Crokinole

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Crokinole, a 19th‑century Canadian dexterity game played on a circular wooden board, is being rediscovered as a highly social, tactile alternative to pool or shuffleboard that’s easy to learn but deep enough to stay engaging. Commenters swap memories of grandparents’ rec rooms and office tournaments, compare it with Indian carrom and modern board‑game favorites, and trade practical advice on buying or building boards, ranking it as one of the standout “flicking” games in today’s hobby scene. A side thread notes quirks in a recent interactive article about the game, including an invented word and a UI bug in its browser simulator.

Overview & Cultural Context

  • Widely remembered as a staple in Canadian homes, especially in southern Ontario and Atlantic Canada; often tied to grandparents, cottages, rec rooms, and holiday gatherings.
  • Some outside Canada (France, Bolivia, parts of the US, Germany Mennonite communities) had never heard the name or had only known it by sound or local names.
  • Seen at conventions (e.g., PAX), workplaces, and lodges as a perfect “15‑minute break” or filler game.

Gameplay & Experience

  • Frequently described as extremely tactile and satisfying: the crack of discs, bounce off pegs, and smooth gliding.
  • Very easy to teach and cross‑generational; people report ages 10–80 picking it up in minutes.
  • Can become fiercely competitive; transforms otherwise calm relatives into trash‑talking competitors.
  • Official rules include quirks like the “one‑cheek on the chair” requirement to limit mobility around the board.
  • Some note that, like bowling/pool, high‑level play can devolve into “who makes the first mistake loses.”

Comparisons to Other Games

  • Most often compared to shuffleboard or curling; much less like pool.
  • Heavily compared to Carrom:
    • Carrom (especially Indian style) is seen as harder and more punishing; American carrom boards often have crokinole on the flip side.
    • Several players prefer Carrom; others prefer Crokinole as more approachable.

Boards, Materials & DIY

  • Boards praised as beautiful but large and awkward to store; many hang them on walls.
  • Good wooden boards under ~$100 are considered attainable; plastic and very small (21") boards are discouraged as less fun.
  • DIY building is popular among woodworkers; older jig‑based methods contrasted with modern CNC options.
  • Surface treatments: some use specialized glide powder; others play on bare wood, noting cleanup vs. speed trade‑offs.

Rankings, Popularity & Hype

  • Its high BoardGameGeek ranking is highlighted as notable, though the meaning of BGG rankings is debated (complexity and novelty biases, two‑player vs. “game night” bias).
  • Some think classic games like chess or backgammon would rank poorly if released today; this makes Crokinole’s standing seem impressive.
  • Others push back on hype and dislike the article’s “greatest game you’ve never heard of” framing, calling it exaggerated.

Article & Online Implementations

  • Several readers hit a bug where the embedded simulator’s “Place disc” button doesn’t work; a workaround is to narrow the browser window via developer tools.
  • A separate fan‑made browser game inspired by Crokinole is praised for charm and mobile support, with feedback about determinism and “cheesable” strategies.

Language Easter Egg

  • The article’s invented word “plamigerent” is noticed; the author confirms it was inserted as a close‑reading and LLM test.
  • This sparks discussion about lexical watermarking, dictionary trap words, and playful attempts to retro‑define the neologism.