Hover (or tap) one of your pits to preview the sow — the highlighted pit is where your last seed lands, with a badge if it captures or earns a free turn. Click to play it.
Mancala is one of the oldest board games in the world — a two-player game of pure strategy where you sow seeds around the board and race to capture the most into your store. This free browser version plays the classic Kalah ruleset against the computer, with three difficulty levels and no downloads, signups, or installs. You take the bottom row; the computer takes the top.
The board has twelve small pits — six on your side, six on the computer's — plus a large store at each end. Your store is on the right. Every small pit starts with four seeds. The goal is simple: finish with more seeds in your store than your opponent.
“Mancala” isn't one game — it's a whole family played across Africa, the Middle East, and Asia for well over a thousand years. This version uses Kalah, the rule set most people in the West learn, with its signature free-turn-and-capture mechanic. Other well-known variants include Oware (a West African national game), Bao, and Congkak, each with its own sowing and capture twists.
How do I play Mancala? Click one of your pits to scoop up its seeds and sow them counter-clockwise, one per pit. Land your last seed in your store to take another turn; land it in an empty pit on your side to capture the seeds opposite. The game ends when one side is empty.
Is Mancala a game of luck or skill? Pure skill — there are no dice and no hidden information. Both players see the whole board, so every result comes down to how well you plan your sows, free turns, and captures.
Is Mancala free to play? Yes — no signup, no downloads, no installs.
Does my record save? Yes — your wins, losses, and best streak are stored locally in your browser.