How many players do you need for Ayo?

Ayo works with 2 players. Create a game on FateRound, share the link or code, and everyone joins from their browser — no sign-up required.

Is Ayo free to play online?

Yes. Ayo on FateRound is completely free — no download, no payment, and no account needed. Create a game and start playing in under a minute.

Can I play Ayo on my phone?

Yes. FateRound runs in any mobile browser. Share the room link in your group chat and everyone can play Ayo from their phone or desktop.

How do trophies work in Ayo?

Trophies are earned automatically as you play — things like finishing your first game, racking up wins, or hitting a milestone. Bronze, silver, gold, and platinum trophies are listed above with what they need; some are secret and only reveal themselves once you've earned them. Trophies and points carry over to your FateRound profile across every game.

In Yoruba tradition, the winner of an Ayo match is called Ọta. The loser is Ọpẹ. Three consecutive wins makes you an Ọta champion.

How does capture work?

When the last seed of your sowing makes a house hold exactly four seeds — your own or your opponent's — you win that house and its four seeds. If your last seed lands in a house that already had seeds (without making four), you pick them all up and keep sowing; your turn only ends when your last seed lands in an empty house.

Yes — choose Casual (no timer) when creating a room. For faster ranked play, pick 30 seconds per player or longer clocks.

What is Ayo / Ayoayo?

Ayo (also called Ayoayo or Ayo Olopon) is a traditional Yoruba board game from Nigeria in the mancala family. Two players sit on opposite sides of a board with 12 houses (6 per side), each starting with 4 seeds. Players take turns sowing seeds anti-clockwise, relaying through non-empty houses, and winning a house whenever the last seed makes it hold exactly four.

How many seeds are in Ayo?

A standard Ayo board starts with 48 seeds — 4 seeds in each of the 12 houses (6 per player). As the game progresses, seeds move around the board and houses are won four seeds at a time. The player who wins the most houses wins.

Is Ayo the same as Mancala?

Ayo is one game in the mancala family — a group of count-and-capture board games played across Africa and beyond. Ayo follows Yoruba rules (anti-clockwise relay sowing, winning a house when your last seed completes exactly four, the Ota/Ope tradition). Other mancala variants include Oware (Ghana), Bao (East Africa), and Kalah (Western adaptation).

Can I play Ayo online with friends?

Yes — create a room on FateRound, share the link, and a friend joins from their phone or laptop. Two players play head-to-head in real time with traditional rules. Free, no sign-up, no download.

Sow & capture·2 players

Ayo

Sow seeds, complete fours to win houses, and crown Ọta — the Yoruba classic, head-to-head.

Play free Join with code

Practice against the bot →Read game rules ↓

Ayo on FateRound follows traditional Ayo Olopon rules for two players online. Twelve houses, four seeds each, sow anti-clockwise around the board — relaying whenever your last seed lands in a house that already has seeds, and picking them all up to keep going. Your turn ends when your last seed lands in an empty house. When your last seed makes a house hold exactly four seeds — your own or your opponent's — you win that house. Once only eight seeds remain, the player who captures the first four takes the last four and the game ends. The player who has won the most houses is the winner — Ọta; the loser is Ọpẹ. If houses are equal, the most seeds captured breaks the tie. Winning three straight games makes a player an Ọta champion.

2 playersComplete foursỌta & Ọpẹ

How it works

Join a room

Two players join with their name — the host can play too.

Sow seeds

On your turn, tap one of your houses with seeds. Seeds sow anti-clockwise.

Crown Ọta

Win the most houses to win. Mo ki ota, mo ki ope o!

Game rules & how to play

Objective

Win more houses than your opponent by sowing strategically around the board.
A house is won when your last seed makes it hold exactly four seeds. The winner is traditionally called Ọta; the loser is Ọpẹ. Three straight wins makes an Ọta champion.

Board & setup

12 houses in two rows of six — one row per player, four seeds in each house (48 total).
Exactly 2 players. The host can play. Player A opens on the first game; sides swap on rematch.
Optional per-player clock — Casual (untimed), Ranked (30s), or 3/5/10 minutes each.

How a turn works

Pick up all seeds from one of your own houses that has seeds.
Sow anti-clockwise — drop one seed per house, continuing through the house you picked up and into your opponent's row.
Relay: if your last seed lands in a house that already had seeds, pick them all up and keep sowing. Your turn ends only when your last seed lands in an empty house.
Capture: when your last seed makes a house hold exactly four seeds — your own or your opponent's — you win that house and its four seeds. (Making five, 4+1, wins nothing — you relay on.)

Winning

The player who has won the most houses wins.
Endgame: once only eight seeds remain, the player who captures the first four automatically takes the last four and the game ends.
You can also win if your opponent resigns, leaves, or runs out of time. If both players win the same number of houses, the most seeds captured breaks the tie; a draw needs both to be equal.

Spectators

Late joiners can watch the match in read-only mode — Ayo is traditionally played with commentary and banter.
A host who is not seated can follow the game live while managing the room.

Why play on FateRound

Relay sowing

Pick up all seeds from one house and sow anti-clockwise — relaying through non-empty houses.

Complete fours

Make a house hold exactly four with your last seed — yours or your opponent’s — to win it.

Phone & desktop

Everyone joins from any browser — perfect for group chats.

No sign-up

Create a game and play in seconds — no account needed.

Perfect for

Cultural game nightsQuick strategy duelsMancala fans

Frequently asked questions

How many players do you need for Ayo?: Ayo works with 2 players. Create a game on FateRound, share the link or code, and everyone joins from their browser — no sign-up required.

Is Ayo free to play online?: Yes. Ayo on FateRound is completely free — no download, no payment, and no account needed. Create a game and start playing in under a minute.

Can I play Ayo on my phone?: Yes. FateRound runs in any mobile browser. Share the room link in your group chat and everyone can play Ayo from their phone or desktop.

How do trophies work in Ayo?: Trophies are earned automatically as you play — things like finishing your first game, racking up wins, or hitting a milestone. Bronze, silver, gold, and platinum trophies are listed above with what they need; some are secret and only reveal themselves once you've earned them. Trophies and points carry over to your FateRound profile across every game.

What is Ọta?: In Yoruba tradition, the winner of an Ayo match is called Ọta. The loser is Ọpẹ. Three consecutive wins makes you an Ọta champion.

How does capture work?: When the last seed of your sowing makes a house hold exactly four seeds — your own or your opponent's — you win that house and its four seeds. If your last seed lands in a house that already had seeds (without making four), you pick them all up and keep sowing; your turn only ends when your last seed lands in an empty house.

Can I play untimed?: Yes — choose Casual (no timer) when creating a room. For faster ranked play, pick 30 seconds per player or longer clocks.

What is Ayo / Ayoayo?: Ayo (also called Ayoayo or Ayo Olopon) is a traditional Yoruba board game from Nigeria in the mancala family. Two players sit on opposite sides of a board with 12 houses (6 per side), each starting with 4 seeds. Players take turns sowing seeds anti-clockwise, relaying through non-empty houses, and winning a house whenever the last seed makes it hold exactly four.

How many seeds are in Ayo?: A standard Ayo board starts with 48 seeds — 4 seeds in each of the 12 houses (6 per player). As the game progresses, seeds move around the board and houses are won four seeds at a time. The player who wins the most houses wins.

Is Ayo the same as Mancala?: Ayo is one game in the mancala family — a group of count-and-capture board games played across Africa and beyond. Ayo follows Yoruba rules (anti-clockwise relay sowing, winning a house when your last seed completes exactly four, the Ota/Ope tradition). Other mancala variants include Oware (Ghana), Bao (East Africa), and Kalah (Western adaptation).

Can I play Ayo online with friends?: Yes — create a room on FateRound, share the link, and a friend joins from their phone or laptop. Two players play head-to-head in real time with traditional rules. Free, no sign-up, no download.

Ready to play?

Free forever. No download. Start a room in under a minute.

Create Ayo game

Ayo