Nepali game names in English

The games Nepal plays, by the names they go by in Nepali and in English, with what each one is and where to read its rules. Where a game has an English name of its own, it is in brackets. They are listed by how much Nepal plays them.

Games you can play here

In NepaliIn EnglishWhat it isRead
कल ब्रेकCall BreakBid your tricks, spades are trump
म्यारिजMarriage (Nepali rummy with three packs)Three pure runs to see the tiplu, then meld it all
लुडोLudo (from Pachisi)Roll a six to come out, then race four tokens home
क्यारमCarromFlick the striker, pocket your men, cover the queen
बुद्धिचालChessCheckmate the king, against a friend or a bot at eight levels
क्रिकेटCricketTwo-over chases with a swipe of the bat
पुलPoolEight-ball: pot your group, then the eight
स्नुकरSnookerA red, a colour, a red: build a break
फ्लिक फुटबलFlick FootballFlick your players at the ball and score past the other side
ब्लक पजलBlock PuzzleFit the pieces on the board and clear full rows and columns
सुडोकुSudokuEvery row, column and box holds 1 to 9, each number once
२०४८2048Slide the tiles, join two of a kind and make 2048
सोलिटेयरSolitaire (Patience)Klondike, Spider and FreeCell: build every suit home from the ace
ट्राइपिक्सTriPeaksClear three peaks of cards, one rank up or down at a time
महजोङMahjong (Mahjong solitaire)Clear a heap of tiles, two free tiles that match at a time
टायल म्याचTile Match (triple tile matching)Take tiles into a tray of seven, three alike clear
बल सर्टBall SortSort the coloured balls so every tube holds one colour
तीरArrowsTap each arrow off the board, once nothing stands in its way
स्नेकSnake (the Nokia game)Steer the snake to the food, and never into itself
एकै धर्कोOne Stroke (a one-line drawing puzzle)Draw every line of the figure without lifting your finger
बबल शुटरBubble ShooterBurst three of a colour and drop the rest before the ceiling comes down
र्यापिड रोलRapid Roll (the Nokia game)Roll off one ledge onto the next before the spikes reach you
मार्बल शुटरMarble Shooter (a Zuma-style marble shooter)Shoot marbles into the chain before it rolls into the well
माइनस्वीपरMinesweeperOpen every cell without a mine, reading the numbers to find them
गणित भिडन्तMaths DuelThe same sums for both of you, and whoever gets more right wins
सामान्य ज्ञानGK QuizThe same questions for both of you, and whoever knows more wins
व्यापारByapar (Business, a property trading game)Buy Thamel, build hotels and bankrupt your friends
फ्लासTeen Patti (Flash, three-card Brag)Three cards each, and you may bet without looking at yours
लास्ट कार्डLast CardMatch the colour or the number, and be first to empty your hand
किट्टीKitti (Nine-card Brag)Nine cards, three hands, two rounds in a row
लंगुर बुर्जाLangur Burja (Crown and Anchor)Back a symbol, throw three dice, count the hits
कौडाKauda (the cowrie shell game)Sixteen shells, four seats, and a thrower against the rest
इन बिट्विनIn BetweenTwo cards up, and a bet that the next one lands between them
पासाPasa (long dice)Three long dice, one thrower against the table
धुम्बलDhumbal (Jhyap, like Yaniv)Throw the heavy cards away, then call the lowest hand
जुटपत्तीJutpatti (Pairs)Draw one, discard one, pair them all
गुलाम चोरGulam Chor (Jack Thief, like Old Maid)Take a card, throw your pairs, and do not be left with the jack
काटाकुटTic-tac-toe (Noughts and crosses)Three in a row wins. A full board is a draw
डोमिनोDominoesMatch the number at either end of the line, and be first to set your last tile
रम्मीRummy (ten-card rummy)Ten cards into runs and sets, and one run must be clean
२९29Bid for the points, then keep your trump to yourself
दहलमाराDehla Pakad (Catch the Tens, Mendikot)Catch the tens, and win two tricks in a row to take them
पोकरPokerTexas Hold'em: two cards each, five on the board
ब्ल्याकज्याकBlackjackTwenty-one against the dealer, without going over
साँप सिँढीSnakes & LaddersRoll, climb the ladders, dread the snakes
बाघचालBaghchal (Tigers and Goats)Four tigers hunt, twenty goats surround
गुच्चाGuchha (Marbles)Marbles: knock them out of the ring, then sink the khopi
गट्टाGatta (Five Stones)Five stones: toss one, pick up the rest, catch it
सोह्र गोटीSholo Guti (Sixteen Soldiers)Sixteen pieces a side, and every one of them jumps
गजुरTower BuilderBuild Dharahara, Nyatapola and Nepal's temples floor by floor
कोठा बनाउने खेलDots and BoxesJoin the dots. Close a box and it is yours
तीन दुई पाँच3-2-5Take exactly what your seat is set, or they rob your hand next deal
कसिमला पाँय्KasimalaBhaktapur’s own game of bamboo strips and captures
शोShoThe Sherpa and Tibetan dice game of Losar
स्पेड्सSpadesCall Break in pairs: your partner's tricks count, and so do the extra ones
लगातार चारFour in a RowDrop discs in turn. Four in a line wins
बेलोटBeloteTake the trump from the turned card, then make more than the other side
जिन रम्मीGin RummyTen cards each, and knock once your deadwood is ten or less
हार्ट्सHearts (Black Lady)Take no hearts, and keep clear of the queen of spades
ब्याकग्यामनBackgammonRace fifteen checkers home, and send theirs back
ड्राफ्ट्सDraughts (Checkers)Jump their pieces off the board, and crown yours
ब्रिजBridgeBid a contract with your partner, then make it with dummy's cards
दुराकDurak (the Fool)Beat every card thrown at you, and do not be the last one holding cards
याटYacht (the five-dice scoring game)Five dice, three rolls, thirteen boxes
मिनी गल्फMini GolfEighteen holes from Asan to Annapurna
मनकालाMancalaSow your seeds round the board and fill your store first
गोमोकुGomoku (Five in a row)Place stones in turn. Five in a line wins
समुद्री लडाइँSea BattleHide your fleet. Find theirs first
ओथेलोOthello (Reversi)Close a line of their discs and every one turns yours

Games played outdoors and at festivals

In NepaliIn EnglishWhat it isRead
डन्डी बियोDandi biyo (tip-cat)A long stick and a short one: strike the short one up and away, and count the distance.
लुकामारीLukamari (hide and seek)Hide and seek, with a call of dhyappa that starts it all again.
चङ्गा चेटChanga chet (kite fighting)Kites flown at Dashain, each trying to cut the other's line.
लिङ्गे पिङLinge ping (bamboo swing)The tall bamboo swing raised for Dashain.
पिटुPitu (seven stones)Seven stones knocked down and stacked again under the other team's ball.
ढ्याक्कीDhyakki (hopscotch)Hopscotch: a flat stone pushed from box to box on one foot.
चुङ्गीChungi (rubber-band ball)A ball of rubber bands kicked up and counted.
गट्टाGatta (five stones)Five stones thrown up and caught on a floor, level by level.
गाउँखाने कथाGaunkhane katha (riddles)Riddles, where whoever cannot answer gives away a village.
पचिसीPachisi (the parent of Ludo)The race game Ludo came from, thrown with cowries at Kojagara.
च्याम्पटीChampati (stone top)A lapsi stone made into a top and spun in a ring.

Where these games come from: Nepal's traditional games

A game we have missed, or a name your family uses? Tell us

Nepali Gamesनेपाली खेलहरू