Ubongo! Junior

About this board game

Ubongo! Junior is a tile-laying pattern-matching game for 2–4 players that takes about 20 minutes to play. Designed for a younger audience, it turns each round into a race to complete a colorful animal puzzle.

Each player begins with nine tiles. Every tile has its own color and shape and shows an animal. Players also receive a stack of seven puzzle boards, providing the puzzles used throughout the game.

Each puzzle board shows an arrangement of squares that must be covered with the indicated tiles. The easy side uses two tiles, while the hard side uses three, giving players a choice of puzzle difficulty.

• Reveal a puzzle board at the start of the round.
• Find the tiles shown on the board.
• Race to place them so they cover the arrangement correctly.
• Collect gems based on how quickly the puzzle is completed.

The first player to finish their puzzle flips a sandtimer and takes gems from a bag. Depending on the number of players, that player takes 2–4 gems. The next player to complete their puzzle in time takes one fewer gem, and the rewards continue to decrease for later successful players.

After seven rounds, everyone counts their gems. The player with the most gems wins. With its straightforward tile placement, two puzzle levels, and animal-themed pieces, Ubongo! Junior offers a compact pattern-matching challenge for younger players and their families.