Original rules · personal tabletop play

Brenuloki — the complete play collection

Four complete two-player designs. Count the starting pieces together, read the ending condition and use a practice round if either player wants one.

Game 1

Margin & Meadow

Brenuloki · illustrative tabletop scene

2 players · about 25 minutes

Claim small fields on a shared grid. The edge is easy to reach, but a connected meadow is worth waiting for.

01
Make the field
Draw a five-by-five grid. Each player needs twelve counters in a distinct colour or shape. Leave the centre square empty throughout the game.
02
Choose a square
Alternate placing one counter in any empty square other than the centre. A counter never moves once placed. Continue until both players have used all twelve counters.
03
Measure the meadow
Each player scores the number of counters in their largest orthogonally connected group, plus one point for each different edge that group touches. Diagonal contact does not connect groups. The higher score wins; equal totals are a shared result.

Game 2

Brenuloki · illustrative tabletop scene

2 players · about 20 minutes

Commit a tiny plan, reveal it one step at a time and discover whether your opponent left the space you wanted.

01
Prepare four rounds
Each player writes the numbers one to four on four cards. Place a shared row of scoring spaces valued one, two, three and four. Keep a score sheet for both players.
02
Commit the order
Privately arrange your cards in an order before the round begins. Reveal the first card together: the higher number wins the first scoring space. Equal numbers leave that space unclaimed. Repeat with the remaining three cards in their committed order.
03
Try a new plan
Add the values of claimed spaces to each player’s score. Reset the cards and play three complete rounds. Highest combined score wins, with a shared result on a tie. You may discuss the previous plan before committing the next one.

Game 3

Brenuloki · illustrative tabletop scene

2 players · about 15 minutes

A small budget, five auctions and no second chance to spend the same pebble. Decide which points deserve your attention.

01
Set a budget
Give each player twelve counters. Write five prize cards worth one, two, three, four and five points, and reveal them in that order. Counters used as bids are spent whether the bid wins or loses.
02
Bid in secret
For each prize, hide any number of remaining counters in a closed hand, including zero. Reveal together. The higher bid takes the prize. A tied bid leaves the prize unclaimed, and both bids are still spent.
03
Balance the account
After all five prizes, total the values each player won. The higher score wins. If scores tie, the player with more unspent counters wins; if that also ties, share the result. There is no borrowing and no hidden extra budget.

Game 4

Brenuloki · illustrative tabletop scene

2 players · about 20 minutes

Send a clue with three simple marks. Your partner chooses the matching word, and both of you learn how the other person sees it.

01
Write the word bank
Together choose twelve familiar nouns and write each on a separate card. Reveal four at a time. Take turns being the sender and reader; the group keeps one shared score.
02
Send three marks
The sender secretly chooses one of the four words and draws a clue using no more than three continuous pen strokes. Letters, numbers and spoken hints are not allowed. The reader chooses a word after looking at the clue.
03
Compare the idea
A correct choice earns one shared point. Discuss the drawing, replace the chosen word with a fresh card and swap roles. Play eight turns in total. The score is a record to improve together, not a reason to rush the reader.