Nine Men’s Morris or Rummy?
Both games come with Gather. Here’s how they differ and when each one fits better.
The key differences
- From 3 players on, only Rummy works: it goes up to 6 players, Nine Men’s Morris only up to 2.
- Nine Men’s Morris rewards skill more than Rummy (pure skill vs. skill and luck).
- Nine Men’s Morris is over sooner: usually 10–20 minutes, while Rummy takes 15–40 minutes.
- Rummy is louder than Nine Men’s Morris (calm vs. silent).
- Nine Men’s Morris works from age 6, we recommend Rummy from 9.
- Nine Men’s Morris is quicker to learn than Rummy (quick to learn vs. clear after one round).
- Nine Men’s Morris has more interaction than Rummy (you react to each other vs. little contact).
- In Rummy everyone has secret information on their phone; in Nine Men’s Morris more is out in the open.
At a glance
| At a glance | Nine Men’s Morris | Rummy |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Board and dice games | Card games |
| Players | 2 players | 2–6 players |
| Length of a game | 10–20 min | 15–40 min |
| Age | ages 6+ | ages 9+ |
| Luck or skill | pure skill | skill and luck |
| Noise level | silent | calm |
| Learning curve | quick to learn | clear after one round |
| Interaction | you react to each other | little contact |
| TV | not needed | not needed |
| Against the computer | yes | yes |
| Teams | no | no |
| Bluffing | no | no |
| Reading needed | no | no |
Which one suits you?
Nine Men’s Morris
The old board game with nine pieces each: place, then move, and finally fly. Close a mill and you take one of your opponent’s pieces – and a well-built double mill often decides the game.
Pick Nine Men’s Morris when two people want a calm strategy game that’s settled in about a quarter of an hour.
Rummy
Collect sets and runs, lay down at least 30 points to open, then add to the table until your hand is empty. Whoever is still holding cards counts penalty points – and after each round you decide whether to play on or tally up.
Pick Rummy when you want a laid-back card game with some thinking that can fill an evening.
What they have in common
- Both only work with exactly 2 players.
- Both also work without a TV, right on iPhone, iPad or Mac.
- You can play both against the computer.
- Both come free with Gather and need no account.