: that is what keeps the game in check.
- Placing a tile that sets up a Qwirkle for an opponent is the most costly mistake in the game.
Going further
Frequently asked questions · Rules on video · In the same family · Play with the game assistant
Frequently asked questions
What is a Qwirkle?
A complete line of six tiles, which therefore holds the six shapes of one colour or the six colours of one shape. It scores six points for its tiles, plus a six-point bonus: twelve in total.
Rules on video
Videos in French, hosted on YouTube.