National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation: Twinkling Lights Game Rulebook

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

• Components
• Set Up
• How to Play
  • 1. Draw and Place
  • 2. Score Pattern Cards
• Tile Placement
  • + Tiles
  • Broken Wire Tiles
  • Pattern Cards
• Winning the Game

Components

Contents: 35 Light Tiles, 14 Pattern Cards, Instructions

• 35 Light tiles
• 14 Pattern cards: 3-Pattern cards (red backs, three lights each) and 4-Pattern cards (green backs, four lights each)

Set Up

1. Mix the Light tiles together and place them face-down in a stack within reach of all players.
2. Reveal the top two Light tiles and place them face-up next to each other in the middle of the table.
3. Shuffle the red 3-Pattern cards and deal two cards to each player, then shuffle the green 4-Pattern cards and deal one card to each player. Keep your Pattern cards hidden from your opponents.
4. Place the remaining Pattern cards back into the box.

The youngest player goes first.

(The set-up illustration shows a 3-player example.)

How to Play

Starting with the first player and proceeding clockwise, each player takes the following actions in order:

1. Draw and Place

Draw the top Light tile from the stack and place it next to another tile.

2. Score Pattern Cards

At the end of your turn, you may score any number of your Pattern cards. To do so, you must match the pattern on your Pattern card with the same colors in the same order on a single light strand. Scored Pattern cards are placed face-up in front of you.

Example: Purple, blue, and yellow lights are connected in the tile sequence. The player has a card with a matching pattern. The player would add that card to their score pile.

IMPORTANT: You may score patterns played by opponents or yourself, but you cannot score a Pattern card until after playing the tile you drew this turn.

Tile Placement

Tiles may be placed adjacent to any other tile in any orientation.

Example: The check-mark spaces are available for placing any tiles.

+ Tiles

These tiles may be placed on top of or adjacent to any tile in any orientation.

Broken Wire Tiles

These tiles may be placed adjacent to any tile in any orientation. When you draw a Broken Wire tile, you may play it yourself or give it to any player who isn't already holding one. That player must play the Broken Wire tile on their next turn instead of drawing a new tile.

• After giving a Broken Wire tile to another player, draw and place a new tile.
• If you draw a Broken Wire tile, and all of your opponents already have one, you must play it yourself.

Pattern Cards

• 3-Pattern cards have three lights and red backs.
• 4-Pattern cards have four lights and green backs.

Winning the Game

• If you score all three of your Pattern cards before your opponents, you win the game!
• If you run out of Light tiles, the player who has scored the most Pattern cards wins.
• In the case of a tie, the player who has scored a 4-Pattern card wins. If there is a further tie, the game ends in a draw.