Cranium Party Playoff Rulebook

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

• Number of Players
• Object of the Game
• Get Ready
• How to Play
  • Make Your Guess
  • Play the Matchups
  • Which Tile Advances to the Next Round?
• How to Win
• More Ways to Play

Number of Players

4 or more adults.

Object of the Game

Guess which tournament tile will knock off its competitors, advance through the rounds, and emerge as the Undisputed Champion.

Get Ready

1. Set out the BOARD, CARDS, UNKNOWABLE ENVELOPE, and DECIDER FINGER.
2. Give each player a SCORESHEET.
3. Draw eight tiles of each color at random. Match the color to the bracket and place the tiles in the outermost column of CONTENDERS, ARENAS, MOVES, and GEAR.

How to Play

In Party Playoff, tiles match up to compete against each other, and the Challenge Round questions help you decide which tile advances. But first...

Make Your Guess

1. Shuffle the Knockout deck and turn over the top card. Read it aloud, then place it face up on top of the deck. This question will decide the final matchup in the tournament, aka the Main Event.

2. Secretly make your picks and write them on your scoresheet. First, scan the brackets to see how the pairs match up. Then predict a Champ for each bracket (Contenders, Arenas, Moves, and Gear) and your two Title Contenders. Finally, make your prediction for Undisputed Champion. Don't show anyone!

   Note: At the start, you only get to know the final, Knockout question. You'll reveal the Challenge questions as you go.

3. One last guess! In the Bonus Pick section of your scoresheet, write the name of a fellow player in the My Opponent box, then write down the tile you think they will predict to be Undisputed Champion. If you guess correctly, you win four bonus points!

4. Fold your scoresheet in half, write your name on the back, and place it in the Unknowable Envelope. Leave the scoresheets in the envelope until the end of the game.

Play the Matchups

1. Spin the Decider Finger. The player it points to chooses the starting bracket, then draws a Challenge card for the first round.

2. The player reads the question corresponding to the bracket.

3. As a group, players debate the winner of each matchup in the first round (the outermost column) of this bracket. Use whatever arguments you choose, but keep your own picks in mind as you debate.

   Fig. 2. Used-car lot defeats mosh pit.

4. Once the first round is completed, move clockwise to the first round of the next bracket. Draw a new Challenge card and debate the matchups.

5. Continue drawing a new Challenge card for each round in each bracket until the final four tiles emerge.

6. To decide which tiles advance to the finals, draw a new Challenge card for each matchup. Use the "laurel leaf" question as the challenge.

7. Time for the Main Event! Using the question on the Knockout card you drew at the beginning of the game, debate and determine the Undisputed Champion!

Which Tile Advances to the Next Round?

The winner is decided by a majority vote. If the discussion results in a tie, spin the Decider Finger. The player it points to breaks the tie and advances the tile of their choice.

How to Win

Open the Unknowable Envelope and pass back the scoresheets. Take turns revealing your picks, then tally up your scores. Oddly enough, the player with the most points wins.

More Ways to Play

• Make "bonus" predictions for everyone you're playing against. Score four points for each one you get right.
• Personalize the whole game, writing questions for each round of each bracket.