

The name jenga is derived from kujenga, a Swahili word which means 'to build'. Jenga was created by Leslie Scott, the co-founder of Oxford Games Ltd, based on a game that evolved within her family in the early 1970s using children's wooden building blocks the family purchased from a sawmill in Takoradi, Ghana. The last player to complete a turn before the collapse is the winner. The game ends when any portion of the tower collapses, caused by either the removal of a block or its new placement. A turn ends when the next player in sequence touches the tower or when 10 seconds have elapsed since the placement of a block, whichever occurs first.

A block may be touched or nudged to determine whether it is loose enough to remove without disturbing the rest of the tower, but it must be returned to its original position if the player decides to move a different one. Once a level contains three blocks, it is complete and may not have any more blocks added to it. Each player may use only one hand to touch the tower or move a block at any given time, but may switch hands whenever desired. Starting with the one who built the tower, players take turns removing one block from any level below the highest completed one and placing it horizontally atop the tower, perpendicular to any blocks on which it is to rest. A plastic tray provided with the game can be used to assist in setup. The blocks within each layer are oriented in the same direction, with their long sides touching, and are perpendicular to the ones in the layer immediately below. To begin the game, the blocks are stacked into a solid rectangular tower of 18 layers, with three blocks per layer. Blocks have small, random variations from these dimensions so as to create imperfections in the stacking process and make the game more challenging. Each block is three times as long as it is wide, and one fifth as thick as its length – 1.5 cm × 2.5 cm × 7.5 cm (0.59 in × 0.98 in × 2.95 in). Believe me.Jenga is played with 54 wooden blocks.


And no, you don’t have to be good at it to have a ball. If you have an intimate fête on the horizon, and are need an activity that doesn’t solely involve downing glasses of Bombay, check out the best stacking blocks sets around, including the original Jenga. A couple of them are so sleek and eye-catching that it’s worth putting them front and center on your coffee table or mantle. Also, stacking blocks don’t necessarily have to be made of standard wood some are now made of carbon fiber, stone or lucite in a slew of colorways. Note: “Jenga,” the word, is trademarked, which is why different packages feature different titles. It’s a game that prompts camaraderie, spirited competition and, simply put, a whole lot of fun.įor what feels like time immemorial-but really since the 1970s, when Oxford Games created the first Jenga set, deriving the name from the Swahili word kujenga, which means “to build”-dismantling a tower of wooden blocks has been a game-night mainstay. I’ve also tried oversized sets that are made for the open air, this time with a nice cold lager in hand. Still, this hasn’t stopped me from playing rounds of Jenga over the decades, usually after one too many Bombay martinis at a house party. I’m certainly not one of those people patience and coordination are two characteristics that I regrettably lack. The 9 Best Hangers to Keep Your Suits Crisp and Sharp The 10 Best CrossFit Shoes to Crush Your Next HIIT Workout The 27 Best Office Gifts to Add a Dose of Style to the Workspace It may sound simple enough, but in the hands of fervent Jenga fans, it is the ultimate sign of dexterity. Some call it tumble tower, others stacking blocks, but the gist remains the same: Rectangle blocks, usually 54 pieces made of wood, are lined in rows of three, with each new level rotating parallel to the last, that are assembled vertically and then gradually removed by each player in turn. Jenga is a game that requires a good amount of coordination and patience. If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Robb Report may receive an affiliate commission.
