Mensch ärgere Dich nicht
German race game invented by Josef Friedrich Schmidt in 1907/1908.
Mensch ärgere Dich nicht (which translates to "Man, Don't Get Angry") is a German board game invented by Josef Friedrich Schmidt during the winter of 1907/1908. It belongs to the cross and circle family of games, directly adapted from the Indian game Pachisi, and has sold around 70 million copies since it first went into production in 1914. The name comes from the frustration of having a game piece knocked back to the starting area when another player lands on it, a mechanic later seen in the game Sorry!.
The standard version is for two, three, or four players, each taking one side of the board. A special variant allows for six players. Every player starts with four pieces in the "out" zone. The board is shaped like a cross, with a circular track of spaces running around it. Pieces move clockwise along this track. On each side of the board, there are three spaces. The "out" area is marked with "B" on the far left, while the colored "start" field is labeled "A" just left of center. A white field to the right of the start leads into the "home" row, marked "a," "b," "c," and "d." To begin, a piece enters the circle at the start field and travels clockwise until it reaches its own home row. The first player to get all four pieces into their home row wins.
Players take turns rolling a single die and moving one of their pieces forward by the number shown. Rolling a six allows a player to bring a new piece from the "out" area onto the start field and then roll again. If a piece is already on the start field and there are still pieces in the out area, it must be moved as soon as possible. If a piece cannot enter the game, another piece already in play must move instead, if possible. A common rule lets a player with no pieces on the board try three times to roll a six.
Pieces can jump over others. Landing on an opponent's piece sends that piece back to its out area. A player cannot knock out their own pieces, and cannot move past the last space in their home row. A piece on its own start field is safe from being knocked out. Two pieces cannot share the same space on the circle. Once inside the home row, pieces cannot jump over others, and an exact dice roll is needed to move into the final home spaces. A piece can only enter its own home row, not another player's.
The game was created by Josef Friedrich Schmidt, who was from Amberg, Germany, and founded Schmidt S
- inventor
- Josef Friedrich Schmidt
- year_invented
- 1907/1908
- year_introduced
- 1914
- country_of_origin
- Germany
- copies_sold
- approximately 70 million
- game_type
- cross and circle race game
Quick Facts
- Title
- Mensch ärgere Dich nicht
- Designer
- Josef Friedrich Schmidt
- Publisher
- Schmidt Spiele
- Players
- 2 to 4 (2 to 6 on reverse side)
- Date
- 1914
- Genre
- Board game
- Language
- German
- Setup Time
- 1 minute
- Playing Time
- 30 minutes
- Random Chance
- High (dice rolling)
- Ages
- 6+
- Skills
- Counting, probability
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Mensch ärgere Dich nicht was invented in the winter months of 1907/1908 by Josef Friedrich Schmidt, a native of Amberg, Germany and the founder of Schmidt Spiele. The game was invented in a workshop in Munich-Giesing and is a direct adaptation of the Indian game Pachisi, not Ludo. It was first produced in series in 1914. Schmidt left aside tactical and strategic variations from Pachisi and eliminated the symbolism of the origin game.
The game became popular during the First World War after Schmidt sent 3,000 games to field hospitals. By 1920, 1 million games had been sold at 35 Pfennigs each. After World War II, the game remained largely unchanged, though counterfeits appeared in West Germany and other countries. The original wooden pegs were replaced with plastic colored pegs sometime after the 1960s.
Reader's Guide
Mensch ärgere Dich nicht is a classic German board game that has maintained its popularity for over a century. Its simple rules—players race four pieces around a cross-shaped board, trying to get them home while sending opponents' pieces back to start—have made it a staple of family game nights. The game's name derives from the frustration of having a piece sent back, a mechanic shared with the later game Sorry!.
The game's significance lies in its cultural impact in Germany and beyond, with tens of millions of copies sold. It has spawned numerous variations and counterfeits, including 'Wir werfen raus!' and 'Raus!', and influenced other games like Tock, Sorry!, and Dog. The game's endurance is evidenced by its tournament scene, a commemorative stamp in 2010, and a world record event in 2017. Its legacy is as a simple, accessible race game that has entertained generations.
Did You Know?
- The game was invented in the winter months of 1907/1908 by Josef Friedrich Schmidt.
- Some 70 million copies have been sold since its introduction in 1914.
- Schmidt sent 3,000 games to field hospitals during the First World War to help soldiers escape boredom.
- In July 2017, Amberg set a world record with 1692 people playing simultaneously on 375 game-boards.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Mensch ärgere Dich nicht and what does the name mean?
It is a German cross-and-circle race game in which players move four pieces around a cross-shaped track toward the center. The title translates to "Man, Don't Get Angry," a nod to the frustration of having a piece sent back to the start when an opponent lands on it.
Who invented Mensch ärgere Dich nicht and when?
Josef Friedrich Schmidt designed the game during the winter of 1907/1908 in Germany. It entered commercial production in 1914 and quickly became a staple of German family game nights.
How many players can take part in Mensch ärgere Dich nicht?
The standard edition supports two, three, or four players, each claiming one colored arm of the cross-shaped board. Every player controls four pieces and must bring all of them from their home row to the central goal.
What is the core mechanic that sets Mensch ärgere Dich nicht apart from other race games?
Landing on an opponent's piece knocks it back to its starting area, creating the signature tension the game is known for. This knockback rule later influenced other titles such as Sorry!, but originated here in the cross-and-circle family descended from the Indian game Pachisi.
How commercially successful is Mensch ärgere Dich nicht?
Approximately 70 million copies have been sold since 1914, making it one of the best-selling board games of all time. Its longevity is a testament to the simple yet endlessly frustrating race-and-knockback loop Schmidt designed over a century ago.
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