Bakugan may seem complicated to play and there are some tricks to learn - but the basics of the game are quite easy.

Here's how to play bakugan battle brawlers...

Marbles And Cards

There are two main pieces to the game. The bakugan battle brawlers themselves, and playing cards. The battle brawlers are small marbles that pop open to reveal the Bakugan inside and it's G-Power. Cards played can boost your G-Power or reduce the G-Power of your opponent. The highest power wins that battle.

Setting Up a Bakugan Game

Each player needs 3 Bakugans, 3 gate cards and 3 ability cards. Choosing which ones to use is important, and can mean the difference between winning and losing. The aim is to win gate cards.

Players sit about a metre apart from each other on a smooth flat surface. This area is now the playing 'Field'.

All Bakugan start closed (Sphere Mode) and cards face down.

Once ready, the players say "Field - Open".

Starting The Game

Each players puts down a Gate card and says "Gate Card - Set". Then each player goes in turn, the youngest player first, choosing and rolling a brawler at the Gate cards on the field.

After Rolling

If the brawler hits a Gate card it will pop open automatically. If no other Bakugan are on that Gate, the other player now takes their turn. If the other player already has a Bakugan on that card, Battle takes place.

Let Battle Commence

Firstly read each Bakugans G-Power rating. Then turn over the Gate card and do what it tells you.

Then each player can play an Ability card, if they want to. This could help boost your power or reduce your opponents. The cards tell you what they do and when you can use them. Once used, they go in your used pile.

Now you add any G-Power boost from the Gate card, by matching the colour of your Bakugan to the symbol on the card.

The player who now has the highest G-Power wins this battle, and puts that Gate card in their used pile. Gate cards have an HSP number on them (Holo Sector Points) - this is how many points you win for that battle.

Winning The Battle

The game ends when all cards or Bakugans are gone. Your remaining Bakugan and any captured ones are worth 100 points. You add this to the points on the Gate cards you won. The player with the most HSP wins. Don't worry, captured Bakugan are given back... unless you decided to play for keeps!