Mondo

Overview

Mondo is a real-time tile-laying game where players simultaneously build their own world by placing landscape tiles on their personal boards. Each turn is timed (7 minutes), and players grab tiles from a shared central pool to create matching landscapes with animals while avoiding volcanoes and mismatched edges. The game plays over 3 rounds, with the highest total score winning.

Components

• 4 double-sided world boards
• 136 double-sided landscape tiles
• 5 scoring modifiers
• 12 additional task tiles
• 1 volcano chip
• 4 bonus chips
• 1 sand timer (7 minutes)
• Score sheet block

Setup

1. Place all landscape tiles face up in a central pile accessible to all players.
2. Each player takes a world board (beginner: water side up).
3. Stack bonus chips by player count in the center.
4. Place the volcano chip and timer nearby.
5. For beginner games, ignore scoring modifiers and additional tasks.

Turn Structure

Each of 3 rounds:

1. Shuffle/spread tiles in the center.
2. Start the timer (“3…2…1…go!”).
3. All players simultaneously grab tiles and place them on their boards.
4. When the timer runs out (or all players have jumped out), score the round.
5. Reset tiles for the next round.

Actions

Placing Tiles

• Use only one hand; hold at most 1 tile at a time.
• The first tile may go on any space.
• Each subsequent tile must border at least one edge of a previously placed tile.
• Once placed, tiles cannot be moved, rotated, or removed.
• Edge matching (landscape types) is encouraged but not required – mismatches cost points.

Jumping Out

At any time during the round, a player may “jump out” (stop placing tiles) by taking the topmost bonus chip. That player cannot place more tiles that round. Higher bonus chips go to players who jump out earlier.

Scoring / Victory Conditions

After each round, score each player’s board:

Positive Points

Source	Points
Animals on tiles	+1 per animal
Enclosed, mistake-free landscapes (not water)	+2 per enclosed area
Bonus chips	Points printed on chip

Negative Points

Source	Points
Empty spaces	-1 per empty space
Mismatched edges (landscape type mismatch)	-1 per mismatch
Active volcanoes (player with most volcanoes only)	-1 per volcano

Volcano Chip

The player with the most points in a round receives the volcano chip. In the next round, that player’s inactive volcanoes are treated as active (additional penalties).

After 3 rounds, the player with the highest total score wins.

Special Rules & Edge Cases

• Advanced rules add scoring modifiers and additional task tiles for more complexity.
• The real-time element means there is no turn order – speed and accuracy both matter.
• Ties for most volcanoes: all tied players take the penalty.
• Water does not count as an enclosed landscape for the +2 bonus.

Player Reference

Phase	Action
Timer	7 minutes per round
Place	Grab and place tiles (1 hand, 1 tile at a time)
Jump Out	Stop early to claim bonus chip
Score	Animals + enclosed areas + bonuses - empty spaces - mismatches - volcanoes
End	After 3 rounds; highest total score wins