Blokus Rules: Learn How To Play This Mattel Board Game, Variants, Scoring, Components And More
Blokus is an abstract strategy game for ages 7 and up.
It is ideal for two to four players.
According to the Blokus rules, each player will have 21 plastic pieces in one color.
You place your first block, and after that you will have to place every piece in a corner only.
The game is simple.
Whoever fits the most number of squares onto the board of 20/20, wins the game.
Hi, in today’s blog, I will discuss the Blokus game rules, components, how to play it, and more.
Blokus At A Glance
| Detail | Blokus (Mattel Classic) |
|---|---|
| Players | 2 to 4 |
| Ages | 7+ (Mattel) |
| Play time | About 20 to 30 minutes |
| Designer | Bernard Tavitian |
| First released | 2000 (Sekkoïa, France) |
| Pieces | 84 (21 each in red, blue, yellow, green) |
| Board | 20 x 20 grid (400 squares) |
| Luck | Essentially none |
| Typical US price | Around $17.99 at Target (listing checked October 2026) |
| Owner/Invented by | Invented in 2000 by French biophysicist Bernard Tavitian and later acquired by Mattel. |
Know What Is Inside The Blokus Box?
The box has a board, an instruction sheet, and 84 pieces of blocks.
These blocks are divided into four colors, and each color has 21 blocks.
The 84 Pieces
Every color will have the same 21 shapes.
- One Square Piece
- One 2-Square Piece
- Two 3-Square Pieces
- Five 4-Square Pieces
- Twelve 5-Square Pieces
Mathematicians call these polyominoes.
Also, the set includes every distinct shape you can build from one to five squares, with flips and rotations counted as the same piece.
The Board And The Numbers Nobody Mentions
The board has 400 squares.
Here is a bit of arithmetic you need to understand.
The 21 pieces of each color add to 89 squares.
1 + 2 + 6 + 20 + 60 = 89.
So, the four colors together form 356 squares.
Thus, at the end of the game, there will be 44 spare cells on a full board.
This again means that nobody is going to get a perfect fill at the end of a game.
Moreover, the current edition of Mattel makes the color-blind version accessible.
These blocks have distinct patterns, and that’s a thoughtful move, I must admit.
How To Play Blokus: Step-By-Step Rules
The rules are simple.
However, if you are playing the game for the first time, you need to understand the sequence.
Setup
As a player, you will choose a color and take all 21 pieces.
In the older rule, the game always began with the color blue.
Then, it went to yellow, red, and green.
However, in the newer rule, you can choose who is going to play first.
Usually, the youngest one gets the chance to start the game, and then it moves clockwise.
The One Rule That Matters
You have to place your first piece covering a corner square of the board.
Then, the next piece you place will touch at least one of your old pieces diagonally, corner to corner.
As a result, your own pieces may never share an edge.
However, there are no restrictions on how different colors touch each other.
So, as a legal and strategic move, you can press the block flat against an opponent.
Also, once you place a block, you cannot move it.
Passing And Ending The Game
Cannot place a block on the board?
You can pass the round here, and I am referring to the official sheet from Mattel.
Mattel does not state whether you are out of the game once you have to pass a round.
However, many reviewers mention that once you pass, you are out of the game.
It is a good change, though, as the board gets fuller as the game progresses.
So, the available corners become fewer, and once you are stuck, you are likely to remain stuck for the rest of the game.
The game ends when no player can place the blocks.
Blokus Scoring: Basic Vs. Advanced
There are two ways to score in the Blokus game.
Also, the scoring format changes based on the last five minutes of your game.
Basic Scoring
You can count the squares that you could not place on the board.
The player who has the lowest number of squares left wins the game.
It is a simple method and works for young children.
Advanced Scoring
It costs 1 point for each square left with it.
However, if you have placed all 21 squares on the board, you earn +15.
Also, if the final piece to place on the board was a single square, you earn +5.
Thus, you earn 20 points in total.
Supposedly, you have the color blue.
You have placed all the blocks, and the last block was a single square.
So, you have scored 20.
Suppose the number of squares left for yellow, green, and red are 8, 5, and 6, respectively.
They will score -8, -5, and -6.
Blokus Variants: Two Players, Three Players And Beyond
Blokus is the best when four players take part in it.
However, you can also choose it to be a 2-player or 3-player game.
Two-Player Blokus
In this format, one player will control the blue and red blocks.
The other player will have the yellow and green blocks.
Then, the turn order will be blue, yellow, red, green.
So, the color placements will be done by alternating players.
Finally, you count the leftover squares, and the one with fewer squares wins the game.
Three-Player Blokus
In this, each player will get a different color, and the 21 blocks of the remaining color will be shared among them.
However, sharing the fourth color block among three players has a drawback.
The players sitting opposite will get an edge in this.
So, I feel Blokus Trigon is a more suitable version or spin-off to play with three participants.
Official Spin-Offs
Blokus is not a standalone game. You will find Mattel building a family around it.
| Official Spin-Offs | Details |
|---|---|
| Blokus Duo | • 2 Players • 14×14 Board • 196 Squares • Starting Points Near the Center and Not the Corners • A Nominee for the 2006 International Gamers Award in the Two-Player Category |
| Blokus Trigon | • Triangle-Based Pieces • A Hexagonal Board • Ideal for Three Players |
| Blokus Junior, Giant/XL and Travel (To Go) | • A Simpler Kids’ Edition • Roughly A 22-Inch Floor-Sized Edition • A Snap-In Pocket Version |
| Blokus 3D | • A Rebrand of Stefan Kögl’s Separate Game, Rumis • Not Related to Tavitian’s Design • An Example of How Strong Blokus Has Been |
Blokus Strategy: What the Rulebook Will Not Tell You
Blokus rules are very simple.
However, many ignore the fun part or the strategy part.
Opening: Race To The Center
You have to head toward the center fast.
You can open with shapes such as Z, W, F, T, X, and V because they keep the corners open in many directions.
Also, try to place the big pieces early, as the space will get squeezed as the game progresses.
Middle Game: Block Before You Build
It is an offense-dominated game.
Also, you cannot defend your corners, as there are no rules against how blocks of different colors can be placed next to each other.
So, the idea here is to seal off the blocks.
In this, the long straight piece works as the ultimate weapon.
However, it can be a trap, as it crosses the board quickly and has very few corners.
Use it smartly so that it does not wall you in.
Endgame: Save The Monomino
You already know that placing the single square last to finish your blocks is a smart move.
Also, it fits almost anywhere.
Save it for the last move and earn +5 bonus points.
Why Blokus Keeps Landing On “Best Game” Lists
Blokus has been ruling the best game lists from the beginning.
Here is a list of the awards and recognitions it has won.
- 2002 Japan Boardgame Prize, Best Japanese Game
- 2003 Australian Games Association Game of the Year
- 2003 Mensa Select Award
- 2004 Major Fun Award
- 2004 Teacher’s Choice Award
Again, Blokus Duo was among five nominees for the 2006 International Gamers Award.
Also, it is recognized by Mensa, giving it credibility as a brand that promotes healthy brain activity.
Moreover, 24/7 Wall St. ranked Blokus No. 19 on its list of the most popular board games of all time.
In this article published on 3rd March, 2023, 24/7 Wall St. cited that roughly 3 million units have been sold since the debut of the game.
The game has found a place on the list alongside names like Connect 4 (4 million) and Cranium.
It is also one of the newest games on that list, alongside Catan.
For a title that is barely 25 years old, in a ranking dominated by chess and checkers, that is a strong showing.
What Reviewers And Players Say
The community numbers are good, not spectacular.
A retailer snapshot of BoardGameGeek data showed about 6.9 out of 10 for the standard game, and 6.8 for Blokus Duo.
It also has Duo labeled best at two players.
Reviewers keep praising the same strengths.
One 2-player roundup calls Duo a pure spatial puzzle with no luck, while a family-game reviewer places Blokus between checkers (too basic) and chess (too complex).
Complaints are narrower.
Younger kids may need help grasping strategy, and at least one buyer felt the plastic quality did not justify the price.
Blokus Price And Safety
Blokus is moderately priced, and it is listed at $17.99.
Also, I have seen consistent price listings of Blokus Duo at $25 by retailers and review sites.
The box itself has a choking hazard warning for small parts.
Also, the retailers list it under CPSC choking hazard labeling.
Moreover, Mattel labels it a game for children 7+ years.
Overall, the pieces, especially the single-square and two-square ones, are small enough to be a risk for toddlers and many pets.
Keep the set away from children under 3 and count pieces after every game.
Things To Keep In Mind
Blokus rules regarding the turn order have changed from the older sheet to the newer sheet.
Also, I have found many unauthorized versions of the game sold under names such as “The Strategy Game” and “The Family Chess Game.”
I have not bought or tested them. So, I am not sure about their quality and risk factors.
Also, the game becomes redundant if the blocks are lost.
Mattel has listed the Consumer Relations number on its official sheet, and you can get in touch if needed.
Enjoy the game of Blokus!
