Block Out!
Block Out! Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Contents
9 blocks in 3 colours, 43 Block Cards, 12 Action Cards.
Object of the Game
Stack blocks and be the first player to get rid of all your cards, or win the game anytime by successfully placing the ninth block on the stack.
Game Setup
- Set the pile of blocks nearby and designate a place for the stack. There will only ever be one stack at a time.
- Shuffle all the cards and deal each player seven cards. Place the remaining pile of cards on the table to create a draw pile.
- The player with the next birthday starts the game.
How to Play
Play a card from your hand. If you cannot play a card, draw cards from the draw pile until you get one that you can play. Place the used card in a discard pile. If the draw pile is empty, shuffle the discarded cards and make a new draw pile.
There are two types of cards in the game: Block Cards and Action Cards.
Playing a Block Card
- Block Cards allow you to add blocks to the stack based on size and/or colour.
- Choose a block that isn't on the stack already and which matches the card. Attempt to place it on the stack. If a stack doesn't already exist, place the chosen block where all players can reach it to create a stack.
- You may only use one hand to place the block, and you may only touch the top side of the top block on the stack with your chosen block. Nudging the top block by touching any other side than the top is not allowed.
- After placing your block on the stack and removing your hand, count "one-one-thousand, two-one-thousand, three-one-thousand". If the stack doesn't fall before you finish counting, the turn goes to the next player.
- If the stack falls on your turn, draw 3 cards from the draw pile and play a card from your hand to start a new stack.
Block Cards
The four Block Card types are shown on the rules page with these captions:
- You can place the small yellow block on the stack.
- You can place any black block on the stack.
- You can place a large block of any colour on the stack.
- You can place any block on the stack.
Playing an Action Card
You can play Action Cards if you don't want to add a block to the stack. They are particularly useful when the stack has become very unstable.
After you have counted to three and successfully stacked a block or played an Action Card it is the next player's turn.
Action Cards
- Pass: You don't have to place a block on the stack this turn.
- Reverse: You don't have to place a block on the stack this turn and the order of play reverses.
Winning the Game
At the end of any player's turn, if that player has no cards left in their hand or they have successfully placed the ninth and final block on the stack, they win the game!
Advanced Rules
You can choose to apply the more difficult advanced rules if you like! A player who successfully plays their last card must then choose any block not already on the stack and successfully place it on top of the stack to win the game.