Maaltafel Monsters (Multiplication Table Monsters)

for fun with multiplication tables

Catch all the runaway monsters in space!

During Spel Antwerpen 2025, I came across the Nanuq Games stand, which featured an educational game designed to teach multiplication tables. I was keen to see whether it would be not only educational, but also innovative and fun. That's how I got chatting to Renaat Van Ginderachter from Nanuq and learnt about their new educational game, Maaltafel Monsters (Multiplication Table Monsters).

Rating

Overall                         8.5
Story                            8
Game system             9
Design & art                9
Replayability              8

Multiplication Table Monsters is a fast-paced educational game for 2 to 5 players aged 7–12. It has a short playing time of 20 minutes.

Story

Oh no! Chaos reigns in every corner of the galaxy because monsters are roaming around in space. And you know what? They're not playing by the rules! Boerke, the clumsy guard at the prison where these monsters were being held, let them escape yesterday! We're counting on you to help catch these monsters and get them back in the prison where they belong!

Objective: The aim is to collect as many stars as possible by catching monsters.

Rules of the game

A player's turn

A player's turn consists of one action. You can choose from the following:

  • take a prison card;

  • consult a help card;

  • catch a monster.

• Take a prison card: With this action, you may take a new prison card. To do so, you may choose from the following options:

  • choose a card from the three face-up prison cards next to the game board. When you do this, top up the row with a prison card from the pile so that there are always 3 cards next to the game board;

or

  • take the top card from the face-down draw pile.

•Consult a help card: If you choose this action, you may check the help card from the multiplication tables.

Please note: This must not take longer than 30 seconds.

• Catching a monster: You can catch a monster if you can perform a multiplication using two prison cards from your hand. You can catch the monster if the answer to the multiplication equals the number shown on the monster card.

To do this, follow these steps:

  • take a monster card from the game board;

  • show your fellow players the prison cards you wish to use for the multiplication;

  • give the correct answer and check it by placing the two prison cards on a check card.

    • If your answer was correct, follow these steps:

      • place the prison cards on the discard pile;

      • place the monster card face down in front of you;

      • if there is a key on the monster card: take an action card;

      • take the top monster card from the face-down pile and place it in the open space.

  • If your answer was wrong: return the monster card to its place and place your prison cards on the discard pile.

End of the game

When one of the players has captured 4 monsters, the round is played out to the end so that every player has had the same number of turns. Afterwards, the stars are counted; these are depicted on the monster cards that everyone has collected. The player with the most stars is the winner.

Content and design

The game system was devised by Thaïs Veelaert. By incorporating the ingenious control element into the game, younger players really do remain in control, ensuring the game remains a great experience.
The artwork is by Pieter De Poortere. The illustrations and the theme blend seamlessly and are of very high quality.

Everything is beautifully finished, and care has been taken to ensure a sustainable production process.

Also in the box

  • 1x game board;

  • 50x prison cards;

  • 2x control cards;

  • 42x monster cards;

  • 1x rulebook;

  • 15x action cards;

  • 1x help card.

Conclusion

The game isn't just educational; it also is really enjoyable to play. What I particularly like is that, even if you don't always give the correct answer, there's still a chance you can win the game if you're the first to catch the monsters with the highest values.
This means that children don't just see the game as a way of practising their multiplication tables, but it also provides an element of fun.
The design is very well done, and I think it's a real bonus that Nanuq is very conscious of the production process and is committed to using sustainable materials and supporting the local economy.
It's a game I can definitely recommend, both for playing at the kitchen table at home and in a classroom setting.
In 2026, Multiplication Table Monsters won the British Gaming Award price in the category Best Maths Game!

Text and photography: Esmeralda Wolf

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