Schatz-Rabatz is a game of luck and speed. There are two versions: one, for younger players, is all about luck, speed and a little about visual and spatial discrimination (if you want to look at it that way); the other is all about skill.
The main elements of the game are the treasure chests, the wooden pieces that you try to fit into the treasure chest, the cards that tell you what pieces are eliminated (younger version) or what pieces to look for, the score cards and a sand timer.
In the younger version, a card is selected and placed face down on the table. The pieces (treasures) are placed in the middle of the table, in easy reach of all the players. Each player gets a treasure chest. The sand timer is started, and players race to fill their treasure chests. Naturally, you can fit in fewer large pieces than small. When time is up, you must put the lid on your treasure chest, and, if you have to, remove any pieces until you can fit the lid on correctly. The card is turned over. Any pieces depicted on the card are eliminated. The rest are counted for your score. The player with the most pieces remaining wins that round. Like I said, it’s mostly luck, which, for the right children at the right age, is exactly what everything is about. Also, the more players there are, the more the game is about making sure the other players don’t get the piece you’re looking for.
In the older version, the cards are placed face up, so you can see what pieces you don’t want to collect. So there’s really no luck involved – only speed and skill (go for the smallest pieces first, try to fit in as many as you can, be sure none of the pieces you have selected are shown on the playing card, be sure everything fits). All this adds a certain amount of what one might call cognitive dissonance, and what another might call more fun – especially the older other.
All in all, a novel, and entertaining game, primarily for children and the adults who love them. Designed by Karin Hetling with art by Johann Rüttnger, Schatz-Rabatz is recommended for children ages 5 and up (small parts). It is produced by Noris, and is available in the US from Amazon.