Imagine trekking through a moving maze seeking treasure and fortune, but the walls are ever-changing, and you’re not alone. Will you be able to make your way to the treasure before your opponents?
Selling over 20 million copies of this classic board game since its release in 1986, you can find Labyrinth in homes worldwide. Read on to discover the Labyrinth board game rules and instructions in this comprehensive guide.
This Labyrinth rules guide will cover the following:
- What is Labyrinth?
- A brief history of Labyrinth
- What you’ll need to play Labyrinth
- Labyrinth Rules
- How to play Labyrinth (Video Tutorial)
- FAQs
Read on to learn how to play Labyrinth.
What is Labyrinth
Enjoyed for over 30 years, Labyrinth is a classic family board game. The game’s objective is to work your way through a moving maze collecting treasure before anyone else.
Number of Players: 2-4
Ages: 7-99
Difficulty: Easy
Length of Play: 20-30 minutes
Category: Strategy, board game, family game
Similar to: Jr. Labyrinth, Santorini, Kingdomino
Main Objective: Strategically manipulate the maze and work your way through, collecting specific treasures before your opponents find theirs!
Why We Love It: Born in 1986 when this game was first released, Labyrinth provides a heartwarming sense of nostalgia every time I see this game. I am looking forward to playing Labyrinth with my children soon!
A Brief History of Labyrinth
Published by the Ravensburger game company in 1986, Labyrinth is a classic family game occupying the bookshelves and coffee tables of homes around the globe.
Now available in sixty languages, this “a-MAZE-ing” game also hosts a wide range of editions, including Pokemon Labyrinth, Harry Potter Labyrinth, Super Mario Labyrinth, and a 3D version of the game.
Younger players can delve into the Labyrinth Junior games, featuring Spidy and Friends, Frozen II, and Paw Patrol editions.
What You’ll Need to Play Labyrinth
Everything you need to play is included in this boxed set.
The complete game box contains:
- 1 game board
- 34 path tiles
- 24 treasure cards
- 4 game pieces
Area of Play
To begin, set the game board up in the middle of your playing area. Then, shuffle the path tiles and place them randomly around the board, filling in the empty spaces until the entire board is covered with tiles.
Leave the remaining tile off to the side, face-up, and visible to all players.
Each player selects a token (red, yellow, blue, or green) to begin and places it on the corner tile of the gameboard, indicating a matching color.
Next, shuffle and deal the treasure cards evenly to each player. Depending upon the number of players, you may get a different number of cards from game to game. Players keep this deck in front of their playing area face-down.
Labyrinth Rules
Select a player to go first, take turns in a clockwise rotation, and look at your top treasure card. Keep it hidden from the other players.
Step One: Manipulating the Maze
On your turn, start by moving the maze. You’ll pick up the spare tile on the side of the board. Slide the tile into place, forcing the row of tiles anywhere a yellow arrow is shown.
Doing this will allow you to open a path or attempt to open a path in your favor. It will also move a tile off the game board. Be sure to leave the tile in position beside the row it just exited.
If you happen to move a player’s piece off the board, pick up the piece and move it onto the new tile that you just added on the opposite side of the board.
Step Two: Moving Your Piece
Move your piece to any other space, as long as it can move freely on the open maze. You cannot jump walls. However, looking at your treasure card, you want to move towards the treasure you seek.
If you cannot reach your treasure on this move, you may want to move in the direction of your treasure until the maze changes or the path to your treasure opens. You are not required to move if you don’t want to.
Follow gameplay around the board, each player completing the same two steps. Players must add a tile to the maze before moving their game piece. Even if you can reach your treasure, you must still add a tile altering the maze before moving.
Additional Rules:
- When moving tiles, you cannot move a tile back into the previously existed space.
- You can move through other players or even stop and share a space with another player.
- You cannot take a treasure until it is your turn.
Claiming Treasure
If you land on the treasure you were seeking, reveal your treasure card and place it face-up beside your deck. Draw another card, and keep it hidden, so you know which treasure you seek next.
The gameplay continues until a player finds all their treasure, thus winning the game!
How to Keep Score in Labyrinth
There is no numerical scorekeeping involved in the game of Labyrinth. However, the player who collects all of their treasures first is declared the winner.
How to Play Labyrinth – Video Tutorial
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Labyrinth a good game?
Labyrinth has been a popular game in production for over thirty years and is available in sixty languages. There are many fun editions on the market today as well.
What is the Labyrinth game about?
Labyrinth is a maze full of various treasures and creatures. You must think carefully before moving tiles if you want to be the first player to collect your treasures.
How long does the game Labyrinth take?
The original Labyrinth game takes approximately 20-30 minutes to play. Playing time can vary based on the number of players and the age of players involved in the game.
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