Imagine
Imagine Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Contents
- 61 transparent cards
- 65 Enigma cards
- 35 tokens
Object
Win the most points by guessing and getting the other players to guess enigmas with the help of the transparent cards.
Set Up
- Arrange all of the transparent cards in a large circle on the playing surface. The playing area is the space inside the circle.
- Put the tokens within easy reach.
- Shuffle the Enigma cards and place them in a pile.
How to Play
The most creative player goes first. (If you cannot decide, the youngest one starts). On your turn, you have to get the other players to guess an enigma. To do this, you must:
-
Draw an Enigma card. Another random player calls out a number between 1 and 8 which tells you which enigma on the card has to be guessed.
- Each Enigma card lists eight numbered enigmas, one per line — for example, a sample card shows: 1 Object, 2 Movie, 3 Scary Things, 4 Object, 5 Famous Place ("Capital Building"), 6 Ostrich / Animals, 7 Plumber, 8 Phrase / Expression ("Fall Into the Trap").
- If you do not know this enigma you can pick the next one down or above (for line 1 choose between 8 or 2 and for line 8, between 7 and 1.)
- Note: Younger players can choose any other enigma on the card.
-
Say the enigma's clue aloud, shown in bold above the word.
-
Get the other players to guess your enigma using the transparent cards. Look around at the all of the transparent cards, then take as many as you like to create your clue. You may use the cards however you want, according to these guidelines:
YOU MAY:
- Use as many cards as you wish.
- Put the cards together, put them on top of each other, combine them, and MOVE them.
- Hide parts of the cards with your fingers.
- Make 3D models of the cards by lifting them up from the table.
YOU MAY NOT:
- Speak, make noises or sing.
- Mime with your hands.
- Make letters or digits with the cards.
As soon as you place the first card, the other players can start guessing your enigma.
The first player who guesses the enigma and the player who placed the transparent cards both earn 1 point. (Each should take a 1 token in front of them.) If several players give the correct answer at exactly the same time, they each earn 1 point.
Note: There is no time limit. If nobody guesses the enigma after a period of time decided by the players, then the round ends and nobody earns a point.
Use ALL the cards you like in any way you like!
- You can PUT THEM TOGETHER — for example, combining a rounded shape and a straight line to make a "Hat!"
- You can HIDE some parts with your fingers — for example, covering part of a hat card with a fingertip to make "Also a hat!"
- You can put them ON TOP OF EACH OTHER — for example, layering a person icon under a spiral to make a "Dancer!"
- Above all you can ANIMATE the cards — sliding a running-person card along a row of cards to make it "Jump!"
- And you can even do all that AT THE SAME TIME — moving airplane cards back and forth to show "a plane flying around...", or sliding a stack of person cards up a card to show "A character climbing up a building..." — "King Kong!"
Next Turn
Return all of the used transparent cards back to the circle. Then it is the next player's turn (clockwise) to get the players to guess a new enigma.
Ending the Game
The game ends when each player has managed to get the other players to correctly guess 2 enigmas. The player who accumulates the highest number of points is the winner.
If there is a tie, play one more deciding round!
"Unlimited Imagination" Version
Once you have played a few times, get the other players to guess an enigma of your own creation instead of from a card. When it is your turn, provide a relevant clue (film, character, object...) and you are off to the races! You can also personalize your enigmas with common interests (works of art, book titles, video games...) or more personal themes such as "William's favorite toy", your vacation destination or "mother-in-law"...
Make sure to pick something that all the players know about!
A Word from Gamewright
A great game transcends language and culture. Such is the case with Imagine, which came to us from Japan via our French publishing partners, Cocktail Games. We've played many guessing games, but what stands out about this one is the collection of transparent icon cards that, when combined, allow you to convey your chosen subject without saying a word! After a couple of rounds, you'll be amazed at your ability to communicate using the universal language of creativity. Take pictures of your most inspired visual clues and share them with us via Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. We'll create an album of our favorites!
Game by Shotaro Nakashima.
Licensed with permission from Cocktail Games (www.cocktailgames.com) and Moonster Games Asia.