Playball (ML)

On a compact hex-shaped board, two teams of three playballers face off in an imagined sport that is as easy to pick up as it is deep to master. Each turn, you get three moves to split however you like: step onto an adjacent hexagon, jump over your own or your opponent's pieces, or chain as many straight-line passes as you want. It all serves one goal: push the ball into the opposing end zone before your rival does. First to score three goals wins the match. Playball builds its game system around movement, jumps, and passes that flow together like a real sporting match, without ever weighing the rules down.

Playball is for you if you love fast head-to-head games where every move matters, if you are looking for a 2-player board game you can pull out for a quick 20-minute session between activities, and if you enjoy reading your opponent's intentions turn after turn. Fans of abstract games or pure strategy will find fresh ground here, while families will appreciate rules that can be explained in just a few minutes.

Playball was nominated for the 2026 MinD-SpielePreis in the two-player games category, a recognition that confirms just how solid its dueling system is. The game also offers an Expert mode for seasoned players: instead of racing to three goals, you need two consecutive goals to win, tightening the tension of every match even further. Just like real sports, a chess clock (physical or via a mobile app) can even be used to time competitive games. Another perk: the rules lean mostly on pictograms, making the game easy to learn no matter what language is spoken around the table.

The game is designed by David Florsch, who built its rule system, with illustrations by Pauline Detraz giving the playballers their round, colorful look that is instantly recognizable on the board.

BOX CONTENTS
1 hexagonal game board
6 playballers (3 per team)
5 balls
1 rulebook

Number of players: 2
Duration: 20 minutes
Age: 7 and up