YUBIBO

YUBIBO transforms ordinary fingers and a few sticks into a mad, cooperative challenge full of laughter, concentration and unexpected twists. Every move can determine the success of the whole group, which is precisely why children, families and groups of friends will enjoy the game within minutes.

YUBIBO will appeal to all players looking for a fast-paced party game based on cooperation, communication and dexterity. The game is designed for 2–8 players, the recommended age is 6 years and up, and you should set aside approximately 5–10 minutes per game. Thanks to its simple rules, even younger children can get to grips with it, whilst it can also entertain adult players during a family evening or a get-together with friends. The game’s greatest strength lies in the fact that all players are constantly working towards a single shared goal, and every mistake can have the whole table in stitches. It works brilliantly as a light-hearted game to play between more challenging titles, as well as an activity for larger groups of people. What’s more, players don’t need to worry about complex strategies or lengthy planning, as the key elements here are coordination, dexterity and the ability to react quickly to the situation at the table.

In YUBIBO, you’ll use sticks to connect the players’ fingers according to the instructions on the cards. Each move adds another part to the shared structure, which gradually becomes increasingly unstable. Players must work together carefully, communicate and, at the same time, think about how to distribute the weight of the whole structure. All it takes is one clumsy move, a moment’s hesitation or a poorly placed stick, and the whole thing can collapse in an instant. The game thus combines dexterity, fine motor skills and the ability to react quickly to changing situations. It is precisely this simple principle of connecting fingers that creates a highly unusual gaming experience, one that players will remember after just their first game.

Each player uses only one hand, whilst the other is used to draw cards. The face-up cards determine which fingers are to be linked and between which players a new connection will be formed. Gradually, an intricate network of sticks emerges, requiring ever-greater concentration and coordination from the whole group. With more players, the situation quickly becomes more complicated, as a single finger can support several sticks at once. This results in comical hand positions, improvisation and a constant search for stability. Yet YUBIBO requires no complicated set-up or lengthy explanations of the rules, so you can easily pick up the game again at any time of day.

The game also features a more advanced challenge mode, in which you place balls onto the structure you’ve built. These must not fall off or touch the players’ fingers, which significantly increases the difficulty of the game. Suddenly, it’s not enough just to interlock the right fingers; you also have to think about the centre of gravity and the stability of the entire structure. This mode can transform a quick family game into a thrilling team challenge where every millimetre counts. Thanks to variants for two players and larger groups, YUBIBO works with almost any combination of players. The game thus offers a surprisingly varied experience despite its very simple basic principles.

• YUBIBO introduces a highly unusual gameplay concept in which you use sticks to connect your own fingers with those of other players and work together to find the balance of the entire structure.
• Thanks to its simple rules, the game is ideal for children, parents and players who don’t usually play board games, as you’ll grasp everything within a matter of minutes.
• Every game creates new and often very comical situations, as players try to save falling sticks whilst in awkward and frequently quite absurd positions.
• The cooperative nature of the game encourages communication, collaboration and teamwork, as without mutual coordination the entire structure will collapse very quickly.
• The short playing time means you can play several rounds in a single evening and easily alternate between the standard mode and the more challenging ‘balls’ variant.
• Challenge mode adds another layer of tension to the game, as, in addition to the sticks themselves, you must also keep the balls from falling.
• The game develops fine motor skills, concentration and the ability to react under pressure, which will be appreciated not only by children but also by adult players during family game nights.
• YUBIBO works brilliantly with almost any group of players, so you can easily bring it along to a party, games night, camp or family gathering.
• The compact packaging, quick set-up and minimal number of components mean you can take the game practically anywhere and start playing in a matter of moments.
• The combination of a game of dexterity, balancing elements and co-operation creates a very unique experience that you won’t easily find amongst standard family games.

Contents

• 20 sticks
• 48 cards
• 6 balls
• Czech rules

YUBIBO was published in 2024 by the Japanese publisher JELLY JELLY GAMES. The game’s title itself is derived from the Japanese words ‘yubi’ (finger) and ‘bo’ (stick), which very accurately captures the main principle of the game. The game was designed by Japanese game designers Kosuke Takahashi, Natsumi Wada, Hayato Tabata and Momoka Nakayama. The illustrations were created by Japanese illustrator Kanako Ichimori. Development was led by Koryo Akiyama, and the project editor was Yusei Kozu.

YUBIBO quickly gained attention thanks to its unusual combination of dexterity and co-operative mechanics. Unlike classic balancing games, here you are not just playing against gravity, but must also constantly coordinate your movements with the other players.

Review (EN):