AMEROUS Folding Wooden Mancala Set, 72+8 Glass Stones

On the table

Mancala is among the oldest strategy games there is — a game of sowing and harvesting in which two players sit on either side of the board and each tries to collect more stones than the other. The rules are simple enough to learn in one sitting, and we include instructions that walk beginners through them.

Our board is made of rubber wood, strong and durable, and it folds on a hinge with a latch to keep it closed. The 12 pits are generously sized: each easily holds up to 8 stones, so nothing pops out mid-turn. The stones themselves are glass, in a mix of bright colors, with smooth edges like natural pebbles.

You get 72 stones plus 8 bonus ones, so a lost stone never stops the game. Counting them from pit to pit is also quiet practice in basic math and planning for younger players. Folded, the set stores and travels easily.