AGES: 8 - 108
PLAYERS: 2 - 8 players / 1-on-1 or in teams
CONTENTS: 100 dark beans + 8 light-coloured, blank beans
Jabuka is a word game with a rotating letter alphabet where players race to make and take words simultaneously!
Introducing the amazing
Jabuka twistable alphabet
Twisties
Only yellow letter beans may double or triple as other letters. Example: M=E=W when twisted
Double letter twisties
All the yellow double letter beans may also be twisted. Example: po=od when twisted.
Non-twisties
WHITE letters may not be twisted.
Spill the beans!
Some beans will land face down, some face up. Leave as they land. Make sure that no beans are sitting on top of one another.
Pick two blank beans!
Each player picks two light-colored, blank beans from the pile. Blanks can represent ANY single letter. Toss all extra blank beans in the bag.
Making words
When all players are ready, someone says, “GO” and players race to first shout out, then grab face up beans to make words with three letters or more. Players may also think of a word, shout it out, then try to make it. You can shout out and make words at any time.
Taking words
At any time, players may first shout out a change to an opposing player’s word and then take it. The new word can be made in any of three ways: twisting letters, adding letters or rearranging letters.
Twisting letters
Adding letters
Rearranging letters
Flipping beans
After the beans are spilled and lying flat, players can make or take words AND suggest a "FLIP" at any time by saying "FLIP?" If everyone agrees, each player then flips two face down beans at the same time and continues making and taking words. (With teams, only one player per team does the flipping.) Play continues until all the beans are flipped.
Ending the game
The first player that makes OR takes any word after the final flip must shout “JABUKA!” No other words may be made or taken after this and the game ends. If only one bean remains in the final flip, any player may flip it over. Alternatively, if players all agree that no words can be made or taken after the final flip then game ends.
Winning the game
Players count all the beans used in their words. The player that used the most beans wins! If there is a tie, players involved in the tie-breaker take 10 random, face down beans each. The player that makes the longest words with their beans wins. If there’s still a tie, repeat and best of three wins.
Additional rules
Keep all your words neatly in front of you. No covering or hiding beans.
When changing an opposing player’s word, players must use ALL beans in the word. No partial words or extra letters are to be left over.
To help change and take words, you may use either blank beans or any face up beans you see, provided you shout out the change before taking the bean(s) from the pile.
You may add letters to your own words but you may NOT twist or rearrange your own letters.