Collide-O!
Collide-O! Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Object of the Game
To discard your cards as quickly as possible by matching colors with those shown on the table cards, so that you are the first player to have only one card left.
Set-Up
Take one card and place it face down in the center of the playing surface.
Shuffle and distribute the rest of the cards equally among the players. Any cards left over are set aside. Players shuffle their cards, and then stack them facedown in front of them.
Matching Card Colors
Each card has three sections. A section may have:
- a solid color
- a two-color striped pattern
- a multi-color striped pattern
If a card section has a two-color striped pattern on it, EITHER color may be used to make a match. If a card section has a striped pattern of all five colors, that section may represent ANY color.
The object is to play a card from your hand so that the colors on the middle and one end section of your card match the colors on the middle and end section of one of the two end cards on the table. That is to say, you need to cover over (and match) exactly two sections of the upturned card.
(See diagrams. You will see that the end color section on your card needs to match the middle color of the card on the table.)
The diagrams on the sheet show three cases:
- The top card has the blue and yellow spaces in the same place as the bottom card, so it CAN be played.
- The top card doesn't have the blue and yellow spaces in the same place as the bottom card, so it CANNOT be played.
- The top card has the yellow space in the same place as the bottom card, and the striped pattern of all five colors matches ANY color, so it CAN also be played.
Play then continues by color matching the last two sections of the end cards in the ever-growing line. As only the two end cards are "live", cards previously played may be pushed together to give more room.
The Play
One player turns over the facedown card so it is now face up. Then all players take the top 5 cards from their individual stacks and begin trying to match the colors of the card shown.
Players now get rid of their cards as quickly as possible by playing cards down one at a time that match with the end cards on the table.
You may replace cards into your hand from your individual stack at any time, as long as you never hold more than 5 cards, until your stack is gone. If it's easier, you can also place your 5 cards face up on the table in front of you, though that gives your opponents a chance to see your hand. Play continues until one player has only one card left.
It's a free-for-all! There is no waiting to take turns! Players simply play their cards and replenish their hands as quickly as possible.
When No One Has a Move
If at any time no play can be made with any of the cards in players' hands, then one card from each end of the line of cards is discarded, and play continues. (One player takes a card from each end, and players alternate doing this if it occurs more than once. If play is still not possible, repeat this process.)
NOTE: If no one can play on the initial card, it is replaced by one of the set-aside cards. If no one can play when there are only two cards on the table, then the last card played is discarded, and the original upturned card remains in place.
Make sure to flip over your cards and look at all stripe combinations to check for possible matches before declaring that you cannot make a move. The above combination CAN be played.
When Someone Plays an Incorrect Card
If a player notices that another player has played an incorrect card (a card that does not make the correct match), that player shouts, "Challenge!" and play stops. All players place their cards from their hands face down on the table.
If the card challenged is not a match, the player who played the card continues the game but, as a penalty, that player can never have more than 4 cards in their hand (instead of 5 cards).
If the challenger is incorrect (the card does match), the challenger does not start playing again until one card has been played on each end of the line.
Players should always attempt to make a correct match!
Winning the Game
The winner is the first player to have just ONE card left after getting rid of all the cards in their stack.
NOTE: It is possible that two players can get rid of their next-to-last card at the same time, each playing on a different end of the line of cards, in which case the game is a tie. The players will have to play another round to determine who is truly the best!