# Calico

Calico is a board game for 1–4 players. It plays in 30–45 minutes and is meant for ages 10 and up. Ludoya players call it best with 2. It is rated 7.3 out of 10 by 121 Ludoya reviewers. The cheapest copy in stock is $34.23 (United States).

- **Players:** 1–4 (best with 2)
- **Playing time:** 30–45 minutes
- **Minimum age:** 10+
- **Complexity:** 2.2 out of 5
- **Year published:** 2020
- **Categories:** Animals, Puzzle, Abstract Strategy
- **Mechanics:** Solo / Solitaire Game, End Game Bonuses, Open Drafting, Tile Placement, Grid Coverage, Set Collection, Hexagon Grid, Enclosure, Pattern Building
- **Ludoya rating:** 7.3 out of 10, from 121 reviews
- **Owned by:** 297 Ludoya players
- **Plays logged on Ludoya:** 1,323
- **Unique players:** 861

**Designers:** Kevin Russ

**Artists:** Beth Sobel

**Publishers:** Flatout Games

## Where to buy in United States

| Shop | Price | Link |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Miniature Market | 34.99 $ | https://www.miniaturemarket.com/aeg6210.html |
| Cardhaus Games | 34.99 $ | https://www.cardhaus.com/calico/ |
| Gamers Guild AZ | 39.99 $ | https://gamersguildaz.com/products/calico-board-games |
| Atomic Empire | 39.99 $ | https://www.atomicempire.com/Item/285036 |
| 401 Games | 42.95 $ | https://store.401games.ca/products/calico |
| eFantasy | 35.99 € | https://www.efantasy.gr/en/products/board-games/183207-board-game-calico-%CE%BF-%CF%83%CF%80%CE%B9%CF%84%CF%8C%CE%B3%CE%B1%CF%84%CE%BF%CF%82 |
| Element Games | 35.99 £ | https://elementgames.co.uk/board-games/calico |
| Ludifolie | 26.9 € | https://www.ludifolie.com/9822-calico.html |
| Fantasy Shop | 29.74 € | https://www.fantasy-shop.gr/en/calico-el.html |
| Curiosity Shop | 35 € | https://www.thecuriosityshop.es/products/calico |
| Zatu Games | 30.55 £ | https://zatu.com/products/calico |
| Games Empire | 63.99 $ | https://gamesempire.com.au/products/calico |
| Game Ninja | 449 kr | https://www.gameninja.no/produkt/calico/ |
| Travelling Man | 36.99 £ | https://travellingman.com/products/calico |
| Alphaspel | 499 kr | https://alphaspel.se/491-bradspel/122083-calico-eng-regler |
| Gameology | 71.95 $ | https://www.gameology.com.au/products/calico |
| Good Games | 71.95 $ | https://www.goodgames.com.au/products/calico |
| Fantasiapelit | 52 € | https://www.fantasiapelit.com/index.php?main=ai&kat=single&mista=indeksi&etsittava=_206300 |
| Nexus | 7995 kr | https://nexus.is/vara/calico/ |

## Expansions

- [Calico: Kickstarter Promo Cats](https://www.ludoya.com/games/calico-kickstarter-promo-cats)
- [Calico:  Opposites Attract Tantrum House Promo Tiles](https://www.ludoya.com/games/calico-opposites-attract-tantrum-house-promo-tiles)

## Similar games

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- [Harmonies](https://www.ludoya.com/games/harmonies)
- [Spring Meadow](https://www.ludoya.com/games/spring-meadow)
- [Koi](https://www.ludoya.com/games/koi-3)
- [Cascadia: Alpine Lakes](https://www.ludoya.com/games/cascadia-alpine-lakes)
- [Sagrada](https://www.ludoya.com/games/sagrada-2)
- [The Isle of Cats: Explore & Draw](https://www.ludoya.com/games/the-isle-of-cats-explore-and-draw)
- [Miyabi](https://www.ludoya.com/games/miyabi)
- [Cascadia](https://www.ludoya.com/games/cascadia)
- [Azul: Summer Pavilion](https://www.ludoya.com/games/azul-summer-pavilion)
- [Wispwood](https://www.ludoya.com/games/wispwood)
- [Fit to Print](https://www.ludoya.com/games/fit-to-print)

## Rules questions

### Do I have to place my patch tile adjacent to other tiles, or can I place it anywhere on my quilt board?

On your turn you may place a chosen Patch Tile into any open space on your Quilt Board (you are not required to place it adjacent to other tiles under the standard rules). (page 5) Note: there is a variant that forces adjacency if you want that challenge. (page 11)

### How do I attract a cat — do the tiles need to be the same pattern, a certain shape/size, and can the shape be rotated?

To attract a cat you must form the cat’s required group size or specific shape using a single preferred pattern; the shape may be rotated and the board’s partial/edge tiles count as part of groups, then take the Cat Token and place it on one tile in that group. (pages 7, 9)

### When do I check for cats and buttons — right after I place a tile?

Yes — after you place a Patch Tile you immediately check your board and take any Cat Token and/or Button Token earned, placing each token onto one of the tiles that caused it to score. (page 5; see button/cat rules on page 7)

### How do buttons work — do I get another button when a color group grows from 3 to 6 tiles?

A group of three or more tiles of the same color earns one Button Token, but expanding that same group to 6+ tiles does not award an additional button; to get a second button of the same color you must form another separate color group. Also, collecting at least one button of each color lets you take a rainbow button. (page 7)

### Can I complete a Design Goal with a mix of colors and patterns, or does it have to be all one or the other — and what if I satisfy both?

Each Design Goal must be completed exclusively by colors OR exclusively by patterns; you can satisfy a goal both ways, but if you complete it by both you receive only the higher (double-complete) point value shown. (pages 6, 9)

### If two same-pattern groups touch each other, do they count as two groups for cats or buttons?

No — groups of the same pattern that touch are treated as a single group and will not attract an additional cat or count as a separate group for earning another button; separate groups must not touch. (pages 7, 9)

## Links

- [This page](https://www.ludoya.com/games/calico)
- [Calico in the Ludoya app](https://app.ludoya.com/g/calico)
- [BoardGameGeek entry](https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/283155)

_Data from Ludoya, updated 2026-09-19. Ratings, ownership and play counts are Ludoya's own._