You’re staring at three overlapping plastic circles on a table. One is red. One is blue. One is yellow. In your hand, you've got a tiny plastic figurine of a shark, or maybe a miniature rolling pin. The goal sounds stupidly simple: put the object in the right circle. But then you realize the "rule" for the red circle is a total mystery, known only to one person who is currently looking at you with a smug, tight-lipped grin. This is the things in rings board game—officially known as Things in Rings—and it is arguably the most frustratingly brilliant logic game ever to hit a living room carpet.
It’s weird.
Most board games today are obsessed with "content." They want to give you 400 cards, a companion app, and a 20-page rulebook that feels like reading a tax code. Things in Rings, released by Ravensburger back in the day, went the opposite direction. It’s a game about Venn diagrams. Yes, the thing you hated in middle school math. But somehow, when you turn a Venn diagram into a competitive social deduction race, it becomes addictive.
The Brutal Simplicity of the Concept
Here is how the things in rings board game actually works. One player is the "Master." They pick three secret rules. One rule for each ring. For example, the Red ring might be "Things made of wood." The Blue ring might be "Things you can find in a kitchen." The Yellow ring might be "Things smaller than a breadbox."
You don't know these rules.
You pick up an object—say, a wooden spoon—and you try to place it. If you put it where the Red and Blue rings overlap, and the Master says "Yes," you’ve just gained a massive piece of data. If they say "No," you’re back to square one, feeling like a complete idiot. It’s a game of inductive reasoning. You are basically a scientist conducting tiny, plastic experiments.
👉 See also: Why Call of Duty Black Ops Zombies Still Has Us Hooked After All These Years
The beauty of it? The objects. We're talking about a treasure trove of random junk. A plastic bat. A tiny chair. A boot. A screwdriver. These aren't just tokens; they are the variables in a high-stakes logic puzzle.
Why We’re Seeing a Resurgence in 2026
Lately, there’s been a massive shift back toward "analog" experiences. People are burnt out on screens. We spend all day looking at pixels, so when Friday night rolls around, we want tactile stuff. We want to touch things. The things in rings board game fits this "New Analog" movement perfectly because it’s physically satisfying. There is something about the "clack" of a plastic dinosaur hitting the table in the "Wrong" zone that hits different than a digital error message.
But there's more to it than just nostalgia.
Logic games like Zendo or the Search for Planet X have paved the way for a broader appreciation of "Rule Discovery" games. Things in Rings was the pioneer of this. It’s the grandfather of the genre. Modern gamers are realizing that you don't need a $100 Kickstarter box with 50 miniatures to have a deep intellectual experience. You just need some circles and a pile of "things."
The Psychological Warfare of the "Master" Role
Being the Master in the things in rings board game is a lesson in human psychology. You aren't just checking rules; you're watching your friends have mental breakdowns.
I’ve seen it happen.
A player will be convinced that the Red ring is "Animals." They’ll place the lion. Correct. They’ll place the eagle. Correct. Then they place the shark and—NOPE. The Master shakes their head. The player’s entire worldview collapses. It turns out the rule wasn't "Animals"; it was "Things with four legs." The shark was the trap.
This is where the nuance lies. If you’re the Master, you have to be clever but fair. If your rules are too obscure—like "Things that remind me of my Aunt Martha"—the game sucks. Everyone gets bored. But if they're too easy—"Things that are Red"—the game is over in four minutes. The "sweet spot" is the goal. You want rules that are physically observable but conceptually slippery.
Common Categories That Break Brains:
- Functional rules: "Things used for cleaning" vs. "Things that use electricity."
- Material rules: "Contains metal" is a classic, especially when you have objects made of multiple materials.
- Physical attributes: "Has a hole in it" is surprisingly hard to spot when you're distracted by what the object is.
- Relational rules: "Heavier than the plastic shoe."
What Most People Get Wrong About the Strategy
Most newbies play the things in rings board game by guessing. They pick up an item and aim for a spot they think might be right.
That is a losing strategy.
The pros—and yes, there are people who take this very seriously—play by "negative space." They intentionally place objects where they don't think they belong just to rule out specific theories. It’s the same logic used in Mastermind or Wordle. You aren't looking for the win on turn two; you’re looking to eliminate 50% of the possibilities.
Honestly, the hardest part isn't finding the rule for one ring. It’s the overlaps. When you have three rings, you have seven distinct zones (not counting the space outside the rings).
- Red only
- Blue only
- Yellow only
- Red + Blue
- Blue + Yellow
- Red + Yellow
- The "Holy Grail": Red + Blue + Yellow
If an object fits in the center, it has to satisfy three independent conditions simultaneously. If you find an object that fits there, you've basically cracked the code.
The "House Rule" Evolution
Because the original Ravensburger version is getting harder to find in mint condition, a lot of people are DIY-ing the things in rings board game. And honestly? It’s better that way.
The "modern" way to play involves using three hula hoops and a literal bag of random household junk. This expands the game's vocabulary. Instead of being limited to the 40 or 50 pieces in the box, you can use a remote control, a half-eaten bag of chips, a sneaker, or a copy of a niche philosophy book.
I actually prefer the DIY version. It feels more personal. When the rule is "Things that cost more than $10," and someone places your car keys in the ring, it adds a layer of social commentary that the original plastic pieces couldn't manage.
Fact-Checking the Rarity and Value
If you’re looking to buy an original copy of the things in rings board game, be prepared for a bit of a hunt. It wasn't produced in the same massive quantities as Monopoly or Clue. On sites like eBay or specialized board game secondary markets, a complete set can go for anywhere from $40 to $90 depending on the condition of the box.
The real value, though, is in the "Objects." Often, these old sets are missing the tiny plastic pieces. If you find one that is "100% complete," grab it. Collectors love the tactile nature of those specific 1990s-era moldings. They have a specific weight and texture that modern cheap plastic just doesn't replicate.
Addressing the Learning Curve
Let’s be real: some people hate this game.
If you aren't a "logic" person, Things in Rings can feel like a pop quiz you didn't study for. I’ve seen players get genuinely angry because they couldn't see the pattern. It requires a specific type of lateral thinking.
But that’s also its greatest strength. It’s one of the few games that actually exercises your brain's ability to categorize information. In an era of "infinite scroll" where we just consume information without processing it, this game forces you to categorize, analyze, and discard hypotheses. It’s basically "Critical Thinking: The Game."
Variations and Modern Clones
While Things in Rings is the classic, there are several spiritual successors you should know about if you like this vibe:
- Zendo: Uses colorful pyramids and "Koans." It’s much more abstract and can get incredibly difficult.
- Babel: A similar concept but focuses more on linguistic rules.
- The Search for Planet X: Uses an app to manage the "Master" role, allowing everyone to play as a researcher.
However, none of these quite capture the "toy-like" joy of the original. There is something fundamentally "board game-y" about the things in rings board game that modern, sleek designs often lose. It’s clunky, it’s colorful, and it’s a bit silly.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Game Night
If you're lucky enough to own a copy or if you're planning to DIY a session this weekend, here is how to make it actually work without everyone quitting in a huff:
1. Start with "Visual" Rules first.
For the first round, keep the rules strictly physical. "It’s green," "It’s round," "It’s made of plastic." This builds confidence and teaches the mechanics of the Venn diagram without melting anyone's brain.
✨ Don't miss: Marvel Rivals Season 2.5 Patch Notes: Why the Ultron Meta is Actually a Nightmare
2. Use a "Whiteboard" for the Master.
Don't just keep the rules in your head. Write them down on a piece of paper and hide it. There is nothing worse than a Master accidentally changing the rule halfway through because they forgot if the plastic lizard counted as "scary" or not.
3. The "Outside" Zone is a Clue.
Don't ignore the objects that don't fit anywhere. If the Master says "This goes outside all the rings," that is just as valuable as it being in the center. It tells you what the rules aren't.
4. Limit the "Guessing."
Encourage players to talk through their logic out loud. The game is much more fun when you hear someone say, "Okay, I think Red is things that can fly, but the helicopter didn't work, so maybe it's things with feathers?" It turns a solo logic puzzle into a collaborative (or competitive) discussion.
5. DIY with "The Junk Drawer."
If you don't have the game, grab three pieces of string, make circles, and empty your junk drawer. It takes two minutes to set up and usually results in a more interesting game anyway.
The things in rings board game isn't just a relic of the past; it’s a blueprint for the kind of games we need more of. It’s cheap (if you DIY), it’s infinitely replayable, and it makes you feel like a genius when you finally figure out that the Yellow ring was "Things that make a noise when you drop them."
Next Steps for Enthusiasts:
- Check Local Thrift Stores: This is a prime "closet find" game. Look in the toy section, not just the board game section, as it's often miscategorized.
- Download Venn Diagram Templates: If you're DIY-ing, having a clean, printed mat can help keep the "zones" clear and prevent arguments about whether the plastic fork is "touching the line."
- Experiment with "Negative Rules": Once your group gets good, try rules like "Things that are NOT used in the bathroom." It adds a layer of "Inverted Logic" that will challenge even the best players.