Mancala: play the classic seed sowing game online free
Mancala is a free online version of the classic seed sowing and strategy board game, with a warm wooden board and glossy colourful seeds that drop into the pits one by one. Play the computer on four levels (Easy, Medium, Hard and Expert), try the daily challenge where everyone starts from the same position, or challenge a friend in two-player mode on the same screen. It has hints, undo, 18 badges and leaderboards. Play in any browser on a computer, tablet or phone.
How to play Mancala
- Choose Easy, Medium, Hard or Expert to play the computer, take on the daily challenge, or pick Two players to play a friend on the same screen.
- Tap one of your pits on the bottom row. The preview ring shows where your last seed will land, and a second tap on a phone sows the seeds.
- The seeds go one by one counter-clockwise into the next pits and your store on the right. Your opponent's store is skipped.
- End in your store for an extra turn, or end in an empty pit of yours to capture the seeds opposite.
- When one side is empty the game ends. The player with the most seeds in their store wins.
Mouse: click one of your pits to sow it, and point at a pit first to preview where its last seed will land. Touch: tap a pit to preview, then tap it again to sow. A dashed ring marks the landing spot: yellow for an extra turn and orange for a capture. Keyboard: arrow keys pick a pit or press 1 to 6, Enter sows, Esc cancels, U takes back a move, H shows a hint and N opens the new game menu.
Mancala rules
| Rule | How it works here |
|---|---|
| 🌱 The board | Two rows of six pits and a store at each end. Every pit starts with four seeds, 48 seeds in all. You own the bottom row and the store on the right, your opponent owns the top row and the store on the left. |
| 🚦 Who starts | You choose whether you or the computer moves first. In two-player games the bottom player moves first. |
| 👟 Sowing | Pick one of your pits that has seeds and pick them all up. Drop them one at a time, counter-clockwise, into each following pit, including your own store. Your opponent's store is skipped. |
| ★ Extra turn | If your last seed lands in your own store, you move again. |
| 🎣 Capture | If your last seed lands in an empty pit on your own side and the opposite pit has seeds, you take both: the captured seeds and your last seed go to your store. |
| 🏁 Game end | When all six pits on one side are empty, the game ends. The other player keeps the seeds still on their side. |
| 🏆 Winning | The player with more than 24 seeds in their store wins. 24 each is a draw. |
Computer levels
| Level | Plays like | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| 😊 Easy | Often plays a random pit and rarely plans | Learning the rules and your first wins |
| 🤔 Medium | Takes extra turns and captures it can see, and avoids obvious blunders | Casual players who want a real game |
| 🔥 Hard | Looks several moves ahead and plans chains of extra turns | Experienced players |
| 🧠 Expert | Searches many moves deep and sets traps for your seeds | A proper challenge |
All levels play by exactly the same rules as you and none of them cheats. You can take back moves with Undo or ask for a Hint any time it is your turn.
Game modes
Play the computer against Easy, Medium, Hard or Expert, with your own win and loss record for each level. The Daily challenge starts everyone from the same position each day, played against the Hard computer. Two players, one screen lets two people take turns on the same device. Choose the level, who moves first and the players in Settings (the cog), then press the New game button (the circular arrow) to start.
Leaderboards
Every win against the computer can go on the leaderboard, which has This month and All time panels. A win scores 300 points, plus 8 for every seed of winning margin, plus up to 150 for speed (3 points off for every move after the 10th), plus a level bonus (Easy 0, Medium 100, Hard 250, Expert 450, Daily 250). So a big, quick win on a high level is worth the most. You only pick a nickname, there is no sign-up, and you can change the name, hide your scores or delete them at any time. Losses, draws, given-up games and two-player games are not ranked.
Badges
There are 18 badges for beating each level, winning streaks, fast wins, chains of extra turns, big captures, total seeds captured, big margins, comebacks, the daily challenge, two-player games and number of games played. Open the medal button in the game to see your progress.
| Badge | How to earn it |
|---|---|
| 🏅 First Win | Win a game against the computer. |
| 😊 Easy Does It | Beat the computer on Easy. |
| 🤔 Clever Sower | Beat the computer on Medium. |
| 🔥 Seed Master | Beat the computer on Hard. |
| 🧠 Grandmaster | Beat the computer on Expert. |
| 🏆 Hard Fighter | Win 5 games on Hard or Expert. |
| 🎯 Hat-trick | Win 3 games in a row. |
| ⚡ On Fire | Win 7 games in a row. |
| ⏱️ Speedy Win | Win a game in 14 moves or fewer. |
| 🔁 Triple Turn | Get three extra turns in a row. |
| 🌀 Turn Machine | Get five extra turns in a row. |
| 🎣 Big Catch | Capture 8 or more seeds with one move. |
| 💰 Treasure Hunter | Capture 100 seeds in total. |
| 💨 Blowout | Win by 20 or more seeds. |
| 🔄 Second Wind | Win a game where the computer moved first. |
| ☀️ Daily Player | Finish a daily challenge. |
| 👥 Friendly Game | Finish a two-player game. |
| 🎲 Regular | Play 25 games. |
Mancala tips
- Aim for the store. A pit holds the right number for an extra turn when its seeds equal its distance to your store: 1 seed in the pit next to the store, 2 in the one before, and so on.
- Chain your extra turns. Play the pit closest to the store first, then the next one, to string several extra turns together.
- Keep an empty pit ready. An empty pit opposite a full enemy pit is a capture waiting to happen, and any pit that goes all the way round can land there.
- Guard your big pits. Your opponent can capture seeds that sit opposite their own empty pits, so spread them out or play them before they are hit.
- Hoard on the right. Seeds in your pits at the end of the game count for you, so keeping a few in your far pits is not wasted.
- Count before you sow. Use the preview ring to see where the last seed lands before you commit.
Frequently asked questions
Is Mancala free?
Yes. Mancala on Util.Ninja is completely free to play online, with no sign-up, no download and no in-app purchases. It runs in your browser on computers, tablets and phones, and your statistics and badges are saved on your own device.
How do you play Mancala?
Each player has six pits and a store, and every pit starts with four seeds. On your turn pick one of your pits and sow its seeds one by one, counter-clockwise, into the following pits, including your own store but skipping your opponent's. When one side has no seeds left the game ends, and the player with the most seeds in their store wins.
Which Mancala rules does this game use?
This version uses the popular Kalah rules, with six pits per side and four seeds per pit. Mancala is the name of a whole family of traditional sowing games, and many of them have slightly different rules. This is an independent version of the traditional game and is not affiliated with any board game publisher. The board, seeds and artwork were made for this site.
What is an extra turn?
If your last seed lands in your own store, you get another turn straight away. Good players plan their moves so that a pit holds exactly the number of seeds needed to reach the store, and chain several extra turns in a row.
How does capturing work?
If your last seed lands in an empty pit on your own side, and the pit directly opposite it has seeds, you capture them: those seeds and your last seed all go into your store. Capturing is the main way to swing a game.
How does the game end?
The game ends when all six pits on one side are empty. The player who still has seeds on their side keeps them and adds them to their own store. The player with more seeds wins, and 24 each is a draw.
What are the four computer levels?
Easy often plays at random, so it is a friendly way to learn. Medium likes extra turns and captures but only looks one move ahead. Hard looks several moves ahead and plans its extra turns. Expert searches much deeper and takes the longest to think, so it is tough even for experienced players.
Who moves first?
You choose in Settings or in the new game menu: move first or let the computer start. Moving first is an advantage in Mancala, so a win after the computer started earns the Second Wind badge.
What is the daily challenge?
Every day everybody starts from the same position, with a few seeded opening moves already played, and plays against the Hard computer. Win to put your score on the leaderboard, and come back tomorrow for a new opening.
Can I play against a friend?
Yes. Choose "Two players, one screen" in the game menu and take turns on the same phone, tablet or computer. The bottom row belongs to the first player and the top row to the second.
Can I take back a move or get a hint?
Yes. The undo button takes back your last move, even through the computer's reply. The light-bulb button marks a good pit with a dashed ring. Both are just for fun, so use them whenever you are stuck.
Does Mancala have a leaderboard?
Yes. Wins against the computer are ranked on a leaderboard with This month and All time panels, and the daily challenge has its own board. A win scores 300 points plus 8 for every seed of winning margin, plus up to 150 for finishing quickly (3 points off for every move after the 10th) plus a bonus for the level (Easy 0, Medium 100, Hard 250, Expert 450). You only choose a nickname, with no sign-up, and you can delete your scores at any time.
Can I play on a phone?
Yes. Mancala works on phones and tablets in portrait and landscape. The first tap on a pit shows where its last seed will land and the second tap sows the seeds. On a computer you can also use the mouse, or the keyboard: arrow keys or 1 to 6 and Enter, U to undo and H for a hint.
More free board and puzzle games: Chinese Checkers, Backgammon, Four in a Row, Reversi and Checkers.