Parents' Guide to

Mancala: FS5

By Jonathan H. Liu, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 7+

Gorgeous rendition of classic with multiplayer options.

App iPhone , iPod Touch , iPad , Android Board Games
Mancala: FS5 Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this app.

  • Mancala: FS5 App: Screenshot #1
  • Mancala: FS5 App: Screenshot #2
  • Mancala: FS5 App: Screenshot #3

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What’s It About?

Each turn, a player must choose a "house," then distribute its "stones" one-by-one in a counter-clockwise direction. When they pass their "store," they drop one stone in. The player with the most number of stones in their store at the end wins. The most important advantage is to end your turn by dropping the last stone into your store -- this gives you a free turn! If you drop your last stone into an empty house on your side, you capture all the stones in the opposite house on your opponent’s side. Kids have to be crafty to avoid capture.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say Not yet rated
Kids say (2 ):

MANCALA: FS5 is an excellent digital version of basic mancala, a game where you are trying to capture more stones than your opponent. The app is versatile, allowing for single player against the computer or two-player games against an opponent using the same device, a nearby device (via wi-fi or Bluetooth), a random online opponent, or a friend through Game Center or Mobage. Graphics are sharp and crisp. The interface is clean and easy to use, without a lot of bells and whistles other than the optional themes.

The themes are basically "skins" that let you dress up the board and stones in a different look, but do not affect the gameplay. Some themes are free, but you'll have to pay for others using credits, which you can earn by playing games or through in-app purchases and signing up for offers. If you have a free version of the app, it's worth it to pay for the upgrade that removes ads, as they are generally not kid-friendly.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Buy or make a real mancala board and hold a family game night.

  • Make sure your kids know the basic rules.

  • Research the origins of the game.

App Details

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