Mölkky (Finnish: [ˈmølkːy]) is a Finnish throwing game with characteristics similar to games like bowling, kubb and pétanque. It was created by the company Lahden Paikka – formerly known as Tuoterengas – in 1996. Given the exotic name of the game, Mölkky is commonly misspelled as molky, mollky, molkki or molki. The word mölkky was coined by its creators and has no actual meaning, though it was probably inspired by the Finnish word pölkky, meaning block of wood. Mölkky is a game that rewards skill and precision, but also a bit of strategy!
Lahden Paikka has been manufacturing Mölkky since the 1990s, using an eco-friendly process that repurposes excess wood from other projects — no nasty chemicals involved. The timber is sourced from 100% sustainable Finnish forests, and in 2015, Mölkky actually won the Green Toy of the Year Award!
Mölkky is based on a game that has been played for centuries, called Kyykkä — also known as Finnish or Karelian Skittles. It was originally played in Karelia, a region spanning parts of Russia and Finland. In the 20th century, large numbers of Karelians migrated to Finland to escape civil war — and luckily, they brought Kyykkä with them!
The rules of Kyykkä vary quite a bit, but the basic idea is this: players throw a karttus (a club resembling a baseball bat) at kyykkäs (small cylindrical skittles) to knock them out of their own game square. The team that needs the fewest throws wins. Traditionally, the winning team even got to ride on the backs of the losing team!
Mölkky is sort of a "light" version of Kyykkä — you're not required to swing a huge, heavy karttus bat, so it's approachable for absolutely anyone. Even the most dedicated couch potato.
Today, Mölkky tournaments are played all over the world, including an annual Mölkky World Championship with around 200 teams of 4 to 6 players. Mölkky associations exist not only in Finland but in many other countries too — Slovakia, Turkey, even Japan! Since 2006, the game has become especially popular in France, which is now the leading country (ahead of Finland) for Mölkky sales and play.
In August 2016, the International Mölkky Organisation (I.M.O.) was founded to serve as a bridge between countries, associations, administrators, players, and official tournaments — with the goal of keeping competition safe, fair, and enjoyable for everyone involved.
While some companies sell their own branded version of the game (such as Finska or Klop), the Mölkky trademark itself is owned by the Finnish board game company Tactic Games.
So yes, the global Mölkky movement is strong, with passionate players working hard to promote the game around the world. There's even a way to become "Mölkky Nobility" — that's how the former Finnish International Mölkky Organization (FIMO) recognized people's contributions to the cause. Wouldn't it be nice to become a lord or lady of Mölkky?
Ready to play? We recommend the official Mölkky game set, available on Amazon.
Mölkky is a registered trademark, and the official set is built to exact tournament specifications — solid birch construction, precise dimensions, and pins made to last through years of play. It's the same set used at tournaments worldwide, so you know exactly what you're getting.
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Players use a throwing pin (the Mölkky) to knock over wooden pins marked with numbers from 1 to 12. Knocking over one pin scores the number of points marked on it; knocking over two or more pins scores the number of pins knocked down. After each throw, the pins are stood back up exactly where they landed.
The first player to reach exactly 50 points wins the game. If a player's score goes over 50, it drops back to 25 points. A player who misses every pin three turns in a row is eliminated from the game.
The World Cup, the Nations Trophy, the French Open, the Individual Masters — year in, year out, Mölkky tournaments are played all across the globe. Some are for serious competitors representing official associations; others are for laid-back players just looking for a fun weekend. There's a tournament to suit every taste, so don't be afraid to sign up for one near you.
From 1996 to 2015, the World Championships were held every year in Lahti, Finland. But as Mölkky's popularity has grown worldwide, Finland is no longer guaranteed to host this prestigious tournament — the 2016 World Championship was the first to take place outside Finland, in Le Rheu (near Rennes), France.
In 2014, the first Indoor European Championship was held in Tallinn, Estonia. And just like the Davis Cup in tennis, Mölkky has its own Nations Trophy. Despite the game's global reach, Finland still leads the pack here.
Mölkky is enormously popular in France, so most of the tournament action happens there. Open to all, and drawing more than 500 teams, the Open de France is the country's biggest annual tournament. Since 2013, a French Inter-Club championship has also been held, where official Mölkky associations compete by invitation for honor and glory.
Mölkky is gaining popularity outside France too, with tournaments like the Austrian Open, Deutsche Meisterschaft, Japan Open, Spanish National Championship, Mexican Open, and many more.
Ready to sound like a local? Here's some proper Mölkky lingo to get you started...
