Eureka!
Eureka! Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Components
- 4 Miners
- 16 Claim tokens (4 for each miner)
- 1 Die
- 64 Mine tiles:
- 24 Rocks
- 16 Gold Nuggets (4 of each number)
- 4 Danger
- 4 Keep Out!
- 4 Bats
- 4 Bears
- 4 Lanterns
- 4 Mining Cars
Object of the Game
The object of the game is to be the first player to find and claim four different gold nugget tiles.
Setup
Turn all 64 tiles rocks-side-up and shuffle them on the playing surface. Then make a square grid of tiles, eight rows across and eight rows down, to form the gold mine.
Pick a miner character for a playing piece and place it in one of the four corners just outside the border of the mining board. Also, take the four claim tokens that match your selected character.
Each player rolls the die to see who goes first. Whoever rolls the highest number starts the game. Play passes to the left.
Movement
On your turn, roll the die and move your miner the number of tiles that you rolled.
You can move in a straight line or in any combination of directions except diagonally. Also, you cannot move back to a space you just came from or land on a space occupied by another miner.
For example, if you rolled a five, you could move five spaces to the right, left, up, down, or in a zigzag pattern, depending on where you want to land.
Turning Over Tiles
Turn over the tile where you land to see what's on the other side. What did you find?
Whenever you land on a tile, turn it over so that all players can see. Then turn it back over at the end of your turn. The only tiles you don't turn back over are the nuggets you have claimed.
Try to remember what tiles you already turned over so that you don't land there again.
Tile Outcomes
Rocks - Nothing happens. Put your miner on top of the tile, then play passes to the left.
Keep Out! - Oops! You went in a restricted area of the mine. Lose one turn (your turn is skipped next time).
Bear - Oh, no! A bear chased you out of the mine! Move your miner back to the corner of the mine where you started.
Danger - Watch out for rocks caving in! Roll the die:
- If you a roll a 1, 2 or 3 ... Oh, no! You got caught in the cave-in, so you lose one turn (your turn is skipped next time).
- If you a roll a 4, 5 or 6 ... Phew! You avoided the cave-in, so you get another turn! Roll the die and move the number shown.
Bats - Get away from these as fast as you can! Roll the die and move again.
Mining Car - Take a ride! Move your miner to any tile that is not already claimed and turn it over.
Lantern - Use the light to find your way! You (and only you) get to peek at ALL the tiles that immediately border the lantern, even diagonally.
Lantern Notes: You can't claim nuggets when you're looking; you can only sneak a peek at them. Try to remember what's hidden where for your next turn.
The lantern may be placed in the center of the mine or in a corner of the mine (see the component illustrations in the printed rulebook).
Gold Nuggets - Shout "Eureka!" (pronounced you-ree-kah, meaning "I found it!") when you uncover any gold nuggets. Stake your claim by placing the corresponding numbered claim token face up on the tile. (For example, the "two" claim token goes on a two nugget tile.) Now no other player can land on this tile. Leave the nugget tile face up with the token and roll again!
Important Note: In order to win, you need to find four different gold nugget tiles (one nugget, two nuggets, three nuggets and four nuggets). If you turn over a nugget tile that matches one you already have claimed, turn it back over and play passes to the left.
Winning the Game
The winner is the first player to claim four different gold nugget tiles.
Other Gold-Diggin' Ways to Play
Here are some ideas in case you want to try different variations of this game:
Claim Jump - Nugget tiles with claim tokens on them are still in play. If you land on one of these tiles, roll the die. If you roll a 6, remove the token and replace it with one of your own. If you roll any other number, your turn is over.
Snake Eye - When you roll a one, you can peek at one tile of your choice (without letting your opponents see) before you move your miner.
Quick Claim - For a shorter game, remove 15 of the double-sided rock tiles to form a seven by seven grid.